by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Quaye Agoyo (Ohkay Owingeh/Cochiti/Kewa/Narragansett/Chinese) is in 10th grade and is 15 years old. He plays basketball for the Falcons at Friends Select School in Philadelphia. A starter on the varsity team since he was a freshman, Quaye has made strong impact on his team’s success. He is a solid all-around player on both ends of the court: a reliable defender, rebounder, consistent shooter.
As a newcomer to the Triple Threat club team, Quaye led the team to the finals of the ABNCA Eastern Regional. His team members gifted him with the trophy for his fantastic contribution. Quaye is an honor student, a leader in his community, and a kind person.
Quaye is looking forward to a successful sophomore season ahead.
Fun facts:
- Quaye recently knocked down 37 threes in a row during a shooting drill.
- Quaye received Most Outstanding on the Cross Country Team in an award ceremony in October 2019.
“Being both Native American and Chinese has influenced my life in many ways,” said Quaye. “When I was in New Mexico, I felt more connected to my Pueblo Native culture. It seemed as if there were always celebrations or traditional gatherings that my family would participate in. I was raised with a strong sense of connection to our land, our water, and our people. On the other side, the only Chinese people I knew in New Mexico were my family. It’s different here in Philly. It is more diverse, but I don’t see as many Native people here. However, I am more immersed in Chinese culture then I was living in Santa Fe. The Chinese side of my family lives in the area, we eat great food, and I study advanced Mandarin. Despite seeing less Native people here in Philly, there are great powwows in the area that we go to. At the powwows, I visit with friends and family. We enjoy dances and songs. And even though we live in a city, I am aware that we are on Lenni-Lenape lands and though it may look different, our ancestors presence is very much here.”
“As a mixed race person living in Philadelphia and going to a mostly white school, I feel comfortable but I also know that I have something different that I bring to my experience there through my studies, socially, and through athletics,” added Quaye.
“Outside of school, I’ve play in ABCNA (Asian Basketball Championships of North America) tournaments,” said Quaye. “All my teammates in those tournaments were Asian kids. Back in New Mexico we once went to a UNM Lobos game where they wore special N7 uniforms, invited tribal leaders to the game and recognized them at halftime. It was nice to see my cultures brought together with basketball.”
“Basketball and running are a huge part of our Native cultures. I was raised a basketball kid. My father and grandfather would talk about it so much. It is very much a part of who we are.
“Quaye first and most importantly is an amazing person,” said Percell Coles, head basketball coach, Friends Select School. “He never complains, he takes responsibility and works extremely hard on and off the basketball court. Quaye is very coachable and he is a coaches dream, he does almost everything the right way. He has a bright future ahead of him on and off the basketball court. He is a gym rat and loves to be in the gym looking for ways to become better. His work ethic and how he carries himself so well is a testimony to his parents. It’s a blessing for me to be apart of his journey.”
Dad Herman Agoyo III said: “Quaye is blossoming into a great school community leader demonstrating great dedication and all around excellent scholastic habits. He is kind, thoughtful, and respectful towards his classmates, teachers, coaches, and school staff. Quaye is a good listener and is fully willing to complete the drill or assignment as instructed. He is very disciplined and consistent and provides a great example of what hard work actually looks like. I personally have had many parents of younger students approach me to say they are so impressed with his work ethic and that they enjoy watching him play and even practice. Quaye is always willing to show up early to practice to get extra reps and will stay late to work directly with his coaches for individual, focused sessions. Quaye leads by example and effort and is starting to be a more vocal leader in practice and during competition – you can see his confidence grow season-by-season, year-by-year.”
“Quaye connects with his Native American and Chinese American roots in many ways now that we live in the Philly area. Quaye is a high achiever in his Mandarin class and we look for opportunities for him to learn about the legacy and story thru the strength of the Chinese American community here in the Philadelphia. We take him to a variety of events that celebrate the Chinese calendar and we frequently visit China Town to eat and explore the many shops found here. We regularly have family dinners at our favorite Chinese restaurant with his grandparents. Quaye also plays with a basketball club that competes in the Asian Basketball Championship league along the east coast. He has been able to connect really well with this team and our family is now a meaningful part of the community that surrounds this league. He is immersed academically, socially, and athletically in Chinese American culture and this participation allows him to explore and understand this part of his family story,” added Herman.
“We also attend a variety of Native celebrations along the east coast throughout the year,” said Herman. “We attend powwows and art programs and we take our children to Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, receptions for elected Native leaders, and other community events throughout the East Coast. We have traveled with our children to attend these events in many different states from Maine, Boston, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. It’s important for Quaye to see contemporary examples of Indigenous people especially since we now live in an urban environment. Often our story is lost here in the big city but we try to make sure our children live in a world where they see positive representations of Native people. It is our hope that they feel as though they belong here, that they feel safe, that they know they have a unique, powerful voice, and that they can simply be who they are. Quaye is an exceptional illustration of all the hope that we have as parents. Quaye takes pride in how he represents himself, his brothers, his family, his school, and his many communities. I am so proud of the drive and purpose that exists in this young, every-growing person and the positive role model that he is becoming.”
Photo Credit: Anthony Rugnetta and Aaron Li
He is a wonderful credit to his family and his Beautiful diverse cultural background