Sheily Quezada is the queen of the court

January 6, 2025 Andy Furman

Sheily Quezada in action on the court. Photo courtesy of Andy Furman

Share this:

She may be the best female basketball player in New York City that no one has heard of.

Until now.

“She has the potential to be the best female player in the city; or at least one of the best,” her coach, Rodney Carr, told the Brooklyn Eagle. “She just has to grow into it.”

Rodney Carr coaches the women’s basketball team at Brooklyn’s Medgar Evers College. And he knows basketball with his 34 years of coaching experience. So when he sees a talent like junior Sheily Quezad; well, he knows what he is talking about.

The 5-foot-10 junior leads the Cougars in points (88); average (14.7); rebounds (68); average (11.3); and blocks (18) average (3.0) after six games as they take their perfect City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) 1-0 record to Hunter College, Wednesday evening (Jan. 8).

Medgar Evers was an easy decision for the business major who says her future is in God’s hands. “I’ll just wait and see where he takes me,” she said.

“Coach Carr was my summer coach when I was playing AAU basketball,” Quezada told the Eagle. “He told me about Medgar Evers, and I was really interested in playing for him in college.”

Quezada played her high school basketball at EBC/Bushwick and averaged double figures for three years, as she led her team to the Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) playoffs. “I led the team in scoring, averaging 20 points per game,” she said.

But not many college basketball offers were coming her way.

“Actually,” she continued, “I didn’t want to play basketball when I first arrived at Medgar Evers,” she said. “But, as time passed, my heart grew to love the game.”

Lucky for Coach Carr and the Cougars.

Entering the 2024-25 season, the Dominican native has already established herself as one of the most decorated players to ever pass through the Medgar Evers basketball program. Last season, she led the NCAA Division III in blocks per game (4.95), marking the second consecutive season she accomplished the feat. Additionally, her 109 total blocks also led NCAA Division III.

And, her 16.5 points and 13.6 rebounds per game were both team highs during the Cougars’ 2023-24 season. She registered 16 double-doubles in 22 games played, while also scoring 27 points or more on four occasions and 17 points or more nine times.

When the Cougars dropped a 73-50 non-conference game to Houghton University in late December at the Cougars Cave in Brooklyn, it was Quezada who led the way with game-highs of 21 points and four blocked shots. She also collected seven rebounds and swiped three steals.

Blocking shots cannot be coached — so how does she do it?

“My success as a shot-blocker comes from timing, anticipation and staying disciplined,” she said. “I focus on reading the play, positioning myself well, and using my instincts to make an impact without overcommitting.

“Blocking shots for me is about sending a message. I am not just defending the rim — I am owning it. It’s timing, instinct and the strength of God. When you come into to my lane, you better think twice,” she said.

Her season high for blocks in a game occurred Feb. 15, 2024, when she swatted 10 at SUNY Purchase. She also blocked nine shots in a CUNYAC quarterfinal round game at Baruch College two days later.

She is the Medgar Evers all-time leader in blocked shots with 211.

College basketball taught me to be a tougher player, Quezada says. “It was hard playing 40 minutes in college after high school.”

This year, Sheily Quezada sees a different Medgar Evers team. “We have more chemistry on the court and I see more effort in practice; a different heart. We’re putting pressure on people, this year.”

Sheily Quezada may not be the best female basketball player in the city – but she is certainly the cornerstone of the program at Medgar Evers College.

Andy Furman is a Fox Sports Radio national talk show host. Previously, he was a scholastic sports columnist for the Brooklyn Eagle. He may be reached at: [email protected]. X: @AndyFurmanFSR.