He is also an immensely experienced player who will have the opportunity to play professionally and he is also a very talented rapper who goes by the name Lil Bazzy and will continue to pursue music as a creative and competitive outlet. That shouldn’t be the case with Shabazz, who helped the Dons create a resume that could be considered for non-NCAA tournaments after the season. Many careers end in defeat at a conference tournament. ![]() The rest wonder what could have been and lament every turnover and miss for the remainder of the offseason.įor some, it could be the rest of their lives. While social media and highlight shows this time of year are awash with images of triumphant tournament teams felling the nets or jubilantly brace-dancing, in many leagues this is only the case for one team. ![]() “He told me it was always a pleasure to play against me for the last four years. “He was just saying what a good basketball player I am and what a legacy I left for the school,” Shabazz said. Gerlufsen put his hand on Shabazz’ shoulder until his star player collected himself. The generously listed 6-foot Seattle native mumbled three words before his head sank onto the table and tears began to flow. Someone asked Shabazz if Few stopped him for a quick chat as he left the court. Shabazz, who got his team back in the game with six 3-pointers and 26 points only to fall short in his last collegiate game, knew he could keep it together as long as he didn’t have to talk.īut the inevitable question came shortly after Gerlufsen’s opening speech, in which he praised Shabazz for his influence on the program. That left the Dons’ crew with just a fraction of the potential interrogators who could stand between this moment and the chance to come home to lick their wounds after a heartbreaking 84-73 loss to the Bulldogs in the semifinals of the West Coast Conference tournament. Much of the media contingent that had peppered Gonzaga coach Mark Few and his victorious players with questions just moments earlier had departed to work on their stories and videos. ![]() Khalil Shabazz sat on the stage staring ahead with a blank expression on his hoodie-framed face that made it clear he hoped no one could see him.Ī late Monday night had faded into the early hours of Tuesday as the San Francisco wake-up star, flanked by coach Chris Gerlufsen and teammate Tyrell Roberts, entered the Orleans Arena media room and took his place on the podium.
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