ShayQuan Omari Akai Pittman '21 Recruiting Profile

I became interested in sports at the age of 5, when my paternal grandparents put me in local recreational sports. I started off playing soccer. I was told that I loved getting into a routine, doing my homework, eating a snack, putting on my soccer uniform and heading off to practices and games. This was my first excitement of playing sports.

When I was about 11 years old, I began to play basketball for the Danny Strong Foundation and this is when I noticed that people were taking notice of me. I enjoyed helping my team score baskets and making my coaches proud.

The Danny Strong Foundation asked my grandparents if I could give football a try. I didn’t want to play at first; the players looked bigger in size, taller in height. A little scary to think about it. After attending the skills test before long, I was enjoying football. This is when I knew that I loved football. I loved putting on my helmet, pads and making plays with my teammates.

At the age of 11 years old, my grandparents signed me up for the NC All-Stars Track and Field. I ran the 100m, 200m, 400m and I did the long jump. Track was a challenge. I realized that I had to really test my body like never before and give more than my all in order to stay competitive with other runners, from my team and those over NC. I competed for 2 years. Track has really helped me with my speed for basketball and football.

I have learned through sports that I am a thinker; I enjoy thinking of ways to challenge myself. I have also learned that I have to work more on my time management skills in order to stay actively involved in sports. I have to balance school, homework, grades and playing sports. I am working on my time management on a daily basis.

My academic goals for high school is to take classes that challenge my mind and offer me college transfer credit. It is my plan to earn academic and sports scholarships. I want to attend college.

My academic goal for college is to take up Biochemical Engineer and earn my degree and license. I really want to break generational cycles; I will be the first person to go to college on my mother’s side of the family and the first male on my father’s side of the family.

The obstacles that I have had to most overcome are low self-esteem and self-doubt. Always wondering am I doing the right things? What did I do wrong? However, I am often reminded to have family and teammates and coaches, all who remind me to stay focused because I have a bright future ahead of me. It is a daily work on myself.

I have a never quit attitude, energetic, fast learner, self-motivating.