Detroit sophomore forward Yar Shayok (Ottawa, ON/Hillcrest) is featured in this week's women's basketball Q&A.

Why did you choose Detroit?
I think the coaches had a lot to do with my reason for wanting to come to Detroit; I had a connection with them because of their outlook on basketball. The goals that they said about where they want to see the program and take the program, I saw myself fitting in well.

What other schools recruited you?
Kansas State, Illinois, Central Florida and Manhattan, to name a few. When it came down to it, it was between Central Florida and Detroit and Coach Rad(emacher) was more eager and more consistent in her approach compared to the Central Florida coach. My dad says that when it comes down to it that it's not where you go, but who needs you more and Coach Rad(emacher) expressed the need more than Central Florida.

The location also had to do with my decision because I wanted to be close to home. Even though I'm not still that close, I'm closer than compared to where I would've been in Florida.

How is life different for you living in the States, compared to Canada?
As far as living there isn't much of a difference, but basketball-wise I feel that it is more competitive in the States. More emphasis is put on basketball here as far as the programs and the recruiting and all the opportunities you have to display your potential. In Canada, there is hockey. So, with basketball, if you're lucky and you have any potential and ever wanted to pursue a career, it would have to happen in the States.

Has it always been a goal of yours to play collegiate ball?
Yes. I used to play ball just because of my brothers and my dad, but didn't necessarily like it. When it came down to it, I just played because, not that I had to do, it was just something that seemed right, but I never really had passion for the game until I played more competitively in eighth grade. It was also a way to meet new friends and had the opportunity to travel. I also was good at the game, which was a plus. I just felt like I was good at playing ball and I liked what I was doing and pursued it because of the possible opportunities.

Who has your biggest influence been throughout your playing career?
I would probably say my dad. Everything that I've learned was rooted from him teaching me. He is someone that would always come to my games and afterwards he would always give it to me like it was; always constructive criticism.

What kind of advice did your dad, a former college basketball player, have for you before your first year as a Titan?
He said that it was going to be tough. You are going to find people that are as good as you are. Coming from where I came from in Canada, the competition level, I stood out because I was good. But here, everyone's good, so I need to have that extra thing that separates me from everyone else. He also said to try and be the best at what you're doing. He would always tell me, regardless of who it is, if someone knows basketball and they are giving me advice, to hear them out and just keep an open mind. It may not be something I want to hear, at the end of the day, if someone is older and they have more experience, it is just wisdom, so keep an open mind. Take things from what they say and use it to your benefit.

You were born in Sudan, when did you move to the US?
When I was two or three months old our family moved to Dayton, OH, because my dad played ball at the University of Dayton. From there, our family then moved to Canada.

How frustrating was it for you to have to sit out due to injury last year?
It was really, really frustrating. I knew that once I was healed and able to join practice and be part of the team, I saw what I was capable of in practice, but I wasn't able to carry it out into the game because I wasn't able to play. My sitting on the bench and seeing my teammates going through games and wins and losses, I could've been contributing to the success that we achieved last year. Or at times that we were struggling, I could've seen myself helping out the team.

How did you prepare yourself for this season?
I didn't have any college experience, besides the first couple of games that I did play, and collegiate level is a different ballgame than what I was used to playing. I just looked at my teammates to see where they were at the level in which they played at because I really didn't play. The hard work they put into everything motivated me to be at their level when I came back because the freshmen that I came in with all had a year under their belts. I want to be a contributor to this team's success this year.

What are your goals for this season?
Individually I would like to come in every game and just play hard and leave every game with no regrets. That's what our coach always preaches, 'when the game's over, don't have any regrets'. I feel like thus far into the season, the first two games, I can say for one of them I don't have any regrets. I want to personally be able to come in and be a factor on the boards defensive-wise. Our whole goal together, everyone has the common goal, of winning the Horizon League Championship. It's what we've stressed since the beginning. If I can take care of my personal goals then hopefully we'll end up winning.

What opponent are you looking forward to playing the most this year?
I'm looking forward to those teams when other people look at our schedule and say 'hey, Detroit isn't going to win and we don't have a chance'. The ranked teams more so to speak; everyone looks at those games. I know for the Michigan State game a lot of people were probably thinking that we don't have a chance.

As the conference goes, I really don't know the teams as well as some of my other teammates. I've only seen these teams from the sideline. Honestly, like potential wise, I feel that we are a lot better than a lot of these teams. I want to prove all these teams wrong, especially Green Bay because they've been at the top of the conference. If we play them and beat them, we will show that there is a new team around and they have to watch out for us.

Is there any significance to #25?
For the most part, in high school, we usually watched the NBA so the popular numbers were #3 Allen Iverson, Vince Carter #15 and #23, Michael Jordan. Before a game we had to choose our jerseys and everyone chose the popular numbers before me and what was left was #25 and some other unpopular number. I kind of took it on that 'I will make this a number that everyone's going to want to wear' or 'just watch me after I wear this number, people are going to want to wear it'. I just thought let me make this number something that's going to be successful.

Do you have any pregame superstitions?
Just being well rested and well fed before each game.

What are your thoughts on Coach Rademacher?
I like her. As far as a coach, she pushes us a lot, which is good. She sets high expectations for us. When we play every game, we better go out and play hard, regardless. Even now, when we only have seven players. I just feel like her determination and her belief in us, really pushes us to reach our potential and know where we could be. Every game our limits are being pushed because we only have seven players. It just makes us mentally stronger. She tells us to be fearless, don't fear anyone and don't have any regrets. As a person, she's wonderful. One of the things I admire about her is that regardless of what other people think, she has the mentality that to not let someone tell you that you can't achieve it, because you can. Within our team, there's a shared attitude that we're good and we're going to become great and that's what we believe.

What does it mean to you to be a Titan?
Being a Titan means a lot to me. Working hard and giving your all during practice and games. Overall attitude of going hard and achieving your best.