A leader of two school clubs and the co-captain of varsity girls basketball, senior Yewande Alabi is no ordinary athlete. Although her involvement in various activities on campus may seem overwhelming, her diligent and determined character always paves her way to success.
Alabi is currently the vice president of both Link Crew and We the People. We the People is a club that aims to aware students about the US Government and politics. Moreover, Alabi takes challenging courses such as AP Psychology and AP Government, and still maintains a cumulative 3.89 GPA. “It’s hard juggling my studies and basketball, but I actually enjoy being busy, so the more activities I am involved in, the merrier,” Alabi said.
Influenced by her brother, who also played basketball for Diamond Bar, Alabi first started playing basketball in sixth grade. Seeing that he thoroughly enjoyed the sport, she gave it a try. Now with seven years of experience, she is the leader of the team with esteemed athletic achievements such as First Team All-Hacienda League and Academic All-League. Also chosen as the Offensive Player of the Year last year, Alabi proudly holds the school record for the most rebounds in a game as she grabbed 28 boards against the Los Altos conquerors.
As the team captain, Alabi supports her team members by getting them into their game spirit. Despite the long hours of practice and hard work, she believes that the friends and memories she makes are invaluable.
Also before every game, Alabi prepares herself with a unique ritual of eating rice pudding, and most importantly, makes sure she is in a calm and focused mindset.
Alabi’s practice of maintaining her composure and confident attitude definitely benefits her athletic performance. “In my sophomore year, we were playing against Los Altos High School. At first we were down by 14 points with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, but we were able to pull through and eventually win by two points,” she commented, recalling one of her most memorable basketball moments.
In addition to her unwavering prowess as a team player, another great athletic advantage Alabi has is her height. Her 6’ 1” figure is often the tallest on the court, allowing her to dominate games by scoring over people and getting rebounds. In order to further strengthen her physical ability, she trains her body through vigorous workout techniques. “I think suicides, [a form of a basketball drill], are the best way to get in shape. Weights and running also get me in shape,” she shared.
After graduating high school, Alabi aspires to continue playing basketball in college. Her goal is to attend Boston University, Wellesley College, or UC Berkeley and study pre-med.
“I think this has been one of the best seasons so far. We have beaten so many tough teams, and we have real chance at the Hacienda League title,” she said.
