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!!!

ALBERT LOUIS-JEAN- BROCKTON HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
I'm a junior right now and I go to Brockton High School in Brockton, MA. I play football and I'm 6`1, 180lbs, and I play DB/WR. I just committed to Miami. I love to eat, sleep, chill with my friends and family, workout, and play video games.

What was your best game?
That's hard but I`ll say against BC High School. I had a kick return for a touchdown to change the game, I had about 10 tackles, and a forced fumble. Against Newbedford High School I had 15 tackles, 1 interception, and a couple of catches.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are important to me because it`ll help me in life and basically determine what happens in my life. Sports teaches me life lessons and I just love playing sports.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
All I can do is work hard by lifting weights, running, and doing drills that make me better at my positions.

What is your dream college?
It was my dream to go to Miami because of all the great players that have come out of there, the tradition, and family.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would tell the coach that I could make the team better by working hard, dominating at my position, and tyring to bring out the best in my teammates.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
I would tell them to get good grades 1st and just work hard in everything they do. Set your goals real high and strive to reach them.

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

NATALIE BASTIAN- SACRED HEART ACADEMY

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Natalie Bastian. I'm 5'7 1/2 and a sophomore at Sacred Heart Academy. I play for the AAU team, Team Connecticut. I play the guard positions(point, shooting, 1,2,3) but I get in there for every rebound, as well as being able to drive hard to the lane and shoot. I have been playing basketball ever since I was about 10 and it is my absolute life. I live to play basketball. I am out there everyday trying to improve myself and my game because one day I want to go to the WNBA....its my absolute dream.=]

What was your best game?
I believe I have 2 best games so far because I still have a long way to go. Every game can become your best game if you put your heart and soul out on the court and leave it all on the floor, are determined, and have no fear. The first was last year in AAU when I had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and I believe 4 steals. I just let myself go in this game and it really showed. I helped lead my team to an excellent win against a very good team.=] The second one was when my school team was down 2 points this year, with 5 seconds to go. My teammate took the shot but it got tipped and went flying in the air, and somehow...I grabbed the ball, went up strong, made the basket, and got fouled with no time left on the clock. I then made the one foul shot with all my teammates on the sidelines, and got us one step closer to states!=]

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are especially important to me because I believe that in sports you can express yourself and show everyone what you can do. You can't have sports without the grades, so grades are very important. I have a 3.95 GPA for this semester and look to keep that up as high as I can while improving myself in my game and in my books. Grades are what allow you to play sports and education is needed in everyday life. So stay in school and work your hardest on and off the court. Basketball - My Anti-drug

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
I will do whatever it takes to keep getting better and better in basketball. I work everyday, as hard and as long as I possibly can. In order to make yourself better, you cant just go through the motions, you have to do everything with a purpose and play hard every second...no breaks. It's a commitment to get better, not a promise.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is the University of Connecticut because they have amazing academics as well as the best basketball team in the country. Geno is the best coach anyone could ever have and it would be an absolute honor to be coached by him. I also would love to go to either Syracuse University or North Carolina.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would say that I am willing to do anything to bring your team to the top. I will inspire not only myself but my teammates around me to be the best that they can be and to keep improving. I will provide competition to keep myself and my teammates on top of their game and to never slack. I will demonstrate my leadership and hard working qualities to better not only myself but my teammates as well. I respect my coach as well as my teammates and will do whatever it takes to become the best that I can be.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
The advice that I can give to other student-athletes is to keep your head up and to keep going forward. The farther you dream the farther you get, so never stop dreaming because impossible is nothing. Keep your grades up because without your school and education you won't be going anywhere. So keep working hard in the books and on the court. =]

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
THANK YOU SoSPORTZ for giving me the opportunity to do this interview! SoSPORTZZZZ ROCKS!!!!=]

DEVIN MASONE- LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Devin Masone I'm a combo guard out of Wake Forest, NC. I attend Lighthouse Christian. I just finished out my junior season averaging 25 ppg, 7 apg, 4spg, and 4 rpg. I also finished my junior year with 2,300 career points so far. I am a strong believer in Christ and believe I can do all thing through him.

