Zeke Dijiba looks up to former NBA superstar

Published 6:34 pm Friday, December 21, 2018

Zeke Dijiba is a senior who has only played basketball since seventh grade and has never played anything else.

Dijiba said he was influenced by his friends to join them on the team.

“My friends who were on the team got me to play,” he said. “They invited me to go outside and play it and it was really fun. It made want to try it out and take it serious.”

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Dijiba said he enjoys playing basketball because of how unpredictable it is.

“It is more about the ups and downs of it,” he said. “One minute you are going at it and the next you are blasting someone. It is a very fast pace game and there is never a dull moment.”

Dijiba is confident when he plays on the block down low.

“I would definitely say my post play is my strength,” he said. “I can pass pretty good and I would say I am a solid rebounder.”

Dijiba decided to change his attitude because it affected him on and off the court and admits it was the best decision he has made.

“I worked on my attitude a lot more,” he said. “The coaches were always telling me to become a more positive person and to work on my attitude. I want to be a better team player so I had to work on it and realized I needed to make sacrifices to help us win. You have to be a good role model and figure out what you need to do on the court for your team.”

Dijiba said his motivation has always come from his family.

“My mom and dad push me a lot,” he said. “They want me to be the best person I can be. They really stress academics a lot and have hit it hard my whole life. I just try to go out there and give it my best.”

Dijiba wears no. 23, but admits he wanted no. 21.

“My favorite player ever is Tim Duncan from the San Antonio Spurs and I always wanted to have that same number. I could not get it though so I had to settle with 23.”

Dijiba has to listen to music on game days to help get him locked in.

“Music is the only thing that helps calm and prepare me,” he said. “J. Cole is my go-to. I can always find a song from him to help me get through the day.”