ANTHONY SYLVESTER- PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Anthony William Sylvester. Everyone calls me by my last name "Sylvester." I play varsity football for Plymouth High School in Canton, Michigan. I am 5'11 and I weigh 175 lbs. I play cornerback or safety and I also play wide receiver. Our varsity football team has made the MHSAA playoffs 3 years in a row. I play other sports such as basketball and baseball, but football is my favorite. I am 16 years old and a junior. I have 3 touchdown catches to my career 1 interception, and 34 tackles to my career. Almost a "pick 6." I run a 4.86, 40-yard dash. No Colleges or Universities have offered any scholarships.

What was your best game?
My best game was against Salem High School, Canton, Michigan. Salem was down by 14 points in the 4th quarter and they were about to score on a 4th down when they ran a sweep toss run to my side and I made the touchdown saving tackle, which sparked our team to win the game.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because in order to play sports, you need to have great grades. This mindset pushes me and makes me work to have a successful career. I think that education is there for that second career option. I have a 2.9 GPA. In order to maintain a good GPA, sports help me keep my focus, so that I can graduate and can get a good job to support my friends and family.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
To make myself better in football, is to just work at it everyday. Workout, study the game, and eat healthy. I can make myself better by listening to my coaches and teammates. To make myself better in football, I have to work hard everyday, whether it’s on the field or in the classroom. I don’t like to lose or feel down. I have to stay positive about my work ethic and strive to my goals.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is Michigan State University. I visit there every Saturday when football season starts. The atmosphere is just spectacular. Students who go to Michigan State University are successful people. They end up having great jobs and help the world everyday. I love Michigan State because most people in Michigan don’t give them respect they deserve and they somehow work things out to prove people wrong. Cheering on the “Green and White” has been in my blood for 10 years and that will never change. Tom Izzo and Mark Dantonio have really changed the way people think about Michigan State athletics and academics, and I would do anything to be a part of that. They have a positive mindset and a great outcome when student-athletes enter and exit the Michigan State world.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would say that I have a big, strong, willing heart. You need heart and a desire to win, if you want to be a great team. I work hard every single day to get better at what I do. I may not be a leader, or a captain, or a loudmouth, but I am a competitor. I love sports. I will give 110 % every single play, down, and yard that I can get. I never give up and will never back down on anything. As an athlete, it is important to show people wrong, and give it your all in everything.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
To stay in school and do something while you’re in it. You only live once so make the best of it. Never give up and always stay positive to strive towards your goals.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
My shout out to SoSportz is do not pass this opportunity. They can help you get your name out there. You are amazing people in the inside as well as out. Thank you for giving me the chance to show my true colors. Thank you very much SoSportz.

FAZIL ITSINZI- PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Fazil Itsinzi and I play basketball. I am a 5'7 point guard from Portland High in Maine. I've been playing basketball for 6 years. Last year I got mentions in CT to be a great upcoming point guard in the state. I play for an AAU team that goes by Yellow Jackets from Portland Maine. I average close to 4 assist per game as well as 10+ points.

What was your best game?
My best game was when I played a team that goes by Keenebuck and we were down 20 by half. I had 26 points, 3 turnovers, and 6 assist at the end of the game. I had 13 in the 4th quarter and with the help of my teammates we beat them by 6

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because if there wasn't any basketball program in my school I wouldn't be as dedicated and focused as I am in the class room. I know the great progress I make in the classroom makes my parents happy and they have no reason not to let me play basketball. I have good grades and good attendance in all my classes. I have a 3.2 GPA and I am going to continue my success on the court and off.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
For me to get better in sports, I have to have trust in myself meaning I have to be confidence in everything I do on the court and be a leader. Almost 5 out 7 days of the week I am doing basketball workouts, basketball courses, and I do all these steps each day just to get better. I know the season is over but I am dedicated to be the best I can be.

