Today we’d like to introduce you to Keisha Anderson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Keisha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I knew at a very early age that basketball was my world. Living in the small city of Racine Wisconsin, playing basketball at the John Bryant Community Center was something I did almost everyday.
As a high school senior at Park high school in Racine, Wisconsin I received Miss Wisconsin Basketball and Parade All American. I also received a full basketball scholarship to the University of Arizona during’ 92-’93 and was selected to the all-Freshman Pac 10 team. Proving myself ultimately worthy of the court, I transferred to the University of Wisconsin. Excelling from all freshman Pac 10 team to First Team All-Big 10.
I also became Wisconsin’s 8th all-time in scoring, second all-time in assists and 1st in all time steals. Closing out my college career, I received District IV First team All American and Wisconsin MVP in 1997.
During ’97, I finished my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, along with being a proud 16th overall draft pick to join the American Basketball League’s Colorado Xplosion. The ABL came to an ultimate demise, I then broke new ground traveling abroad, taking my career to Team Elitzur in Holon Israel.
Traveling back to the states, I was then drafted by the Women’s National Basketball League’s Atlanta Justice, becoming an instrumental part of the team’s success, winning the championship during 2000-2001. After the championship, I was then picked up as a free agent by the WNBA’s Washington Mystics in 2004. When the WNBA season ended I continued to play professional basketball with Dallas Fury the fall of 2004-2005. During the following WNBA season, I was traded to the Charlotte Sting, where I played two seasons. Fall 2005-2007 I then played with the Chicago Blaze, ultimately finalizing my professional basketball career overseas with team Istanbul University, in Istanbul Turkey.
After retirement I received one of basketball’s greatest honors being inducted into the Racine, Wisconsin Hall of Fame on October, 25th 2012. The following year I was inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame October 5, 2013! I did not stray from the court too long by acting on my vision to spread my talents to the future of basketball founding Fire N Ice Basketball Academy. I wanted to inspire the youth of the world the same way I was inspired throughout life through the game of basketball.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The road to starting Firenicepbt Basketball Academy, for the most part, has been smooth. Texas is a great state that is extremely competitive in youth sports. Starting my company wasn’t the biggest problem, finding my target market and uniqueness in such a competitive market had enough challenges. Being an African American female in a male dominated sports is a challenge every day, but I’ve dealt with this almost my whole life, so it’s not hard to handle, just nerve reckoning.
Please tell us about your company.
Firenicepbt Basketball Academy is a company that serves the youth of Dallas area kids that want to compete in basketball at a recreation, select and AAU tournament/ travel level. We specialize in basketball skills training because the development of each player is essential in their growth on the court. The fact that I played professional basketball for the WNBA and overseas for a combined 12 years sets me apart from most but not all basketball organizations. I’m proud that I have grown my company in the past six years and currently have a great staff that has the same passion as I do when it comes to changing our youth into better basketball players and, even more importantly, better people.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I have big plans for the future. We are adding more teams to the Academy. We currently have eight teams. Building my own facility and incorporating a mentorship program to Firenicepbt Basketball Academy. Also doing more skills training camps around the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.firenicepbtskillsacademy.com
- Instagram: Firenicepbt
- Facebook: Firenicepbt
- Twitter: Firenicepbt
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