COVID-19 Reflection: Men's Basketball's Sion James
Jun 10, 2021 | Men's Basketball
COVID-19 brought many to the Tulane Athletics Family. Each team and individual faced obstacles no one had ever seen before. Each week, Tulane will visit with one student-athlete from one of the Green Wave's teams to reflect on their experiences during the pandemic.
SION JAMES
Freshman, Men's Basketball
How did you spend your time/what kept you busy during quarantine?
During the height of quarantine, I kept myself busy by continuing to train and prepare for my upcoming college summer session. I knew that it was an opportunity for me to get a step ahead of the competition and to help my team have success during the season. Outside of that, I spent a lot of time watching TV and movies (I still do a lot of that during my free time now).
What have you learned about yourself after the pandemic?
I have learned that I am more adaptable than I had realized. When the pandemic first hit, I had just finished my high school basketball season. I was relaxing and starting to get focused on heading to New Orleans. When I realized that could be in jeopardy, I was quickly able to change gears and create a new plan. Instead of training in fancy gyms, I shot at parks and ran miles through my neighborhood. I adapted to the situation at hand and made the most out of it.
What did you learn about your sport during the pandemic?
I learned that our sport is more resilient than most others. The shutdown of the NBA season sparked a chain reaction of shutdowns for sports all across the country. From there, the restart in the bubble showed people around the world that we could beat the pandemic if we handled things correctly. Aside from professional sports, local leaders all over the nation had to fence off parks and even take down basketball goals because people were willing to risk their safety for the game. Basketball is a sport that is loved by many and will continue to be around for a very long time.
What did you learn about your team during the pandemic?
I learned that my teammates are more than just that; they're brothers. Early in the school year, we (almost exclusively) spent time with each other. By creating our own little bubble, we could limit the effects of the pandemic on us and on our team. Being forced to hang out with each other showed us how much we have in common. It allowed us to form tight bonds that can withstand hardships. We developed chemistry that followed us onto the court.
How did your coaches help the team through the pandemic?
Our coaches kept us leveled through the pandemic. Before we all arrived on campus, we had team meetings on zoom where we got to know each other and stay on the same page. Plus, our coaches would reach out to us personally to check on us. They'd ask about what we're up to, how we're feeling, and what we've been experiencing. That gave us a sense of connection that many lacked because of COVID-19.
What changed about your sport during this season?
The biggest change for the season was playing in empty and limited-capacity gyms. My last high school game was the state championship game in an arena that was at capacity. The next time I stepped onto the court, there were only 100 people in the stands (and it was all family). It was tough getting accustomed to that, so all of my teammates and I are excited to fill the stands at Fogelman in Devlin next season!
What is a hobby you picked up during the pandemic?
During the pandemic, I spent a lot of time playing tennis at my neighborhood courts with some of my friends. It gave us a COVID-friendly way to meet up and enjoy ourselves. On top of that, I tried to read to keep my mind active. Some of my favorites during this time were Outliers: The Story of Success and Ender's Game.
How did Tulane Athletics administration help your team through the pandemic?
Our administration was critical in helping our team through the pandemic. They led mental health checkups on us to make sure we were in a good place, and they consistently made sure we were okay with the decisions they made on our behalf. They became a resource for us to use in any way that we needed.
SION JAMES
Freshman, Men's Basketball
How did you spend your time/what kept you busy during quarantine?
During the height of quarantine, I kept myself busy by continuing to train and prepare for my upcoming college summer session. I knew that it was an opportunity for me to get a step ahead of the competition and to help my team have success during the season. Outside of that, I spent a lot of time watching TV and movies (I still do a lot of that during my free time now).
What have you learned about yourself after the pandemic?
I have learned that I am more adaptable than I had realized. When the pandemic first hit, I had just finished my high school basketball season. I was relaxing and starting to get focused on heading to New Orleans. When I realized that could be in jeopardy, I was quickly able to change gears and create a new plan. Instead of training in fancy gyms, I shot at parks and ran miles through my neighborhood. I adapted to the situation at hand and made the most out of it.
What did you learn about your sport during the pandemic?
I learned that our sport is more resilient than most others. The shutdown of the NBA season sparked a chain reaction of shutdowns for sports all across the country. From there, the restart in the bubble showed people around the world that we could beat the pandemic if we handled things correctly. Aside from professional sports, local leaders all over the nation had to fence off parks and even take down basketball goals because people were willing to risk their safety for the game. Basketball is a sport that is loved by many and will continue to be around for a very long time.
What did you learn about your team during the pandemic?
I learned that my teammates are more than just that; they're brothers. Early in the school year, we (almost exclusively) spent time with each other. By creating our own little bubble, we could limit the effects of the pandemic on us and on our team. Being forced to hang out with each other showed us how much we have in common. It allowed us to form tight bonds that can withstand hardships. We developed chemistry that followed us onto the court.
How did your coaches help the team through the pandemic?
Our coaches kept us leveled through the pandemic. Before we all arrived on campus, we had team meetings on zoom where we got to know each other and stay on the same page. Plus, our coaches would reach out to us personally to check on us. They'd ask about what we're up to, how we're feeling, and what we've been experiencing. That gave us a sense of connection that many lacked because of COVID-19.
What changed about your sport during this season?
The biggest change for the season was playing in empty and limited-capacity gyms. My last high school game was the state championship game in an arena that was at capacity. The next time I stepped onto the court, there were only 100 people in the stands (and it was all family). It was tough getting accustomed to that, so all of my teammates and I are excited to fill the stands at Fogelman in Devlin next season!
What is a hobby you picked up during the pandemic?
During the pandemic, I spent a lot of time playing tennis at my neighborhood courts with some of my friends. It gave us a COVID-friendly way to meet up and enjoy ourselves. On top of that, I tried to read to keep my mind active. Some of my favorites during this time were Outliers: The Story of Success and Ender's Game.
How did Tulane Athletics administration help your team through the pandemic?
Our administration was critical in helping our team through the pandemic. They led mental health checkups on us to make sure we were in a good place, and they consistently made sure we were okay with the decisions they made on our behalf. They became a resource for us to use in any way that we needed.
Postgame: Men's Basketball vs Memphis - 3/8/26
Sunday, March 08
Postgame: MBB vs Rice - 2/22/26
Sunday, February 22
Postgame: MBB vs Temple - 2/11/26
Thursday, February 12
Postgame: Men's Basketball vs Wichita State - 2/8/26
Sunday, February 08