What was your best game?
I would have to say my best game is a hard thing to decide. I have had many good games. The one I remember the most was the game I scored 46 points in one game. My shot was on, I played great defense, and we played as a team and pulled out a close victory. That was a great memory, but my best game was the game I played in states. It was my first game back since my big brothers death and I wore his number the rest of the year and played my heart out that game having 22 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, and 6 steals.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports are important to me but it's always been student before athlete. You have to put the same effort you put into your sport into your schooling. As a athlete you have to see that after sports you need a fall back plan and school will help you have that fall back plan. Your education is a very important, a degree will take you far. Always stay grounded in you studies.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
To make myself better I have to be never satisfied, but always wanting to improve on my game. There's always something in my game I can improve on, nobody is perfect. I need to push myself to become better and never be complacent. Practice just like a game, and train hard.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is Liberty University. I love the schools atmosphere and I love how it's big yet small. The basketball team is heading in a positive direction and so is the school.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would tell the college coach that I am a player who will give you my best day in and day out. I am always working to become better and I am never satisfied. I can bring a offensive and defensive threat to your team. Most importantly, I'm a natural born leader, I can help lead and encourage a team to become better and to be one.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Never give up. Always try your best and don't ever give up. Always push for success!!! The sky is the limit.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
Thank you SoSportz for this interview and hope you the best. You're doing a great thing here. Hope you can help me, and I'll help you in any way I can!!!!

NICHOLAS BOWERMAN- HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Nicholas Bowerman and I attend Holy Cross High School. I play hockey and have a great love and passion for the game.

What was your best game?
I would have to say my best game was a couple of years ago. My travel team was in a tournament in New Jersey and I had already had 2 goals in the first 3 periods of the final game. In overtime no goals were scored so the game went into a shootout. I was picked to be the third shooter and I scored, our team won the game, and we won the tournament.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports is important to me because of the love and fun that I have with playing sports and hockey. Education is important to me because colleges are now looking for both sports skills and education so it is important to make sure you do well and try your best in both.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
I can practice harder to make myself better and push myself to the limit. I can also take the most advice from both my coaches and older kids that have played hockey.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is Boston University. I feel Coach Jack Parker is a great coach, I love the style he brings and great attitude he shows towards his players.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would tell the college coach that I am a player who tries hard each and everyday and I will push the team. I would also tell the coach that you are getting a winner, someone who is going to do what it takes to win.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Never give up. Always try your best and don't take anything for granted. Embrace every moment in the sport you are playing.

Send a shout out to SoSportz:
Thank you SoSportz!!

JAVON PERKINS- JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL

Tell everyone about yourself?
My name is Javon Perkins and I attend John F. Kennedy High School. I am a very humble basketball player who has a passion for the game.

What was your best game?
My best game was a AAU game at the AAU Super Showcase in Florida. I had 25 on a Nike team from Georgia.

Why are sports/education important to you?
Sports and education are so important to me because I fell in love with basketball and I wanna supply a better life for my family and this is the only way I feel I can make that happen.

What can you do to make yourself better in your sport?
I can make myself better by pushing myself everyday and staying focused. I need to also know what my goal is and believing in it.

What is your dream college?
My dream college is University of Louisville because I feel Rick Pitino is an excellent coach. His coaching style is the way I like to play and I like the way he treats his players.

If a College Coach ask you, how can you make our team better, what would you say?
I would tell the college coach that you're getting a player who is going to go hard and push everyone around him. You're getting a winner, someone who is going to do what it takes to win, and a player who can handle the pressure. I will get it done in the clutch.

What advice can you give other student-athletes?
Always keep their heads up and don't ever let anyone tell you what you can and can't do.

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