Vinnie Shahid (180-PG-1998, college: NDSU) is a 25 year old 180cm point guard from Minnetonka, Minnesota playing his fourth pro season and first with Openjobmetis Varese (Italy-Serie A). Last season he played with Thor Thorlakshofn (Iceland-Subway League) playing 27 games and leading the league in scoring and assists averaging 26.4ppg, 4.3rpg,8.7apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 88.2%. Two seasons ago he played with Entente Cergy Osny Pontoise BB (France-NM1) leading the league in scoring averaging 21.0ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 85.5%. He played his rookie season with AB Contern (Luxembourg-Total League) averaging 22.6ppg, 4.9rpg, 4.9apg, 2.4spg, FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 79.2%. He began his basketball career at Hopkins high school and then played 2 years at Western Nebraska Community College (JUCO) averaging 15.0ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.9apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 40.7%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 81.0%and in his second season averaged 18.4ppg, 3.1rpg, 4.8apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 48.8%, 3PT: 47.6%, FT: 86.8%. He then played 2 years at North Dakota State University (NCAA) averaging 13.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 52.7%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 84.9% and in his senior year averaged 1.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 88.4%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Fiba Eurocup game against the Niners Chemnitz
Thanks Vinnie for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you?
Basketball will always be basketball in my eyes. Embracing every part of it.
After paying your dues your first 3 years in Luxemburg, France (3rd division) and Iceland, you have landed in Seria A Italy a top 5 league. How tough were the last 3 seasons? What was key for you in this time for being able to fight all adversary and just keep grinding?
I´m a juco kid, working and grinding is how I got to where I am. So to me none of the past 3 years were necessarily tough for me. I was getting paid to do what I love.
How do you feel have you grown as a player and man in the last 3 years? How beneficial was it overall playing in lower leagues?
I feel I’ve grown a lot as a person and a player, being able to adapt and learn new skills and life lessons in every country I’ve been to made every place I’ve been very beneficial for me.
Your playing your first season with Openjobmetis Varese (Italy-Serie A). What kind of an experience has it been playing for this ambitious club? What have you learned to appreciate most about the time?
It has been a great experience, great opportunity And a blessing. The biggest thing I’ve appreciated is just the bond I’ve created with my teammates and hearing everyone’s different paths to how we all ended up here.
You are playing very well in the Fiba Europe Cup averaging 15/2/3 and in the Serie A only 6/1/1 while playing 3 minutes less. What has been the most challenging thing for you on the court?
For me I believe the most challenging thing has been to adapt how I’m used to playing and finding what the team actually needs from me to be successful, every season there’s ups and downs. At the end of the days it’s a marathon not a sprint.
What has it been like being teammates with 8 year NBA veteran Willie Cauley-Stein? I´m sure you feed his brain often? Have you hooked up for any nice alley-oop dunks?
Willie is a great guy and teammate I often speak to him about experiences and basketball moments he’s had.
Your a 180cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
I would say Fred van Vleet as we have a similar body build game and he’s a smaller guard maybe a little taller than me but similar for sure.
You can fill the stat sheet like no other. What otehr strengths do you have besides scoring?
I´m a guy that can also affect the game with energy and leadership.
You never averaged more than 4,0apg game as a player, but last year almost 9,0apg in Iceland. How did your playmaking skills develop there?
I think my coaches and teammates trusting me with the ball in my hands for mostly every possession I played for. Thor gave me confidence and a better feel for reading the game.
You arer a very steady and potent three point shooter. Do you feel like you could become an elite shooter at the euro level?
That definitely is a goal of mine before my career is over to be considered elite at that level.
What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become in the next years?
I would say defensively im solid. I´m figuring out how to be a better defender finding different tactics and figuring out how to impact the game on that side of the ball more than the the past.
Last summer you played briefly for the Niagara River Lions (Canada-CEBL) averaging 4.5ppg, 1.0rpg, 2.0apg. What kind of an expereince was this? How would you describe this rising league in comparision to the leagues you have played in overseas?
I wasn’t there for long but my time there, but it was a cool experience. A lot of high level talent in that league and it seems to be only growing.
