Jamad Fiin is a guard for Division-III Emmanuel College in Boston, but there’s something unique about her compared to most everyone who surrounds her on the court: she’s Muslim.
Not only that, but she covers her hair with scarves when she plays and has been known to ball while in a hijab. Fiin has had videos of her blacktop game go viral on social media in the past, shining a spotlight on her game and story.
In January, Overtime released a more than 10-minute long video feature on Fiin, spending time with her at her place in Boston, on the court and meeting some of the important people in her life.
“All she wants it to play basketball, play basketball. That’s all,” Fiin’s mother said. “She still wears her hijab, so I let her go, so she can influence a lot of Muslim girls in America.”
Years ago, her mother needed some convincing to let her daughter play. It was her father who did the heavy lifting in making that happen.
“When my kid is growing up in America, they have to assimilate,” her father said. “This is really a good thing when you keep the best of your culture and take the best of the new culture that you came into … I’m really proud of her, because she’s really very passionate about basketball.”
The Spin on Jamad Fiin
Fiin’s family moved to America from Somali, and she has proudly featured for the Somalian National Team. In 2017, she participated in the FIBA Africa Champions Cup in Uganda, which she has said was her most exciting athletic experience.
If you want to learn more about her story, be sure to check out the full video on Fiin. If all you’re interested in is seeing some smooth handles and soft jumpers, her highlights won’t disappoint you.
