By Mac Moore
Sameia Kendall is a freshman women’s basketball player from Raytown High School in Kansas City. Currently she averages around nine points per game and is tied for second most steals in the season.
Q: What is the team primary focus at this point in the season?
A: The primary focus at this point, which it’s been all year, is to get better every day and everything else will work out on its own. We live by the model “process over product”.
Q: How’s it been tough to stay grounded while playing at this high level? What things do players and coaches do to keep the team striving for improvement during a fairly dominant stretch of games?
A: Playing at this high level has definitely been a change for me, comparing to high school basketball. It’s a bigger commitment and the dedication has to be there to stay grounded. During long stretches of games, to keep improving, we just take one day at a time and focus on improving day by day.
Q: Last year’s team finished with a 32-3 record, but a 1-2 tournament record. Do you believe this squad will be able to match or succeed the performance of last year’s squad?
A: Last year’s team was very good and I think we look up to them. Hearing about their accomplishments from Coach [Ben] Conrad pushes us to strive to try to accomplish things that they were able to accomplish. We don’t see this as a competition, but more as an honor to be mentioned in the same group as last year’s team.
Q: What has been the memorable moment of this season for you?
A: The most memorable moment was getting revenge on Highland after they beat us at their place. I think the loss was more memorable though because I think it was humbling. It was our first loss of the season and it put a chip on our shoulder that we needed to get better and we had not accomplished anything yet.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Love & Basketball”
Q: Favorite artist?
A: Beyoncé
Q: If you were given $50,000, but half had to go to charity, what charity would you give it to and what would you do with the rest?
A: St. Joseph children cancer patients. Then I would give some to my parents, pay for the rest of my schooling, of course spend some on me, and put the rest in the bank.
Contact Mac Moore, sports editor, at mmoore82@jccc.edu.