March 4, 2022 | SPORTS | By Samwel Makyao | Photo Courtesy of Siena Emuobor
Siena Emuobor ’25 is a forward on the Colorado College Women Basketball Team. She is originally from Raleigh, N.C. Before playing basketball and coming to CC, Siena was a singer, actress, and dancer. We met with Siena in Tutt Library and talked about her stalwart basketball career at CC. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Samwel Makyao: What are the best and worst things about being a basketball player?
Siena Emuobor: I would say the best thing is that it’s a very rewarding game. When you put in the work, believe in yourself, play great defense, and make the shots you want you will always feel good about it. That feeling is incomparable. It always just makes me feel so good. On the other hand, I would say that when things aren’t going your way, it can be challenging to get out of the mental slump and push through that adversity.
Makyao: How did you become so skilled at basketball?
Emuobor: I would say that I got to this point because of my dad. He saw something in me that I couldn’t see. Additionally, he always believed in me and pushed me to become the player I am today.
Makyao: What current basketball player do you resonate with?
Emuobor: I don’t know if I’m exactly like this player, but Liz Cambage is a current player that I look up to so much. She is such an insanely strong player, and I would love to be like her when I grow up. Additionally, I think that she is not only an extremely strong player but also so versatile and hard to guard because she has a mid-range shot and can handle the ball pretty well.
Makyao: What would you prefer to have between Stephen Curry’s Three-Point shooting skills or Giannis Antetokounmpo’s explosiveness?
Emuobor: I would prefer to have Antetokoumpo’s explosiveness because I think he’s the type of player like me. Antetokuonmpo is so admirable because he’s such a hustle player, and that is something I pride myself in being as well.
Makyao: What was your most remarkable accomplishment in high school?
Emuobor: I think it was when I was able to play basketball again after tearing my ACL and MCL and spraining my PCL the summer before my junior year, which is a very big year for recruiting. Honestly, I was really proud of myself. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to play basketball in college because of that injury, but through the support of my coaches and family, I was able to come back a stronger player.
Makyao: How do you manage to stay in shape during the offseason?
Emuobor: Our basketball workouts keep us fit a lot during the off-season and in-season. During these periods, we are not just practicing. We like doing conditioning or lifting, and therefore, we always have something to do to keep us in shape and ready to go.
Makyao: Name a song that you can’t stop singing and why?
Emuobor: Our team’s song is “If I Were a Boy” by Beyonce. Our team listens to it on the bus or during practice in the locker room. We can’t stop singing it, and it’s one of our favorites.
Makyao: What is the first thing you do with your teammates after winning a game?
Emuobor: We normally huddle up on the court, and Anna Fanelli, our starting point guard, says a few words of encouragement and congratulations to the team. It’s always a nice moment because we are not rushing to get into the locker room – we take a second and clap it up on the court, not just like a job well done but as an acknowledgment that we won this game.
Makyao: How do you manage to overcome doubts and stay on top of your game?
Emuobor: I think a big part for me is exalting all the work I did to get to the point I am today. It’s easy to forget these things, like the amount of work we put in high school towards becoming a college athlete. So when I feel like doubting myself for how good I am, I always love to remind myself that I deserve to be here because I worked hard to be here, so I need to play like it.
Makyao: Describe what you hope to accomplish in the next few years in a #hashtag.
Emuobor: It will definitely be #Division_Three_National_Champions