Last season you played with Thor Thorlakshofn (Iceland-Subway League) leading the league in scoring with 26.4ppg), 4.3rpg, Assists-1 (8.7apg), 1.7spg, FGP: 55.7%, 3PT: 42.1%, FT: 88.2%. You had an incredible season reaching the semi finals and scoring 30 points or more 9 times including a 41 point explosion and 19 assists. Seriously did it feel like you were a man playing with boys?
I would credit that season to my coach and teammates for trusting me with the ball as much as they did and feeding me confidence on a day to day basis.
What was the nicest thing you expereinced with the incredible landscape? There must be stories you will be able to tell your grand children one day?
Yes, iceland was very cool. I think the climate and living right next to the ocean is something I experienced for the first time and I think that’s something I will live to tell.
Two seasons ago you played with Entente Cergy Osny Pontoise BB (France-NM1) winning the scoring title again averaging 21.0ppg, 3.7rpg, 3.9apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.8%, 3PT: 39.3%, FT: 85%. How tough was going into the season mentally coming off a great rookie season and then having to take new lumps having to play in the 3rd division France? What did you learn about yourself in difficult times?
Like I said before to me there was no difficulties playing there, because I was playing the game I love for money. As a kid that’s still everything I dreamed of. Biggest thing I learned that year was what type of character I had.
You played your rookie season with AB Contern (Luxembourg-Total League) (22.6ppg), 4.9rpg, Assists-4 (4.9apg), Steals-4 (2.4spg), FGP: 52.3%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 79.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
Sheesh, probably walking into a hotel room that was super small and they told me that this is where I’m living !
How much hope does the common knowledge of the fact that Alfonso Mckinnie played 2nd division Luxemburg and soon after reached the NBA give you for your career overall knowing anything is possible in the basketball world?
Alfonso’s story is a crazy one. Gives hope to a lot of overseas guys that anything can happen.
You played 2 seasons with Western Nebraska Community College (JUCO). Every guy I have interviewed that has palyed JUCO have reported that the expereince wasn´t always easy but one they wouldn´t have traded the world for. How was it for you?
I was blessed with a great juco career and had great coaches and teammates which made my experience a lot easier than others. But I wouldn’t have traded those two years for anything. They really molded me as a player and person
How vital was head coach Cory Fehringer in your 2 years in JUCO? How did he help develop your game?
-Coach Fehringer is family. He has effected and impacted my life way beyond those two years and developed me not only as a basketball player but as a young man. That’s the best coach ive ever had.
You played 2 years at North Dakota State University (NCAA) averaging 13.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.6apg, FGP: 52.7%, 3PT: 36.6%, FT: 84.9% and as a senior averaged 18.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3PT: 36.7%, FT: 88.4%. How do you feel did your game grow in those 2 years?
I feel like once again you those two years I was able to grow as a player because of how my teammates trusted me and my coaches trusted me with the ball in my hands. Numbers don’t show it but I grew in many different areas other than stats those two years.
You won 2 Summit League titles in 2019 and 2020. Which one was sweeter?
Both very special but 2020 the repeat was definitely a different feeling winning the chip by 20+
You scored 20 points against Duke on a national stage against guys like Cam Reddish, Zion Williamson, Tre Jones and RJ Barrett. What memories do you have of this game and those players?
Tre Jones was an ex aau teammate and a friend of mine, that game was special and have many great memories from that game. I will forever be one of my favorite games.
You were teammates with 2 great players Tyson Ward and Sam Griesel. Please tell me your memories of them and nicest moment on the court?
I´m still very close with both of them, the easiest memory of both of them would be winning back to back championships with them. One thing you know about Tyson but will soon find out about Sam as well is they are both winners. Winning follows those guys everywhere.
How did David Richman groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
He helped mold me in different ways than I got molded in juco teaching me different principles and helping my game mature.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Cameron Hunter?
Vin fo rsure, my boy Cameron Hunter was a bucket though shout out cam!
Who was the toughest player you faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
I faced many my favorite though is Stanley Umude for the Detroit Pistons. We played him 2 times a year for 2 years and he gave us problems everytime
Please name your 5 berst teammates of all-time?
All of my teammates Ive ever had are the best !
Please name your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?
Kobe, Bron, MJ, Curry
Who is your GOAT and why?
Lebron, no one did what he’s doing for how long he’s been doing it
Did you see the sequel tot he classic Coming to America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?
It was a great sequel, but i love the original the most
Thanks Vinnie for the chat.
German Hoops 