Shalini Aziz

Biography

Alright, here’s the drill. My name’s Shalini “Queen Cobra” Aziz, and let me tell you, that’s an earned name. Sure, sure, I’m a good girl. I from Chicago Bay University, got good grades, and all that good stuff. But that ain’t what y’all wanna hear about. Y’all looking for a commanding power forward? I’m bringing her to you. You want a good reference? I’m giving it to you so that you know right off that bat what kind of drive I’ve got. So, what do you think? This letter too brash? Unconventional? In your face? Then we’re on the right track.

I ain’t all talk either. I grew up in Caldwell, NJ, but have the streets smarts of NYC. The people from my town all got fed with a silver spoon, but I knew right from the get-go that kind of living would keep me from developing into my own individual. So, I made my way into the city as often as I could. Would you be surprised to learn that’s where I first got into basketball? It was streetball that helped shape me. And, sure, I ain’t the first nor the last to say streetball is where I got my start, but I’ll tell you, it ain’t no silver spoon. I got my ass beat. A lot. I never experienced anything like it. It was exhilarating! I was so used to making it, barely ever lifting a finger, and here were these “unruly” furs on the street just mopping the floor with me. I didn’t win because I didn’t earn it. That was the start to truly working towards the achievements I’d be awarded.

Now, I said I ain’t all talk, and streetball is why. School came easy to me. Everything else was given to me. Everything, but basketball. Basketball was the one thing out of my reach, but I was damn well gonna go after it. I played in high school and was the worse player on the team. Like, seriously, coach hardly ever let me have any minutes because of how easily players drew fouls out of me, not to mention I was awful at threes. It didn’t stop me, though. It made me laugh, honestly. Of course, I spent all my free time practicing, playing a game of pick up, whatever I could, just so that one day I’d not only be good enough to consistently play for the team, but be so damn good that I’d make the coach question why he benched me to begin with. When he came to me and said “sorry you haven’t been getting minutes,” and “you’ll be starting from now on,” I knew I accomplished this.

Soon, the scholarships came in and I was off to Chicago Bay which was full of street-smart players from all over. Using those street-smarts in Caldwell? You’ll stand out pretty easily. Use those same street-smarts at C.B? Well, that goal post got pushed further away. Talk about an initial ass beating. But it was fine. My size, my speed, my ferocity, was the foundation of my potential. I learned to be explosively aggressive, easily drawing the fouls that used to be drawn from me. Got the free-throw skills to make those fouls work for me. And you ever want to make someone question their career path? Try throwing down dunks on you defenders, or straight attack the rim off the dribble.

Listen, I’m done talking. Y’all looking for more? Go look at my numbers. Go watch my games. Y’all know why I’m here, and y’all know I belong in the FBA. The time for talk is over. Let’s get at it.