From his days on the court at Serra High to his year at Skyline
College and eventually his basketball playing and graduations from
both Vanguard University in Orange County and Corban University in
Salem, Oregon, 6-foot-1 Masie Mohammadi encountered many
positive experiences alongside the inevitable bumps and bruises during his
basketball sojourn. But rather than cry 'woe is me' and be
deterred by the latter, he adopted the mindset to learn from the mishaps and come back stronger. In a unique way, call
his challenges exercises in personal strengthening.
Choosing Serra
Residing in San Carlos, Mohammadi had the choice of remaining local
come time to attend high school or choosing Serra High in nearby San
Mateo. "Most of my friends chose another high school and for sure
it was an adjustment for me but I wasn't discouraged," he
explained. One element he always kept in mind was the benefits of
being a member of the very successful Serra High varsity
basketball program. "I knew I could take it on and wasn't
intimidated" even though Serra drew the best talents from all over
the peninsula. "I was the only freshman to make the junior varsity
squad (rather than the freshman team), everyone else was a
sophomore."
How did that first decision of many more turn out for Mohammadi? "We
won league. I earned the honor of Most Valuable Player and Coach
Rapp brought me up to varsity when my season ended." The Serra
High varsity team won the CCS open division championship that
year. Additionally, "I got a taste of playing for Coach Rapp," a valuable element for any freshman.
Mohammadi's sophomore season involved another critical choice for
the young man, one displaying the judiciousness of his
decision-making. "My minutes were up and down as a sophomore
(2015-16) but I wanted to remain on the varsity team because I was
able to create a bond with the guys." He identified with the Serra
varsity hoops ethos of "getting after each other super hard but
never taking it personal. The idea is to make each other better."
However, he had the option of remaining or
dropping down to the junior varsity level where he would play
much more and gain game experience. "I was a young kid led by amazing senior leadership in
Jeremiah Testa (Menlo College), Lee Jones (Cal Maritime) and Jake
Killingsworth (Columbia, UC San Diego) but ultimately I decided to
play JV basketball. Our JV team went undefeated in league and I
was brought back up to varsity where we won the state championship
that year" (beating Long Beach Poly 48-43).
Few at his age possess the astuteness and lack of ego to drop a
level and still make the most of that opportunity.
Mohammadi continued, "As a junior, I was able to finally get a
full taste of what WCAL basketball is. Plus, there was a personal connection as Parker McDonald, who is also from San Carlos, made the
varsity team. "He has always been like a little brother to me so
getting the chance to play with him was fun. In the Jungle Game,
he scored the game-winning shot on a buzzer beater" to beat
St. Ignatius 60-59. In the playoffs, Serra topped Palma but fell to Sequoia. A 60-39 victory over Montgomery was then followed by a
season-ending 68-56 loss to Cardinal Newman.
Suhail Mohammadi/Fresno Pacific
Before his senior go-around, Mohammadi set goals of achieving a
breakthrough season and getting his college education paid for.
His brother Suhail was back home after playing at Fresno Pacific
on a full scholarship and his presence aided Mohammadi's focus on
basketball. But injury and death came into play.
"The league (West Catholic Athletic League) was stacked with
players like Logan Johnson, Darrion Trammell, Riley Grigsby and
Jake Wojcik and we had an up-and-down year. Mid-year, I rolled my
ankle and then on December 17, my uncle passed away. He was kind
of another brother to me and it was the first time I faced a death
like that. I was named to the Honorable Mention list as a senior
and I put that list in my room to use as future motivation. I
ended up with zero scholarship offers and I was asking myself if I
still wanted to play basketball while my peers were heading off to
four-year schools."
Going with Skyline College
Rather than sulk, blame others or become overwhelmed, Mohammadi
again displayed his maturity by controlling the controllable.
Opportunity appeared and he seized the moment in order to continue
moving forward.
As he explained, "(Skyline College) Coach (Justin) Piergrossi
came to our house on a recruiting visit. After that, I realized I
owed it to my parents and my brother to keep playing. My parents
are the epitome of hard work, and their unwavering support has
been a source of immense comfort and inspiration throughout my
journey."
