Basketball Captain Profiles
Zaria Johnson
Zaria Johnson is a senior and captain on the girls basketball team. The strong leadership from Zaria and the other captains has led the team to have great success in a higher division so far this year. Zaria began playing basketball on her driveway with her brothers, sparking her love for the game and her decision to play in middle and high school. Zaria absolutely loves the basketball team. She describes her teammates as, “goofy and energetic”, and she really appreciates their amazing work ethic. Zaria’s favorite team memory, echoing the girls’ incredible work ethic, is when they came back from twenty point deficit in double overtime to win the game. Zaria’s other favorite memory from each year is participating in a long-held tradition of the yearly “color practice”. One day a year, the coaches group a few girls together and assign them one color. The girls get decked out in their color from head to toe. Throughout the practice, there are mini competitions and even a photo contest to determine the winner. Zaria says that she and her teammates spent a ton of time outside in their shorts and jerseys trying to get that perfect picture. She encourages everyone who knows anything about basketball to join the team. Being on the basketball team is “the best” for many reasons, including, “you don’t have to go outside when its cold and rainy!” Although she has not officially committed anywhere for basketball, she would love to play in college. Zaria is excited for the postseason and wants to go as far as she can into the playoffs and end her Hawken basketball career on a high note. Zaria has had great success in the sport of basketball, but has also overcome many injuries during her freshman and sophomore year. For Zaria, basketball has been a great way to relieve academic stress and make amazing new friends. She is going to miss basketball, along with her teammates and coaches, and has a true love for the game.
Favorite WNBA Player: Candace Parker.
Favorite Pregame Pump-up Song: “Scholarships” by Drake
Favorite Sport: Basketball of course!
Michael Snyder
Michael Snyder is a senior and captain of the Hawken boys basketball team. He’s been playing basketball his entire life, and unsurprisingly joined the Hawken basketball team as soon as he entered high school. He has been the varsity team since sophomore year, one of a very small group of boys to do so in recent years. Michael loves competing, and his goals for this season are ambitious. When asked about his goals, Michael wants to “win. The goal is always to win”. However, his favorite thing about being on the team is “picking on Freshmen”, but he’s learned “to not yell at my teammates or they won’t be too fond of me”. Michael likes to warm up to “California Gurls” by Katy Perry. He says that “It gets me in the zone”. When questioned about the highlight of this season, Michael answers with “that’s a good question”. He’s going to miss “the team culture and competing”. In the future, Michael will be running track at Washington University in St. Louis, but he’ll still miss basketball next year.
Favorite Pregame Food: Gluten
Favorite Sport: Curling
Favorite Professional Team: Hawken Softball Team