Known as “Salt and Pepper,” the number one and two guards of the San Quentin Warriors, Mason “White Chocolate” Ryan and Keshawn “Steez” Strickland are arguably the best pair on the team. However, the duo are leading by example, showing their teammates and the prison population how to gel cohesively on and off the court. They have done so through growth and perseverance through hard work and discipline.
Timothy Hicks: “Salt and Pepper,” it’s obvious for why you two have that name. (laughs) But tell me who nicknamed y’all that name?
Mason Ryan: Coach JB gave us that name.
TH: OK.
Keyshawn Strickland: It used to be the Dalmatians. (laughs)
TH: Wow, I’m glad that one didn’t stick. Speaking of Coach JB, he and others named you two as the best two on the team. How do it feel to have that title?
KS: It motivates me to be a great example on and off the court.
MR: Me too.
KS: We formed an immediate chemistry. I can trust him. We trust each other. We know that we will have good outcomes like that. The passes, the shots.
TH: Your coach also noted that you two are not only role models on the court, y’all are doing positive things off the court as well. Do your basketball aspirations play a part in that too?
MR: Yeah, It helps me escape mentally from the stresses that come with prison. I feel like I’m not in prison when I’m playing with these guys. It change my perspective of being together as opposed to situations when we shouldn’t be if we were in another prison.
KS: It gives me an outlet to channel my competitive nature.
TH: You guys have a good squad supporting y’all.
MR: It’s great to have teammates that trust us. We all shine together.
TH: Steez, you had a game where you went for 47, the most points scored in a SQ Warriors game. Your coach said Ryan went for quadruple doubles and you had the high score against the outside Green Team. Describe how you was feeling.
KS: We was losing and I didn’t want to lose. I had to pick up the slack when Ryan got hurt.
TH: I know that you both love to win and in critical times y’all know when to step up and handle it. What makes it all work?
MR: Even in a place like prison we can still form a family and a brotherhood. And these basketball teams in the program we form a brotherhood.
