By Austin Turner — Columnist
Practice was over, but Seneca Knight remained at the free-throw line. His jersey was draped around his neck like a cape as he took some extra shots.
The look was fitting. After all, the sophomore guard has been San Jose State men’s basketball’s Superman this season. But even the “Man of Steel” needs motivation. Knight has his with him wherever he goes.
Knight trotted off the court sporting bright yellow sneakers. They were intricately designed, but they didn’t come like that straight out of the box. With a black marker, Knight decorated multiple pairs with over a dozen meaningful phrases, numbers and names.
They’re just shoes, of course, but Knight believes they have something to do with his superhero-like performances of late. He’s averaging over 22.3 points in his last 13 games with a few 30-pieces.
“Any time in a game, say something doesn’t go my way or I get frustrated … I just look down at my shoes and I just remember why I play,” Knight said.
Canvassing the shoes are reminders of his origin story. While Superman came from Krypton, Knight has New Orleans.
With his city written near the toe and the area code “504” near the ankle, Knight’s childhood in “The Big Easy” has a meaningful impact on his mentality on and off the court.
“All we got in New Orleans is just hope,” he said. “After Katrina hit … it just taught us how to fight through adversity.”
Adversity is a common thread that runs through the life of Knight. While he fortunately moved to Arkansas the year before the tragic disaster struck, the impact stuck with him.
Knight learned to deal with profound loss and tragedy at a young age.
Among the motifs on his sneakers are tributes to two close friends.
“#RipEric” recognizes Knight’s close friend and high school teammate at Northside High in Lafayette, Louis., where Knight lived from age 12 until he came to SJSU. When Eric was a senior in high school, Knight’s junior year, Eric was shot and killed.
The same year, Knight’s friend Cam was “jumped outside of a barbershop.” He was left with severe brain damage, according to Knight. Cam is acknowledged on the shoes with “#CamWay.”
After facing tragedy of this volume at such a young age, some might lose hope.
Not Knight.
Scattered around his left sneaker are words that remind him of the experiences that would be unfathomable to most. Pain, loss and heartbreak.
“Basketball brings me through,” he said.
Alongside those words is the latest addition to Knight’s shoes: “Mamba Mentality.” The tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, one of Knight’s basketball heroes, reminded him how to be successful at the game he loves.
“[It’s about being] locked in and focused,” he said. “Hard work each and every day and never feeling like, ‘oh just because I had one good game,’ that’s in the past, we’re on to the next one now.”
So does Knight have the Mamba Mentality?
“I think I’m getting there,” he said with a laugh. Others would say he’s already there.
“On game day, from the crack of dawn, he’s up making his breakfast, playing his music super loud,” said teammate and roommate Zach Chappell. “Everybody knows Seneca’s getting ready for the game. He has the same routine every gameday.”
After waking his roommates up with the loud sounds of rapper NBA YoungBoy’s tunes, he’ll go to class, then shoot-around, which is “when [his] day really starts.” He’ll then have lunch in his dorm and take a nap, and talk to his parents on the phone.
Both Knight’s mother and father remain in Louisiana, and being away from home has been a tough transition for Knight.
“I was definitely homesick at first,” he said.
Knight adds that he talks to his parents on the phone “about four or five times per day,” and that they remain his support system, even from over 2,000 miles away.
“They help me figure everything out,” he said. “They make sure I go eat, and eat the right things, and eat enough.”
Knight’s parents have made an effort to help him on the court as well. When he returned home to Louisiana over the summer, his father, a former professional football player in the Arena Football League, put him on a strict workout regimen.
“He had me lifting like a football player,” Knight said.
Putting on weight and adding strength was a priority for Knight this offseason. He had a solid freshman year, starting about half of the Spartans’ games and averaging about 6 points per game. But in his sophomore season, Knight’s game exploded.
“He showed flashes last year, but now he’s putting strings of games together,” said head coach Jean Prioleau.
Knight has improved in nearly every statistical category, but the difference between now and then may be more mental than physical.
“I just go out there and try to play all the way until the end,” he said. “You never know when the game might take a turn … I just give it my all. Whatever it takes.”
So when watching the Spartans in their next game, pay attention to Knight. If he misses a shot or if the team is in a rut, he might take a look at those bright yellow shoes. After he does, you might just see something special.
Follow Austin on Twitter @AustinTurner_
