Junior international studies major Shane Seniour was named GD Ritzy’s player of the game on the “Rodney Watson on Basketball” radio show after the team’s game against Cedarville. Shane played two years at Parkland College in Illinois before transferring back to his hometown to attend USI. The Shield sat down to talk to him about his transition and his experience so far.
The Shield: Can you talk a little bit about your reasoning for transferring to USI?
Seniour: Well, after my two years at Parkland, I had a lot of different schools contacting me, wanting me to come and visit and stuff. I was actually committed to Chicago State University, which is D1, about six or seven hours away from home. But I’m real close with my family. Last year, at the beginning of the year, I had some complications in my family. I had a family member who had some health issues. So every weekend I was making trips over to Indianapolis and when you go through something like that you realize what’s important. When I talked to Coach Watson and realized I had the opportunity to come back home and play in front of friends and family it wasn’t something I wanted to pass up.
The Shield: You had nine double-doubles in your last season at Parkland. Then in the game against Cedarville, you earned your first double-double for USI. Is that something you see continuing?
Seniour: Yeah, that’s definitely something. I’d like to get more than nine and break my record from last year. But when Coach recruited me, I think that was something he really liked. He saw me as a guy who could come in and get a double-double.
The Shield: You scored 10 points, but you really added to the game with your 13 rebounds. Is rebounding something you take a lot of pride in or a focus of your game?
Seniour: Yeah, if I had to say one skill or asset I bring to the team, it’s definitely rebounding.
The Shield: Are you enjoying USI? Has it been an easy transition for you?
Seniour: Yeah, I’ve got a lot of friends here that I was able to reconnect with. Being away for two years, I hadn’t talked to a lot of people. So it’s been nice catching back up with people. Obviously, being 20 minutes away from home, because my family lives in Newburgh, so that’s nice. I get to go home for a home cooked meal once or twice a week.
The Shield: Is there something that you think USI could offer you in basketball or in your major?
Seniour: Well, I’m majoring in international studies, so that’s kinda specific. A lot of people are surprised, I guess, because I’m an athlete or a basketball player, that I’m majoring in that. But the program at USI is definitely up and coming this year, and in the past few years it’s really grown into something. So shout out to the international studies program. I’m sure Dr. Rivera would be happy to get a shout out in The Shield.
The Shield: Are there any goals that you have for yourself during your time on the USI team?
Seniour: Yeah, win a national championship. Win a GLVC championship like they did last year and then go on and bring a national championship home. That was another reason I decided to come to USI over a low major D1, because in a low major D1 you’re playing just to get in the tournament. Whereas talking to Coach and him telling me the kind of guys he had, I realized I could home and play for a national championship. So that was definitely another big reason for coming here.
