University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) men’s basketball player Bahari Amaya has been selected as the Male Spotlight Athlete for the month of January.
The Prairie Stars (9-4, 2-1) put together a seven-game winning streak, which is the longest in UIS Division II history. UIS rolled to a 97-67 victory against Purdue University Northwest (5-10) on Dec. 15 and captured an 89-81 win against Missouri Western State University (8-7) on Dec. 30.
Last Wednesday, UIS broke 50 points in each half to earn a 101-77 victory against Lincoln Christian University (7-10). The Prairie Stars were edged by McKendree University (6-6, 2-1) in GLVC action 77-75 last Saturday in the closing seconds.
Amaya contributed 10 points against Lindenwood University-Belleville (2-12) on Dec. 19 and 11 points against Missouri Western State. The 6-foot-4 junior from Harrisburg posted a season-high 15 points against Lincoln Christian.
UIS hosts two GLVC contests at TRAC this week. The Prairie Stars clash with the University of Missouri-St. Louis (11-3, 2-2) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. UIS then tangles with Maryville University (5-8, 0-4) on Saturday at 3 p.m.
GETTING TO KNOW BAHARI AMAYA
If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
Dog
What is the strangest nickname you have?
B
If you could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, what would it be?
Video Games
Other than the sport that you play, what is your favorite sport?
Baseball
What hobby would you get if time and money weren’t an issue?
Learning the piano
List three words that describe yourself.
Calm, Goofy, Cautious
What is your favorite ice-cream flavor?
Vanilla
What is your favorite type of pizza?
Chicken, Bacon and Ranch
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Africa
What is your favorite food?
I like food a lot.
Who on the team is the best-dressed?
Zach Steinberg
Who on the team is the best dancer?
Gilwan Nelson/
Aundrae Williams
Who on the team is the joker/prankster (Best sense of humor)?
Too many to count
Who on the team is the best trash-talker?
Gilwan Nelson
Who on the team is the most outgoing?
Too many to count
Who is the team’s pregame DJ?
Cole Harper/
Aundrae Williams
What are your majors and minor?
Double major in Business Administration and Communications with a minor in African American Studies
Who is your inspiration?
My mother, because she got me to this point.
What is your driving force/motivation?
My family because they have had my back from day one.
What are your favorite aspects about sports?
The interaction and people that you meet. Also the opportunities that it provides.
What is your favorite non-athletics memory?
Springfest
What is your favorite athletics memory?
Going to Vegas freshman year.
Off the court, what are your favorite hobbies?
Video games and being with friends
List a little-known, but amazing fact about yourself
I have a little brother in college as well.
Why did you choose UIS?
I chose UIS because of the scholarships it offered.
What is your favorite class?
The video gaming class I took freshman year because I love video games and the movie class with Sarah Collins.
Who is your favorite professor?
I don’t have a specific one but I do like a couple of the professors here.
What do you want your lasting legacy to be at UIS?
That I was a person who did what he was supposed to do.
