Telegram & Gazette "Worcester's Bilal Shakir a difference maker for WSU men's basketball team"

Posted Jan. 19, 2016 at 6:55 PM
Updated Jan 20, 2016 at 8:02 PM
   

 Bilal Shakir suffered a torn ACL in his right knee midway through the 2012-13 season, his second at Quinsigamond Community College. The injury kept Shakir out of action for about a year, and for the exception of area recreational leagues, he didn't play for two more years after that while attending QCC part time and working. But the former Worcester Tech star always knew he would resume his college career.

This past fall, Shakir enrolled at Worcester State and he has been a terrific addition to the Lancers' lineup.

"I always wanted to play again," Shakir said. "It just felt like the right time to transfer over. It had been a couple years and I was ready to get back into it and compete."

Shakir, a 5-foot-7 junior guard, is averaging 15.7 points per game to lead Worcester State and rank second in the MASCAC.

The Lancers, who finished 6-20 last season, are 10-6 (2-1 MASCAC) and winners of six of their last seven games. Shakir has been a major contributor to the turnaround.

"He's very consistent, very even keel and he always has a smile on his face," Worcester State coach Dave Lindberg said. "Competitively, he can really score. He can score in bunches and he can score when we need him to score, which is something we didn't have last year. He's had winning moments for us and winning series of moments for us in games where he's taken over. Sometimes that's offensively, sometimes that's defensively. He's led the charge for us. His success, his confidence and his competitiveness has rubbed off on our team."

Lindberg saw Shakir play in a rec league in Whitinsville last summer and Shakir mentioned he was thinking of applying to Worcester State and playing basketball.

Lindberg talked to former QCC coach Hadley Camilus, who put in a great word for Shakir.

"I've talked to Hadley about a lot of players and he's never raved about a person like he did Bilal," Lindberg said, "almost to the point I found it hard to believe, but he was right on. He is a great kid, easy to like and a great part of our team."

Shakir, who poured in 32 points in a win over Wheaton in the second game of the season, has scored in double figures in seven straight games. He scored 25 in Worcester State's win over Fitchburg State last weekend. He and freshman guard Alex Santos, who earned Rookie of the Week honors from the MASCAC, Worcester Area College Basketball Association and ECAC Division 3 New England, combined for 57 of Worcester State's 93 points in the victory. Santos sank a school-record nine 3-pointers.

"It was a great performance," Shakir said. "It was great to see him knocking down all those shots. It made me want to elevate my game."

The Lancers lead the MASCAC in scoring (78.3 ppg). In addition to Shakir and Santos (13.3 ppg), junior center Paul Brooks (11.9) also averages in double figures.

"We've been able to knock down a lot of shots," Shakir said. "We have a lot of different scorers and key contributors. Every game it can be someone different stepping up."

After the long rehab for his knee, Shakir said it took him a little time to "get the rust off," and he's needed to fine tune some parts of his game, but he thinks his ball handling, ability to change speeds and his finishing ability have all improved post injury.

Shakir, who grew up in Worcester, helped lead Worcester Tech to the Central Mass. Division 3 semifinals as a junior and earned T&G Division 3 all-star honors as a senior.

The Lancers — without a home court while a $52.6-million, 101,000-square-foot facility is being built — are back in action Wednesday when they "host" Bridgewater State at 8 p.m. at Fitchburg State.

"I love playing with my teammates," Shakir said. "They all have great personalities, everyone meshes and we just have fun."