by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
There are lessons of athletes not giving up throughout the sports world. While not being recruited out of high school, Janeé Bates was determined to be a college basketball player. And she not only became one, but she set individual records and received conference and university recognition along the way.
Janeé Bates, 22, is from the San Felipe Pueblo and Fox Clan. Her parents’ names are Juliet Bates and Barry Bates Jr. and the family lives in Albuquerque, NM.
Janeé is a senior basketball player at Haskell Indian Nations University. The three-time captain is a three-time honoree of the Champion of Character Award. She was also named First Team All Conference, and to the All Tournament Team.
She will also be leaving with two school records: 39 points in a single game and 13 assists in another single game.
“Respect and community have defined who I am as a student-athlete,” said Janeé. “Respecting those who are there to teach me and those who I play with has helped me build great relationships with teachers, teammates, and coaches. Knowing that I have a whole community behind me has given me the confidence to pursue my dreams of being an athlete and furthering my education.”
“Coach Shane Flanagan was my coach throughout my college career,” said Janeé. “Throughout my four years, Coach Flanagan pushed me and motivated me to be the player I am today. He provided the opportunity for me to succeed, and believed in me more than I believed in myself. While playing basketball at Haskell, he not only affected me on the court, he helped change my way of thinking and how I talked to myself. He preached positive thinking and positive self-talk, that I’ve incorporated into my daily life. I am thankful for his guidance.”
“Coach Liz Albertson has been my strength and conditioning coach since high school,” said Janeé. “She was very influential in how I was ready to compete at the collegiate level. She helped instill the hard working mindset I have today. She taught me how to take care of my body. I look up to her strength, perseverance, and all that she has accomplished over the years.”
“Barry Bates is my father and has been my coach on and off throughout my athletic career,” said Janeé. “He’s taught me everything I know in order for me to succeed and he has gone out of his way to find people to teach me more about the game. He has believed in me and supported everything I have accomplished, and been there to pick me up when I failed. After every one of my games I would call him and we would discuss what I did well and what I needed to improve so I can help my team to win. He is one of the greatest coaches I have had, he gives 100% in whatever he does. He helped me become the player I am today.”
“Janeé has proven to be one of the hardest working athletes you would ever meet,” said dad Barry Bates. “She wasn’t gifted with some of the ‘god given’ talent that most basketball players have. Janeé didn’t really start playing competitively until her freshman year. She didn’t get a lot of playing time on her high school team. She wasn’t highly recruited, and in fact, Janeé didn’t have a single offer or a school recruiting her at any level once her senior year was over. We have all heard the saying ‘hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.’ This is truly the definition of Janeé.”
“Janeé has been a four-year starter at NAIA DII Haskell Indian Nations University. She has played every game in her college career and has had success, team and conference awards and records. Janeé can carry that work ethic with her throughout her life at whatever she chooses to do and she just getting started,” added Barry.
“To maximize my performance I lift weights, and do speed training,” said Janeé. “This helps with not only strength, but also helps with my footwork. I do this to prevent future injuries and strengthen joints and tendons. What I need to improve on with my sport is my confidence. My confidence has improved over the years, but it is not where I think it needs to be.”
“My spirituality plays a big role in my game, it helps me to stay calmed, focused during games, and keep a leveled head,” said Janeé. “To stay mentally tough during stressful games I take a couple deep breaths and try to calm myself down. I normally repeat ‘stay calm, you’re ok’ to keep my mind on the game.”
“In the current state of the world I try to keep busy by working out, cleaning and studying,” said Janeé. “Since I am not able to get into a gym I do simple dribbling drills in the garage of my house with my sister.”
“In high school, I didn’t get a lot of playing time and was not highly recruited,” said Janeé. “However, I was going to do everything in my power to play college basketball. A month before the recruiting period was over my senior year, Coach Flanagan at Haskell Indian Nations University recruited me. The four years I was at Haskell I played over 100 games and started almost every game. Every year I improved and in my final year at Haskell, I received the First team All Conference Award. I was ranked in many different categories in my conference, set many career highs, and some team records”
“With the mindset to play college basketball I realized that I could truly accomplish anything that I put my mind to,” said Janeé.
