Coppin State women’s basketball junior Shanaii Gamble recently chatted with PressBox about committing to hoops late in the process, her best friends on the team and more. The 6-foot forward averaged 6.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game for the Eagles in 2025-26. Gamble is a native of Florida City, Fla., and graduate of Miami Southridge Senior High School.
PressBox: How did you first become interested in basketball?
Shanaii Gamble: My mom, [Lakeisha Middlebrooks], kind of forced me to play. She transferred me [ahead of] my sophomore year of high school. After that, I was just following this one coach, [Benjamin Drummer, to Miami Southridge Senior High School for my final season]. He reached out to other coaches in other travel ball programs and colleges to get me to where I had to be, which was LIU. … I guess [my mom] felt like that was more promising to get a full ride instead of flag football and stuff.
PB: Why didn’t you commit to basketball until late?
SG: Because I was doing other sports. I was doing track, volleyball and flag football. I wasn’t really too much worried about basketball. I just played basketball because there was nothing else to do. They asked me to do it. I was like, “OK, sure.” I had a little bit of experience just by being on the team, but I wasn’t really good.
PB: How were you able to get on college radars so quickly?
SG: I was just working hard. I was sacrificing hanging with my friends, going to have fun. I was just in the gym.
PB: How does someone from South Florida end up at LIU?
SG: Great question. One of my teammates from my travel ball team went to LIU. They asked my travel ball team if they had any kids, and I guess I was one of the kids they were looking for. That’s how I went to LIU.
PB: Why did you choose to transfer to Coppin State ahead of the 2025-26 season?
SG: My head coach from LIU, [Rene Haynes], got fired. She was taking a year off from coaching, so I entered the portal. Coppin was pushing, so I came on a visit. I enjoyed my visit. It was very promising. My mom liked this school. I liked this school. I wanted to go to an HBCU my freshman year, but I didn’t have the opportunity to, so I just came to Coppin.
PB: Where does your rebounding ability come from?
SG: I’m just bouncy. Jumping is fun. I love jumping. That’s how I played volleyball. When I ran track, I was a jumper. In flag football, throw it up, I’m going to jump and get it. Jumping just came super easy. I guess I was born with it.
PB: What was it like to host South Carolina last season?
SG: It was really nice. It was a great experience. There were a lot of fans. It was a packed house. There was a lot of energy in the room. It was fun.
PB: What does your team need to do to take a step forward after last year’s 10-23 season?
SG: We have to be more together [and] play together, actually. We have to be able to depend on each other and guide each other and stick together through the whole season, so we’ll be fine.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about Coppin?
SG: We have some fun activities on campus. They’re always playing music on campus. It’s a really good campus.
PB: Who’s your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
SG: [Samari Taylor and Anya George]. I was the host for [Taylor’s] visit. We went to go get seafood and stuff like that. We automatically connected when she came on her visit. I was like, “Yes, this is going to be my friend. She’s from Louisville. She knows people from Miami and we knew the same people. We became close. Anya was the first person I called because we had to make a phone call to introduce ourselves to our new teammates. We had to pick two people. She was one person, and then in the summertime we became close. We ended up finding out we were roommates, so that made us closer. Come to find out me, Samari and Anya are all three roommates in the apartment. Those are my girls.
PB: What advice would you give to younger players looking to play in college?
SG: Just work hard. All you have to do is just work hard. Don’t take any days off because your opponent isn’t taking any days off. They’re trying to make sure all their skills are sharp and stuff like that. Don’t let anyone discourage you. And most importantly, stay happy while playing. Make sure you’re happy while playing basketball.
PB: What are your goals for after basketball, whenever it ends?
SG: I still want to be in the sports department. I want to be … an agent.
PB: What have you learned majoring in sports management?
SG: All you have to do is know people that know people that know people. You have to have great [energy] everywhere you go. Make sure you’re doing more than your job to get to where you need to be. You’ve got to reach out. Go get new opportunities and don’t take that for granted.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Coppin State Athletics