Shelomi Sanders gearing up for first full season with CU Buffs – BuffZone
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Among the many videos produced by Deion Sanders’ social media team was one this summer of the Colorado head football coach helping his daughter get ready for the basketball season.
Sanders rode in his cart at the indoor practice facility as Shelomi Sanders ran around the track to get in shape and prepare for a mile test that was upcoming.
That was typical of Coach Prime helping his kids excel, but the video was just a small part of Shelomi’s prep for her first full season with the CU women’s basketball team.
“I worked very hard,” she said this week when the Buffaloes kicked off preseason practices. “(Coach Prime) pushed me a lot. He is him, so he’s gonna push me to my limits. But it was pretty tough just trying to prepare for the season.”
Tough, but worth it for Shelomi, a redshirt freshman walk-on who is enjoying every bit of the experience in Boulder and with the Buffs.
A year ago at this time, Shelomi, a 5-foot-6 guard, was a walk-on true freshman at Jackson State, where her father was the head football coach. When Coach Prime took the job at Colorado in December, much of his family followed him.
Shedeur and Shilo Sanders are playing for the CU football team, while Deion Jr., is making his mark with his YouTube channel, Well Off Media, where he chronicles the football team.
Shelomi, meanwhile, has settled in with the women’s basketball team. She joined the Buffs in January, but redshirted as she got acclimated to her new surroundings.
“It was basically (figuring out) how I could become a part of this team, like how I could morph into being a Buffalo,” she said. “My transition was pretty smooth. Everyone was very nice, everyone was very welcoming and opening. It was nice.”
A year ago, the Buffs went 25-9 and reached the Sweet 16. They bring back most of the core of that team, plus added two senior transfers. Shelomi will have to battle for playing time, but she’s already a big part of the team off the court.
“The team loved her immediately,” head coach JR Payne said. “She’s got great personality, she works hard, she brings life to the party, so to speak, on a daily basis.
“She can walk in a room and light it up without saying a word because she’s got this big beautiful smile. Her spirit is very light. Sometimes in training, it’s hard and grueling and people are tired and she’s always able to keep a light spirit about her and that’s something that’s difficult to do in this setting sometimes, so I really appreciate that.”
In addition to being pushed by her father this summer, Shelomi has developed her game because of Payne and the coaching staff.
“The whole coaching staff is so great and they’re just amazing,” Shelomi said. “Not only do they care about you on the court, but they also care…
Read More: Shelomi Sanders gearing up for first full season with CU Buffs – BuffZone 2023-09-30 00:10:56