Cougar basketball's senior guard Steven Shpreyregin looks back over his basketball career, and how he got to where he is today, as he prepares for graduation in early May.
Steven said that his older brother, Alex Shpreyregin, nurtured most of his growth and that he looked up to him both on and off the court.
"My parents being from Russia, they didn't know the American culture very well," Steven said, "and my brother growing up in it was able to teach me some stuff, and he just always kept me in basketball."
Alex was an excellent role model for Steven, he set a big example for him, said Steven's mother Marina Shpreyregin. The two brothers got along well, despite the nine-year age difference, and bonded on the court where they would spend time working on their game.
"He was definitely the one that got me into basketball," Steven said. "We used to go to a community center right by my house all the time and just shoot hoops."
Steven credits most of his motivation to improve his game to his older brother as well.
"When we would play one-on-one, he would never let me win," Steven said. "I don't think I beat him until the end of high school, so that motivated me to be in the gym, because I hated to lose."
Steven's older bother could see the same fire burn in his eyes during their backyard games.
"I think some of his motivation was that he always wanted to beat me when he was younger," Alex said, "and that pushed him."
Alex completely embraced the role as Steven's mentor, and took it upon himself to teach him how to play basketball.
"When I was working on my game, I would bring him and teach him how to dribble and shoot," Alex said, "and he slowly fell in love with the game."
Steven's love for basketball has definitely shown over the years. He started playing at a very young age, and has stuck with it now all through high school and college.
There are pictures of Alex teaching Steven how to dribble in the back yard when he was just 3-years-old, Marina said. He learned when the ball was bigger than his head.
Steven's involvement with basketball stretches farther than just playing the sport himself. When he was only 12-years-old, Steven got the opportunity to coach a youth basketball team, and was even featured on Evening Magazine, a news and entertainment television show that is local to the Pacific Northwest.
Now, as Steven looks towards graduation in just over two months, his family looks back over his growth as both a basketball player, and a person.
"I'm incredibly proud of him," Alex said. "He's gotten to the level that he's at because he works hard. Seeing this finally pay off for him is pretty awesome."
Marina wanted to stress how truly proud of her son she was.
"We are so proud of him and so excited," she said. "He went a long way to reach his goals. He always worked so hard to reach this moment."
It's not just Steven's family that is proud of how far he has come. All of his coaches back in Seattle are impressed with how far he has gotten, Marina said. He was the only person from his high school to ever go and play Division I basketball.
Steven plans to continue being involved with basketball after graduation. With a bachelor's degree in sport management and a minor in business, he plans on being an agent, coach or trainer. He even got invited back to Skagit Valley College this summer to be guest speaker at a basketball clinic for kids, another step toward his dreams.
As the season comes to a close, and the Pac-12 Tournament is right around the corner, Steven continues to work hard and continues to revel in the game of basketball.
"Stepping out on the court first of all is a dream come true," Steven said. "It's something I've dreamed about since I was a kid. It's an honor, a blessing, and a dream come true."
"He's had every reason to quit along the way," Alex said, "but he's a tough kid with incredible resolve and love for the game."
The Cougars square off against Oregon State for 'Senior Day' this weekend, then head off to the Pac-12 Tournament which begins Wednesday March 7 at Las Vegas.
Steven said that his older brother, Alex Shpreyregin, nurtured most of his growth and that he looked up to him both on and off the court.
"My parents being from Russia, they didn't know the American culture very well," Steven said, "and my brother growing up in it was able to teach me some stuff, and he just always kept me in basketball."
Alex was an excellent role model for Steven, he set a big example for him, said Steven's mother Marina Shpreyregin. The two brothers got along well, despite the nine-year age difference, and bonded on the court where they would spend time working on their game.
"He was definitely the one that got me into basketball," Steven said. "We used to go to a community center right by my house all the time and just shoot hoops."
Steven credits most of his motivation to improve his game to his older brother as well.
"When we would play one-on-one, he would never let me win," Steven said. "I don't think I beat him until the end of high school, so that motivated me to be in the gym, because I hated to lose."
Steven's older bother could see the same fire burn in his eyes during their backyard games.
"I think some of his motivation was that he always wanted to beat me when he was younger," Alex said, "and that pushed him."
Alex completely embraced the role as Steven's mentor, and took it upon himself to teach him how to play basketball.
"When I was working on my game, I would bring him and teach him how to dribble and shoot," Alex said, "and he slowly fell in love with the game."
Steven's love for basketball has definitely shown over the years. He started playing at a very young age, and has stuck with it now all through high school and college.
There are pictures of Alex teaching Steven how to dribble in the back yard when he was just 3-years-old, Marina said. He learned when the ball was bigger than his head.
Steven's involvement with basketball stretches farther than just playing the sport himself. When he was only 12-years-old, Steven got the opportunity to coach a youth basketball team, and was even featured on Evening Magazine, a news and entertainment television show that is local to the Pacific Northwest.
Now, as Steven looks towards graduation in just over two months, his family looks back over his growth as both a basketball player, and a person.
"I'm incredibly proud of him," Alex said. "He's gotten to the level that he's at because he works hard. Seeing this finally pay off for him is pretty awesome."
Marina wanted to stress how truly proud of her son she was.
"We are so proud of him and so excited," she said. "He went a long way to reach his goals. He always worked so hard to reach this moment."
It's not just Steven's family that is proud of how far he has come. All of his coaches back in Seattle are impressed with how far he has gotten, Marina said. He was the only person from his high school to ever go and play Division I basketball.
Steven plans to continue being involved with basketball after graduation. With a bachelor's degree in sport management and a minor in business, he plans on being an agent, coach or trainer. He even got invited back to Skagit Valley College this summer to be guest speaker at a basketball clinic for kids, another step toward his dreams.
As the season comes to a close, and the Pac-12 Tournament is right around the corner, Steven continues to work hard and continues to revel in the game of basketball.
"Stepping out on the court first of all is a dream come true," Steven said. "It's something I've dreamed about since I was a kid. It's an honor, a blessing, and a dream come true."
"He's had every reason to quit along the way," Alex said, "but he's a tough kid with incredible resolve and love for the game."
The Cougars square off against Oregon State for 'Senior Day' this weekend, then head off to the Pac-12 Tournament which begins Wednesday March 7 at Las Vegas.