For the past three years, Ke’Shunan James, a member of Murray State Hall of Fame who played for the Racers from 2014 to 2018, has been playing in Slovakia, where she has won three championships in a row. Last season, she took her game to another level, earning Finals MVP, Player of the Year, Forward of the Year, Import of the Year and All-Slovakia First Team honors. Playing for Piešťanské Čajky, she averaged 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.0 steals per game. We talked to her about her career so far, basketball in Slovakia and future plans.
Courtesy of Team United (@teamunitedproam) via X/Twitter.
What was your first love: softball, volleyball or basketball? How did basketball manage to win?
Softball had my heart first because my mom played it. What was the biggest reason I started? I wanted to be like her. Then, I became really good at it and my career got off. Basketball was the choice because I figured out that I could go further in the sport, like I’m doing now. Softball stopped in college, basketball didn’t.
What was the basketball culture like in Tennessee when you were growing up?
The basketball culture was OK, not like most places. If you played, then you played; if you didn’t, then you didn’t.
What do you remember about high school ball and committing to Murray State?
High school ball was fun for me. I enjoyed it very much. I became really close with my coach and he helped me with sending film to colleges and pushing me to the next level. Once I committed, I was ready to prove myself. I felt like I had a lot of odds stacked against me so I needed to work hard.
As the OVC Freshman of the Year, you were second on the team in scoring, averaging 15.4 points per game. How did the older players feel about it?
Being the best player as a freshman was hard for me. I think I didn’t have much support from my teammates and I learned early that I was alone. So I just adapted and kept going.
You led the OVC in scoring your junior year. Was that big for you?
It wasn’t enough for me. I have always been my biggest critic and so once I did something or broke a record, I was always looking for the next thing to do. I was in competition with myself.
In 2018, your senior season, you were named the OVC player of the year.
I felt like I should have won this award two years in a row. I deserved it twice. I’m grateful…
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