The Details: ‘I’m Not Just The Person Who Shoots Without Jumping’
January 24, 2017 | General, Women's Basketball
By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com
"Do you guys play here every day?"
Chantel Osahor might not remember the first day we met. It was a few years ago, during the staff noon hoops game.
Osahor was curious. She wanted to know more about the pick-up game. At the time, I didn't know her. She didn't know me.
Basketball sparked a quick conversation.
Fast forward to last season. Osahor was having a breakout year – little did she know at the time her game was about to go viral. I set up an interview to profile the junior, to take a closer look at her journey to Washington.
So there we were again. This time, though, in a more formal setting. In that moment, I understood the star in the making, with her unique, all-around fascinating game, wasn't going to let just anyone get to the heart of her story.
As private as she is talented, there is a level of trust required before she opens up.
We laughed about that first interview last week. That barrier has been broken. A lot has happened since that first conversation. The Huskies played in the Final Four. Osahor was profiled on ESPN's "Sports Science." Washington went to Australia. And she earned an impression from Brandon Armstrong, known to many by his social media handle: @BdotAdot5.
Over the course of the past two seasons, I've realized something. Osahor is one of the most interesting people you know little about.
She is thoughtful and inquisitive, determined and devoted to those who fill her inner circle. Oh, and she laughs, a lot.
And now, as a senior, she is showing the college basketball world the breadth of her skill set. She has blossomed into a star, an idea she is still adjusting to.
"It's been kind of crazy, a little bit," she said. "I'm not used to it. I'm not a huge fan of people knowing who I am like that. When I'm in public and people are like, 'Oh my God, you're the one who shoots threes without jumping,' it's a little overwhelming, but I'm getting used to it. It's kind of cool."
During the Final Four, Osahor's unique shot, coupled with the Huskies' late-season sprint, captured the attention of sports fans across the country.
When the "Sports Science" episode was first released, phones were passed around the court before one of the Huskies' Final Four practices.
"It's kind of cool," she said, looking back on last season's success. "I guess you could say I've changed the way people see certain people play, because of my jump shot, which is cool."
There is one thing, though, that would have made that segment just a bit better.
"That Sports Science video was pretty epic," she said. "It would only be cooler if Steph Curry shouted me out, but that was really cool."
At the time, Osahor was focused on living in the moment. She didn't get caught up in the attention. It wasn't until the team returned to Seattle that she realized just how many people were paying attention.
"It wasn't that overwhelming during the Final Four, because I wasn't focused on that too much during the whole NCAA run, but it was more after, every where I went, someone had something to say the entire summer," she said. "That's when I was like, 'Oh wow, people are watching women's basketball.'"
Osahor recently went viral for the second time in as many seasons, when Armstrong shared a video impersonating the senior's shot.
At the time, Osahor had stepped away from social media. She didn't even know the clip existed until she got a text.
"Oh my God, you're famous," the message read.
Osahor sent a quick response: "What are you talking about?"
Another message popped up with a link.
"This is so cool," she said. "I was stoked. Usually, I don't care about that type of stuff, but that was so cool."
When asked about her decision to spend some time away from social media, Kelsey Plum stepped in with an answer: "She's too cool for it," she said.
Osahor was quick with a response.
"I'm a huge thinker, I'm observant and I read into stuff, sometimes even a little too much," she said. "I thought, for me personally, what I give to myself on the court and on this team it was best for me to stay away from social media and not really read into the articles written and stuff like that."
For Osahor, success caused her social media accounts to "ka-boom," so she took a break.
She focused her attention on getting the Huskies pointed toward another deep postseason run. And, in the process, started working to prove there's more to her game than that unique shot.
"Sometimes I really just want to be more than the person who shoots without jumping.," she said. "Yes, I'm her, but come watch my game. I'm pretty good at other stuff. That's just how I'm known."
A few days later Osahor set a Pac-12 record by pulling down 30 rebounds in a win at Washington State. She now has more than a 1,000 in her career. She also scored 20 points.
Her game is so versatile, she's virtually impossible to guard. Since she doesn't jump on her outside shot, her pump-fake is lethal. She's a precise passer. And she's quick.
Each time the Huskies take the floor, Oshaor and Plum provide a constant stream of highlights, like that time Osahor fooled a defender so completely on a pump fake they fell down.
"I do think I have a good game," she said with a laugh. "I do a lot of stuff."
And she does it all while being fiercely protective of her teammates, enjoying every minute of her final season with the Huskies.
"It's just been a great ride," she said. "I'm really glad I'm going out in my senior year with these girls."
Osahor's unique shot made her a household name. But, while that shot is awesome, there is so much more to the senior than that fast flick of the wrist and I'm thankful I've experienced those things that make her great both on and off the floor.
