Basketball court a happy place at Somali-based Rochester STEM Academy

Dec. 11—ROCHESTER — Make no mistake, the Rochester STEM Academy boys basketball team still has a long way to go.

The Cobras have had three games so far this season, their

varsity team losing 71-36 to Hayfield,

95-48 to Triton and 75-45 to United South Central.

A recent visit to a practice showed this all-Somali team in Rochester having a tough time solving a full-court press. Some cardinal basketball sins were being committed — immediate dribbling before taking a look to pass, continually veering wide with the ball and then trapped along the sideline, fancy dribbling in a crowd, and more.

But these Cobras are getting there, playing a Minnesota State High School League-sanctioned varsity high school schedule for the first time in the school's 12-year history, appreciative of the chance to play "real" games, and above all, in love with this game.

"I love basketball because it kind of just gives me joy in life," said STEM Academy junior guard Ilyas Hassan, whose school shares space in southwestern Rochester with Rochester Math and Science Academy. "Every time I'm down or just don't have enough to do, I go towards basketball."

Burhan Ali, who like most of these varsity and junior varsity basketball players at STEM Academy were born in the United States to Somali immigrants, says basketball is now ingrained into the Somali culture.

So many of the young athletes in Rochester can be found in their idle time playing pickup basketball at the Rochester Athletic Club, Rochester Community and Technical College and Sports Mentorship Academy.

"I just like dribbling the ball every time," said Ali, a STEM Academy sophomore point guard. "I really like dribbling, you know, and doing all the moves. It's like muscle-memory type of stuff. Basketball is something us Somalis picked up on when we came to America."

Rochester STEM Academy has a high school enrollment of 65 students. An entity since 2011, its purpose is to serve minority and immigrant students, "STEM" derived from its emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Its student population is currently 100% Somali.

Its coach is white, 26-year-old and Southern California-born Brandon Seguin. A former member of the Army, Seguin and his wife moved to Rochester almost two years ago.

"It's cheaper in the Midwest and we were looking for a change of scenery," Seguin said. "We like it here. The people have been super welcoming and it's not so busy as living in places like Los Angeles and Seattle. We like how it's a slower pace."

Seguin teaches history and ethnic studies at STEM Academy. And when the final school bell rings each day, he grabs his coaching whistle and makes his way into the STEM Academy gymnasium for basketball practice.

As much as it is his players' happy place, it's his, too.

Seguin isn't a longtime basketball coach and he admits to learning as he goes.

"I love reading sports-specific stuff, watching stuff and being able to dive into sports specifics," he said. "I also love being able to give experiences to these kids. They love basketball. That's all they think and talk about."

For his own sake, Seguin is thankful that his learning goes beyond Xs and Os in directing the STEM Academy team.

It's a perfect learning environment for a teacher of ethnic studies. Outside his gymnasium doors on this particular Monday afternoon were a handful of Somali men gathering for afternoon prayer, kneeling on a prayer mat. Seguin has also become familiar with Somali food and customs, and is dabbling in learning their language.

"Some of these kids are teaching me Somali, and I love learning languages," Seguin said. "Sometimes we'll call out a set play in Somali. That way, I know everyone understands it."

As for himself, Seguin wants to teach a lot more than basketball. He wants this to be a total life experience.

"We don't base our program solely on athletic events," he said. "We want this to be a team with a great GPA and one that is seen in our community as great young men."