What is your dream college?
I feel like I would be great at Wake Forest University. I like the new coaching staff which this year is Jeff Bzdelik. I felt like when he coached the Denver Nuggets back in 2005 he made them a run and gun team and I feel like that's my style of play. He would help me a lot to mature in the game.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would have to say leadership and have the heart to take on any challenge there is. I know my height wouldn't give me a lot of advantages so I would use my speed and my leadership to do whatever I can to make the results worth living with. I would make sure everyone is in position and I wouldn't let the game get out of hand. I would take everything my coach would expect of me, use what he expects, and as well as what it takes to win. Also, I'll be the coach on the floor.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Be somebody. Make sure you give it all you got no matter what the results are. Just know when things aren't going good that means you have to take the negative and work harder to make them positive. Most importantly, play every game like it's your last and just to play with you heart.

Send a shout to SoSportz:
Thanks SoSportz!!!!!!!

KUMASE DE MESMA- NARBONNE HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Kumase De Mesma a.k.a "MAS" and I play basketball. I'm a 5'11" point guard from Narbonne High School in Harbor City, CA that made 1st Team All-Marine League and the All- Los Angeles City Section Division 2 team. My travel team is TEAM L.A. and I'm currently averaging 16 points per game as well as 7 assists per game.

What was your best game?
My best game this year was against my high school's rival San Pedro High School in San Pedro, CA. I led my team to win the game after being down 12 points at the half hitting a total of 6 three-pointers (4 threes in the second half) with a total of 24 points and making the game winning steal and lay-up as time expired to win the game 60-58.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because they are going to determine my future in this world. I love basketball and I can use it as a tool to get into a good college. Education is what helps you continue to live. Not many people without an education are successful in the world. I currently have a 3.1 GPA and I'm pretty good in basketball as well and I hope to continue to do good in both categories in order to take care of my family when I get older.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
I believe you can always get better in anything you do. In order for me to get better in my sport, I have to continue to work hard in school and on the court, listen to mentors and coaches who have been through the basketball lifestyle. I want to continue to live, never lose confidence and know I'm playing to be the best and to help the team I play for be the best, and never getting cocky when success comes and let it stop me from working hard.

What is your dream college?
My dream college has always been a Pac-10 school. I feel like that is one of the best leagues in College Basketball and the teams I can see me playing for is University of Washington and Arizona State University. They both are good schools academically, they have good coaches in Coach Romar and Coach Sendek, and I like their coaching style. I also know a few people that go to those colleges or plan on attending them and I they would love for me to go to the same college as them. I also like Washington and ASU because it isn't that far away from my family in Los Angeles, CA who would love to continue supporting me.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
If a coach asked me how can I make our team better, I would have to say leadership and desire to win. In my heart I believe I have the most confidence and will not back down from any opponent and I try to bring that out of my teammates. Although I may not be the loudest all the time when it comes to practice or a workout, I will lead as an example and continue to work hard. As a point guard I have been taught to be the coach on the floor and whatever my coach needs the team to do, it is my job to get them to do it.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Advice I would pass on to other student-athletes is stay focus, do well in school, and never give up on your dreams. Continue to work hard and the best will come.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
Shout out to SoSportz. You guys are good people and I would like to thank you for trying to get my name out there and trying to help other kids as well. Anyone that gets a hit-up from SoSportz DO NOT pass them by. Thanks again SoSportz.

SHABANI KARIM- PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Shabani Karim. I'm 5'8 and I'm a sophomore at Portland High School in Maine. I play basketball there and I'm a guard. I also play for the AAU team "Maine Impact". I'm averaging 15.8 ppg, 4.2 apg, 1.5spg, and 3.2 rpg.I love to eat, chill with my friends and family, workout, and play video games. My favorite video game is 2k10 because Kobe is on the cover and that's my favorite player.

What was your best game?
My best game was against Biddeford. I had 32 points, 6 assist, and 7 steals. We lost the game but me and my team were down 20 at half, we came back, and lost by 3.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because if basketball doesn't work out for me I will have something to fall back on. You really don't know where life might take you so take advantage of your education because the sky is limit.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
I wake up every morning at 5 and go down to the park or the school, if it's open, and shoot 300 shots. I would work on my handles and I work out 3 times a week.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is Syracuse because of their great basketball program. One of my favorite point guards came out of Syracuse, Jonny flynn. The coaching staff there is nice and well respected by many.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I am a player who plays for the love of the sport. If I saw some one not working hard or putting them self down, I would talk to them and tell them how to improve their game and help them.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Keep your head up and always work hard because it will pay off, I promise. Always go beyond your goals.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
Thanks SoSportz!!!