NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Just a few years ago, the State University of New York Athletic Conference's (SUNYAC) leading shot blocker in women's basketball was what many would call a “raw talent.”  State University of New York at New Paltz women's basketball's top rebounder, senior forward Shanay Bradley (Bronx, N.Y. /New Explorers), did not even want to pick up a basketball until late in her high school career.

“I was basically stalked by my women's coach for basketball in high school and I told him 'No, I would never play basketball,'” said Bradley.  “And then I was like 'You know what? I should play,' because I just wanted to do something else to stay out of the house, so I decided to play basketball.”

Bradley was strictly a softball player in high school, or so she thought.  The New Explorers High School women's basketball coach saw Bradley as a perfect fit for the team, even though she had never played before.  In her junior year, she decided to give it a shot.

“I would hurt everybody.  I was just a klutz,” said Bradley about her first season.  “Everything was completely new to me and everybody was playing since they were two, and I'm just like 'I'm just big and athletic.'”

She started to learn more and more every practice and every game.  By her senior season, she was a starter for the New Explorers women's team.  In one of her final games, SUNY Delhi women's basketball head coach Amber Sohns, a 2008 New Paltz graduate, came to scout Bradley and decided she wanted her on her team.

Bradley never expected basketball could get her into college, but she was on her way to Delhi to play for Coach Sohns, where she eventually became a team captain and averaged 13 points and 13 rebounds per game.  Sohns felt that Bradley was too good to be playing in junior college, so she gave an old coach and friend a call.

“She called me saying, 'Hey I got a kid that can touch the rim wearing Tims,'” said New Paltz head women's basketball coach Jamie Seward.  “If you ask Shanay she'd probably tell you she never had a choice.  Amber was pushing her to come here all along.”

Bradley made the transfer to New Paltz for her junior year, a move that she feels helped her both on and off the court.  She said it felt like going from high school to college all over again when she transferred from Delhi to New Paltz.  Coach Seward requires his players do mandatory readings and study sessions to make sure they perform at a high level in the classroom.

Thanks to Sohns' strong relationship with Bradley, Seward had a head start when it came to bonding with her and learning to trust one another.

“I think we have a great relationship,” said Seward.  “She knows that if I'm telling her something, no matter how bad it may be or how nasty it might sound in the tone its coming across, she will take it in and really internalize it and say, 'Yeah you're right, Coach, you're right.'”

Bradley said that her coach is an important male figure in her life and credits him with much of her progression and success.

“He has my back no matter what,” said Bradley.  “If I'm not strong enough, he'll beat me up to make me strong enough to basically be great for the outside world.”

Bradley has proven herself to be a force on the glass with the Hawks, leading the SUNYAC this season in offensive boards (4.3 per game) and blocked shots (1.3 per game) and ranking fourth in total rebounds (8.3 per game).  Coach Seward said she has played a huge role in helping the team win games.

“She has the ability to just dominate a game without even taking a shot,” said Seward.  “She can go out there—and she's done it before—and get 20 rebounds a night.”

With the Hawks final two regular season home games being played this weekend against Cortland and Oswego, Bradley was reminiscent about her time on the court in the Hawk Center.

“It means everything for the seniors because these are our last two home games,” said Bradley.  “We'll never play on this floor again, not even a pickup game.”