Shedeur Sanders hasn’t always been all about football. Long before dominating headlines at the OTAs and silencing critics with his arm, he had a different dream: basketball.
Like many young athletes, Shedeur once pictured himself draining jumpers and making plays on the court. But reality eventually set in, and with it, a hard truth about limitations.
In a recent interview, he opened up about those early aspirations and how they slowly gave way to football, the game that’s now shaping his future.
It’s a rare glimpse into the journey behind the rising quarterback everyone’s watching.
Shedeur Played High School Basketball
Before becoming a standout quarterback, Shedeur Sanders also showcased his athletic versatility by playing basketball.
He did this during his freshman year at Trinity Leadership High School in Cedar Hill, Texas. In the 2017–18 season, he appeared in four varsity games, wearing jersey #11 and playing as a guard.
Though his basketball career was brief, he managed to score 3 points, averaging 0.8 points and 0.3 rebounds per game, with a perfect 100% field goal percentage.
While his primary focus remained on football, where he excelled as a quarterback, his participation in basketball highlights his well-rounded athletic abilities. This multi-sport experience likely contributed to his agility and field awareness on the football field.
Shedeur Wanted To Become a Basketball Player
Despite growing up in one of football’s most iconic families, Shedeur Sanders once had different dreams.
In a recent interview with Overtime, when asked whether being raised in a football environment naturally pushed him toward the sport, Shedeur admitted something surprising: “I always felt like I wanted to be a basketball player one time.”
That desire wasn’t just a passing thought. He actually pursued it, playing varsity basketball during his freshman year at Trinity Leadership High School in Cedar Hill, Texas.
Although his basketball career was brief, appearing in four games, it reflected his early passion for the game. But over time, football began to take center stage.
As he developed under the guidance of his father, Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s focus shifted entirely to the gridiron.
Still, that early interest in basketball shows his athletic versatility and drive to compete at a high level regardless of the sport. And clearly, whatever he chose, Shedeur was built to shine.
What Shattered Shedeur’s Basketball Hopes
Shedeur’s basketball aspirations were shattered because he couldn’t dunk or grow in height anymore: “I realized I couldn’t dunk or grow.” That’s how Shedeur Sanders summed up why his dreams of becoming a basketball player came to an end.
Despite his passion for the game and even playing varsity basketball during his freshman year of high school, the physical limitations became clear. Without the height or hops to compete at the highest level, 6-foot-1 Shedeur shifted his focus back to football, a sport that had always been in his blood.
Still, his path wasn’t without moments of doubt. When asked if he ever wished he didn’t play football, Shedeur gave a candid answer: “When you’re a kid, dad makes you mad about something… you’ll want to run away… you’ll be like, I don’t even want to play for him no more.”
It’s a glimpse into the pressure of growing up under Coach Prime, where family and football constantly overlap. But through it all, Shedeur stayed locked in.
His story proves that even when original dreams fade, the right path finds you, and he’s now thriving exactly where he belongs.
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