The Family Hoops Connection
"My Dad (Wahid) played on the Afghanistan National Team back in
the day as did my brother who was also a two-time All Peninsula
Athletic Conference selection, a Most Valuable Player at Carlmont
High, and a two-time first-team All San Mateo County selection. I
was getting recruited by other local junior colleges but knew
Skyline College was the best fit for me. So I decided to go to
there."
However, Mohammadi knew more would be required of him. But he had no inkling what that would entail.
As he recalled, "I had to really dedicate myself to basketball
and I became obsessed with wanting to get better." His
transformation began even before his senior year concluded. "This
was the summer of separation. It was a grind. Whether at Skyline,
with my trainers, or with my brother, I just wanted to work. I
became addicted to the game of basketball. My brother, who is
eight years older, dedicated a lot of his time to me. He gave me
the blueprint and I had to really, really work. We would go to
parks at 1:00 a.m. and work out in the dark. He would wake me up
in the middle of the night to go work out. There were times I
hated him and we would get into real fights. Many times we were so
loud that the cops came to the park and told us to leave. But we
would go to another park and continue. It was a lot of blood,
sweat, and tears but that's how I become who I am. I wouldn't be
where I am today without my brother. Only we could understand what
we really did during those times and how much it meant. The grind
is always undefeated."
The Payoff—Success at Skyline
Results came quickly to Mohammadi at Skyline College. Mohammadi
averaged close to 19 points per game, finished third in the state
in made threes with 103 while shooting 43%, led the state in
threes made per game, and earned a spot on the All-State Honorable Mention
team. "I broke the Skyline record for most threes in a game and in
a single season. I value that Coach Piergrossi had a better vision
for me than I had for myself."
Skyline Coach Justin Piergrossi remains thankful for the opportunity to mentor Mohammadi. "Even though Masie was disappointed with his senior season, I knew he had tremendous potential playing in our offense. Coming out of Serra, he was clearly prepared and ready to play right away. His biggest adjustments were going to be all things he could control, and he did just that.”
Piergrossi continued, "Masie put up some incredible numbers during his freshman season at Skyline. But one of the statistics that usually goes unnoticed is that he did it all on on just 13 shot attempts per game. He bought into our model of efficiency and did all of his scoring within our offense. He learned how to play better off the ball and became multi-dimensional. Masie was incredibly coachable and as competitive as they come."
In conclusion he offered,"although I only had one season coaching Masie, it was a very rewarding one. He is a special player, and person. He has an impact on everyone he comes into contact with and I’m so proud he represents our program."
After his bountiful season, Mohammadi received a few offers to
play at the next level. "Vanguard University (an NAIA program in
Orange County) was the first team to reach out to me. Assistant
Coach Taylor Kelly texted me after I played well in an August
tournament at City College of San Francisco."
In mapping out and weighing his options, "Vanguard proved to be
the best choice for me as they aligned perfectly with my personal
values and principles. The location was perfect because I wanted
to play college basketball in Southern California and it was a
full scholarship offer. I knew I wasn't a D1 player at the time --
a D1 shooter, yes -- but my body wasn't ready for D1. So I visited
Vanguard and accepted the next day. I went from doubting myself to
earning a scholarship."
Building Bonds
"We (Vanguard) traveled to Taiwan that summer to play in a
tournament with teams from Taiwan, China, New Zealand and the
Philippines -- it was the first time being out of the country for
me." Most important of all for Mohammadi, "we did a lot of team
bonding during the trip."
"I played well my first year there, becoming the starting
shooting guard mid-way through the year. The pace was so much
faster and the coaches demanded a lot more. Each player had a
role, a job, and my goal was to master my job -- that being make
shots, lead, and defend. I took pride in my defense and definitely
improved my defense from my time at Serra High. We didn't make the
playoffs my first year there and then COVID hit in March."
"My junior year at Vanguard was the shortened COVID season as we
played only 12 or 13 games. But we won our side of the conference,
got to play in the national tournament up in Idaho but lost to a
team we should have beaten." Mohammadi led the team in made threes.
In his final season at Vanguard, "I stepped up my leadership
role. I've always been a leader and had a knack for leadership by
knowing how to approach the group and how to take guys aside.
“Leadership can get lonely for sure but I embrace it and just try
to bring energy anytime I step on the floor.”
