695HOOPS WHERE IT'S ALWAYS ALL ABOUT THE GIRLS
Zelor Massequoi
2014
I was at the Blue Chip event in York when I saw this 5'7", 195 pound point guard-power forward hybrid running the floor. Her strength and athleticism give her that rare package that allows her to move taller players around and blow by smaller players. I caught up to Zelor Massaquoi at the start of her Junior season at Reservoir high and I found her to be very articulate, intelligent and entertaining.
695: How did you get started playing ball?
Zelor: The story of how I started playing ball is pretty weird actually, but I was a soccer player up until 7th grade and at the beginning of soccer season I got grounded and wasn't allowed to play. My mom told me that if I was good, she'd let me play basketball and I haven't looked back since.
695: Have you played any other sports besides soccer?
Zelor: No. I played soccer from 7 years old until I was about 12 years old
695: Where did you grow up?
Zelor: I was born in Monrovia, Liberia in West Africa and I was raised in Laurel, Maryland.
695: What other hobbies do you have besides basketball?
Zelor: Besides playing basketball my favorite hobbies are cooking, hanging out with my teammates and close friends, sleeping and cheering on the greatest team ever: the New York Giants!
695: Can you cook? Do you have any specialties?
Zelor: I actually can cook very well, my moms a licensed chef, but I don't have any sort of speciality. Usually I'll just wake up in the middle of the night and say "hey maybe this'll taste good" and the next day I make it or I'll see what I'm working with and throw something together. I do have a special seasoning though!
695: What do you want to add to your game for the next level?
Zelor: This summer I worked extremely hard, nearly 8 hours a day, to incorporate a lot of new moves into my arsenal. I worked especially hard on my ball control and handling and during fall league I was able to comfortably run the point for 8 straight games. I improved greatly on my shooting form, adding a step back move in there. I found a free throw ritual that improved my percentage greatly. After this summer I think I just need to improve my knowledge of the game, finding looks for me and my teammates and work on being patient and continue my mental toughness and hard work ethic.
695: Which AAU teams have you been with?
Zelor: I've been with the Columbia Ravens Kelliher team for about 4 years
695: Tell me about a funny basketball road trip...
Zelor: Funny basketball road trip? The best one was actually this past Saturday. My high school team, the Reservoir Gators of Fulton, Maryland had a play day across the Bay Bridge and it was just a bunch of laughs and we really bonded well. But, we were all sitting in the gym watching our JV girls play and all the African American girls were sitting together and the Caucasian girls a little further down the row and we didn't even notice but my coach walks by and starts laughing and says "could you guys be any more segregated", and we all busted out laughing.
695: What are your goals for this high school season?
Zelor: I have one goal for this season and that's to bring some sort of hardware to Reservoir High whether it be a county, region, or state championship. If I have to shed blood and tears, I will. When that happens, I would've done everything I was supposed to do; I worked my butt off in practice, I motivated my teammates and pushed them to their best and I was the best leader possible. I am also trying to get some more looks from colleges. I have my list of where I want to go and I'm going to stay in contact with those coaches.
695: What position are you most comfortable playing?
Zelor: On offense the position doesn't really matter to me because I know how the play is run from each position. On defense I prefer playing center because I love rebounding and I love seeing the looks on the faces of girls who are 6 inches taller than me but can't back me down in the post.
695: I love it! What do you listen to on the iPod?
Zelor: I have a wide variety of music on my iPod. I listen to a lot of Jay-Z, I have all the Blueprint albums, Kanye, Alicia Keys, Beyonce and YMCMB. I have a lot of African music too and that always gets me game ready. And I have a lot of Beenie Man, Mr. Vegas, and Sean Paul.
695: Who is your favorite player?
Zelor: I have four favorite basketball players; Brittney Griner of Baylor (who tweeted me once and follows me on twitter), ex-North Carolina Tarheel guard Italee Lucas, Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi and Seattle Storm guard Lauren Jackson.
695: Name two songs that will get you on the dance floor...
Zelor: (Laughing) No song will get me on the dance floor. I can't dance to save my life. It's not a pretty sight!
695: Thanks and good luck this season.
Zelor: Thank you.
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