Meet Annika Masaki, a freshman who has been playing basketball since kindergarten. This year Annika is on the McClatchy Lady Lions Junior Varsity team where she currently plays shooting guard. Her favorite shot is the free throw. Annika has really enjoyed getting to know all the rest of the girls on the team as they condition together after school, and crush all the other high schools in their many victories this season.
Before joining the McClatchy team, Annika has had a long history of playing basketball. Thanks to her dad’s side of the family, which had lots of basketball players, Annika started off playing for the Sac Buddhist Church against other leagues. She played in that league all the way through sixth grade. Then, at Sutter Middle School, Annika played on the girls’ basketball team in both seventh and eighth grade where her team was undefeated her entire eighth grade year. She’s excited to continue her basketball career for the next four years at McClatchy.
Throughout her life, Annika’s father has always been there to push her and encourage her in basketball. “I’m really grateful for my dad because he’s really knowledgeable in basketball so he’s always able to help me,” says Annika. Her dad is constantly helping her improve her skills, and she’s appreciative of the fact that he’s there for her to practice with. No matter who her coaches may be, she knows her dad is always there to turn to.
Not only does Annika enjoy playing the game, she also enjoys the benefits that come with being a basketball player. She feels that playing basketball is something that she has in common with lots of other people, so it helps her be more socially interactive, find friendships, and connect with others.
But Annika’s life isn’t all about basketball. She has several other hobbies as well. At Sutter, she was on the speech and debate team and the Mathletes team. She has also joined the Mathletes team here at McClatchy. In her free time, Annika loves listening to music and reading. Her favorite genre is fantasy fiction, but she always tries to keep an open mind and read different things. And one more fun fact about Annika: she loves wearing beanies! Rainy days are her favorite because they give her the perfect excuse to wear one.
Annika is super friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand. She’s looking forward to her next four years at McClatchy as well as many, many more years of basketball.
Categories