Hoopster’s assists have gone beyond the court
San Antonian takes lessons learned from family, coaches and his own experiences to offer guidance on self-esteem and more
SAN ANTONIO — It wasn’t uncommon to hear the tall teenage boy dribble a basketball well into the night behind his two-story home here.
Jay Shakir, now 60, imagined he was matched against defenders in an NBA game. He attacked the rim. He relished the satisfying swish of “nothing but net.” His sessions rolled well past midnight. That’s when an upstairs window rose and his father, Joshua, would holler for him to put the ball away.
Shakir’s night drills paid dividends when he played post on the Fox Tech High School Buffaloes basketball team and into adulthood.
Shakir’s parents raised him, four sisters and two brothers in the Nation of Islam, where he learned humility, to respect others and independence. Shakir learned to play and win at Lockwood Park on Olive Street on San Antonio’s East Side.
From seventh grade to his sophomore year, he grew to 6 feet, 4 inches. In 1975, Shakir began playing competitive sports on the Fox Tech freshman team.
In 1978, Shakir led his Buffaloes team to the UIL Class 4A finals. He scored 23 points in the 84-83 state championship overtime loss to Houston Independent School District’s Wheatley High. He recalls the sting of the moment, crying with teammates in the locker room. Though bittersweet, the experience made the all-state talent hungry for more success.
Shakir, who started having college coaches visit him as a sophomore, chose Baylor to continue his basketball career. During his four years as a Bear, Shakir led the team in assists while studying business and journalism.
During his high school and college years, Shakir took part in Athletes in Action, a summer league mentorship program. There, he had access to San Antonio Spurs players, including George “Iceman” Gervin, who shared his time and checked on him.
“His core is to help people,” said youth mentor Johnny Weddington, 76. “When he came to the gym, kids flocked to him. He has a way with kids, and that’s needed in the community — someone to talk to them about history, how the game can benefit them and to get an education.”
After competing in various basketball leagues, Shakir completed his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a minor in journalism in summer 1985.
After 30 years as a case manager, Shakir gravitated back to basketball in 1999. His first head coaching job was with the girls team at St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Junior High School. They won city titles in 2002 and 2004.
In 2007, he coached the freshman girls team at Incarnate Word High School. After several games, he moved up to coach the varsity squad. The team went to the state final in two consecutive years.
In 2010, while on a cruise with his wife, Gina, Shakir received a call for the coaching job at St. Gerard High School, just blocks from his old house. After the departure of legendary coach Wayne Dickey, Shakir took the Royals to three regional finals and four district championships in five years.
For the past nine years, Shakir has been a certified life coach at Goodwill Industries of San Antonio. He helps offer team members guidance in areas that include self-esteem, personal relationships, health, finances and personal success.
“We need positive energy. I’m not going to let anyone dwell in the negative,” Shakir said. “I know it works. People appreciate it, and it’s necessary. I have a great team I’m working with, and I feel blessed at this later stage of my career I have a job I really appreciate going to.”
His advice is framed by lessons learned from his father, basketball coaches and coaching high school teams. His philosophy on and off the court is “take the right shot, move and press” the opposition.
Shakir is at peace, living the life he wants to help others achieve. Like his father, he’s imparted his wisdom to his children, Shabazz and Shakella, whom he calls “beautiful people.”
He prays five times a day. He reserves two hours to read religion, philosophy, science and history. And he’s still active, playing in a 50-and-over basketball league, taking his best shot, getting back on defense, pressing the opposition.
“Everything is ordered,” Shakir said. “I don’t regret anything. I never look back.”