Mohammadi's tenure at Vanguard was well-rounded, culminating in
the blossoming of multiple relationships with coaches and
teammates alongside a college degree
"My three years at Vanguard were some of the best times of my life.
A lot of coaches don't value relationships (with their players) --
they see it as a business but I enjoyed creating a real relationship
with Coach Rhett Soliday, Coach Taylor Kelly, the other assistant
coaches as well as my teammates which included guys from so many
different backgrounds and cultures due to players being from all
over the world. It was super fun to play at Vanguard. We made the
national tournament back-to-back years while I was there. I became
way more dedicated to school work than when I was at Serra and
graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Business Administration."
Transferring to Corban University
With a year of eligibility remaining, Mohammadi wanted to earn an
MBA degree in business during that time frame, quite the goal
considering the time also required for basketball. A decision on his
next school would need to accommodate this desire. Luckily for
him, a former coach noted Mohammadi's availability.
"Taylor Kelly contacted me (he had left after my sophomore season
for the head coach position at Corban University in Salem, Oregon)
and offered a scholarship." That worked because Corban offered a
one-year MBA program.
So Corban it was. During the summer, Kelly took his team
(including Mohammadi) to Equador on a mission trip and to play
some pro teams from South America. "The people treated us like we
were LeBron James or Steph Curry. On our trip, we shared a lot and
this vulnerability became a big asset in our lives. Everyone has a
unique story and we became super close."
The trip put many of things into perspective for Mohammadi. “We
are incredibly fortunate to live the lives we live. Gratitude
enriches our lives, improves our relationships, and promotes
emotional well-being and this trip did that. We were very talented
this year and won 20 games and made the national tournament. These
guys will forever be my brothers."
Untimely Injury
Mohammadi's biggest hurdle in life thus far came close to
season's end. The foremost nightmare of any player is suffering a
serious injury and that is what occurred.
A week before the conference tournament, a day before Senior
Night and against fierce rival Southern Oregon, "I went to steal a
full-court pass, landed on one leg, and felt a pop. I was rolling
around on the ground screaming. Our trainer put me through some
tests and I guess my adrenaline was flowing because it seemed like
I was okay. Coach put me back in the game but when I got into a
defensive stance off the ball, my right knee gave out. I hobbled
out to the hallway saying 'it's over, I'm done'. I knew it was a
torn ACL."
"The worst was that my parents were there. My brother, who
planned to fly in the next day, checked my game stats and knew
something was up. He eventually talked with my parents and broke
down when he heard the news. The next night, in front of my
parents and my brother, my coaches worked it out with the opposing
coach for me to get the ball from the tip off and the defense
allowed me to shoot a layup to begin the game. That was the last
basket of my career."
"I believe everything happens for a reason, everybody's journey
is different. I was in bed for weeks after surgery and it was not
fun at all. I hated it. I was definitely tested mentally. The best
thing was March Madness being on those weeks."
Another element played a big factor in his mindset. "The love I
got from the Vanguard folks and people from Serra and Skyline and
all over the Bay Area in texts and phone calls after my injury
meant a lot to me."
Mohammadi still earned his Masters Degree in Business Administration
from Corban and wants to eventually work in the high tech industry.
Wisdom Gained
"It has definitely been a ride but it's important to ride the bus
with the people who are in your corner, like those who helped me
become who I am today," Mohammadi said. "Work hard, trust the
process and be true to yourself. Basketball has done so much for me
and I'm not done yet. I'm in rehab mode now and it's day-to-day, but
I hope to play overseas eventually. We’ll see. My story is still
being written. But first I want to get into college coaching,
possibly starting at Skyline College. I enjoy coaching and I think I
have a knack for it. I want to mentor, give back, and be a resource
for the next generation."
"Another thing I've realized as part of embracing the process is
understanding that no matter how focused you are or how hard you
work, you can't force how fast the results come. Manage your
emotions as things unfold and focus on what you can control.
Basketball has given me many life lessons."
The life of Masie Mohammadi touches much on the human spectrum.
Challenges with no easy answers, unselfishness, relishing
relationships, utilizing long-term vision in decision-making, a
strong emphasis on family, blood-related and not, personal growth,
and always skill development. All in a prism of basketball.
