Josh Daeche and David Ulak interviewed James and Sabrina Southerland formerly of Benjamin N. Cardozo (NY) BIG EAST (Syracuse and Georgetown) and Pac 12 (Oregon) standout on how COVID-19 interrupted their professional basketball career overseas and put on pause a shot at Olympic Gold.
James Southerland III was a current member Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japan earlier this year when COVID-19 hit. His sister Sabrina had just graduated the University of Oregon and is a member of the Oregon Track Club Elite team and was training in Eugene, Oregon when COVID-19 hit the United States.
Today, there shared their story from their parents home in New York City.
Both James, and Sabrina are professional athletes and were competing at the highest of levels. In Sabrina's case she was preparing to compete in this year's 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo as a member of Team USA in the 800 meters prior to the pandemic.
James was four year star that played for Hall Of Fame Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim at Syracuse University. In his senior season, James tied a record for most three pointers in school history when made nine three pointers in a game against Arkansas on November 30, 2012. He finished with 35 points. He was later named Big East Player of the Week on December 3, 2012. During the 2013 BIG EAST Tournament James set a record for most three pointers (6) in a game while being named to the All-Tournament team. He was selected as a member of the East Regional All-Tournament team during the 2013 NCAA Tournament and competed in the 2013 Final Four.
Sabrina Southerland would not be out done and too has had a stellar collegiate career. After three incredible years at Georgetown University where she help lead the Hoyas to three Big EAST champions and won Big EAST titles in the 1,000 meters (2015) and 800 meters (2014), and helped Georgetown to the conference indoor championship in the distance-medley relay in 2016. Sabrina left to become a member of the Oregon Ducks. In the 2017-2018 season she was named first-team All-American honors in the 800 meters (2:06.99) by taking seventh place at the NCAA Championships. She was named Pac -12 champion in the 800 meters.
We discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on their careers and what is next for them.