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.
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