Over the course of four years, senior Sebastian Morales has helped the Boys Varsity Basketball team at Townsend Harris High School establish a winning culture. Coming off of a strong junior season, during which he scored 149 total points and shot nearly 80% at the free-throw line, Sebastian now has his eyes set on his final season as he prepares to take on the role of senior captain.
Sebastian’s basketball skills were built upon many aspects throughout his life. Despite his unanticipated performance, achieving it was not based solely on an innate talent, but rather hard work and dedication. “Two struggles that I’ve had while playing basketball have had to be my body and confidence,” said Sebastian. “When I was younger, I used to be exceptionally overweight, which made it hard for me to move and jump. Losing weight made it way easier for me to play the game.”
In addition to physical limitations, Sebastian shared an internal struggle.“I had little confidence and over-thought every move I made on the court,” he said. Ultimately, Sebastian credits Coach Ed of the Queens Defenders basketball program in helping him overcome those struggles.
While speaking to The Classic, STEM assistant principal and Boys Varsity Basketball head coach Abid Choudhury expressed high praise for Sebastian, highlighting his athletic and personal development over the years. “Sebastian is incredibly coachable and listens to feedback incredibly well,” he said. “He’s improved a lot since his freshman year, during which he didn’t get a lot of minutes.
Adding to this, Coach Choudhury said, “As a sophomore, Sebastian became a borderline starter. He’s currently our second-leading scorer and one of our top players.”
As for character growth, Coach Choudhury said “Sebastian is a fun-loving guy with a lot of positive energy. He’s a fierce competitor on the court but generally laid back off, and he gets along with his teammates very well, keeping the environment light-hearted.”
Sebastian’s teammates expressed similar praise and respect for their senior captain. “Sebastian has always been a guy that makes practice loose and fun,” said senior captain Andrew Leonard. “He’s very confident in his game and his charisma has a positive effect on practice all the time.”
Similarly, junior Edward Johnson said, “Sebastian is an exceptional teammate to have, with his positive energy and dedication standing out the most on the basketball court. He brings a strong work ethic and a willingness to put the team first and he always supports his teammates whether it’s by giving constructive feedback or encouraging others.”
When asked about his future with basketball, Sebastian discussed the recruitment process as well as his plans to pursue basketball after high school. “I plan to play on a college team, and I am starting to reach out to colleges for recruitment,” he said. “If playing on a college team isn’t the case, however, I hope to still fit the sport into my everyday life, as it is something that I’m definitely not ready to let go.”
“Everything depends on this season, which will definitely have a major impact on how my cards play out,” said Sebastian. “As for now, I’m excited to lead the team and help my teammates improve day-by-day.”
