A story about a trio of basketball players
Throughout the history of sports, trios have formed foundations of some of the greatest teams. From Russell-Jones-Havlicek to Kareem-Magic-Worthy, and from Michael-Scottie-Rodman to Steph-Klay-Draymond, trios have not only solidified greatness but also provided legacies for generations of fans.
The San Quentin News sat down with the San Quentin Warriors’ version of the trio, affectionately known as the three-headed monster. Keyshawn “Steez” Strickland, Dajean “Duty” Evans, and Donell “Sonic” Pimpton have given competitors the feeling of dogs let loose up and down the court.
San Quentin News: Why is basketball important to you?
Dajean Evans: It’s my passion, I grew up playing, it’s my lifestyle.
Keyshawn Strickland: It’s fun, helps me build bonds with people I wouldn’t normally associate.
Donell Pimpton: I grew up playing, it’s my second sport, and I just like the game.
SQN: What has this program done for your rehabilitation?
DE: It’s teaching me discipline.
KS: It made me more levelheaded, it helps me think before I take action.
DP: It changed my life, helps me communicate with my teammates and the outside teams.
SQN: Why do you believe you play so well together?
DE: One shooter and defender, one IQ passer, scorer, and rebounder, and one all-around clutch player.
KS: We are all coachable athletes and over these last couple months, we’ve built chemistry.
DP: Our awareness, communication, we’ve built enough chemistry where we know where each other will be on the court. If one of us gets out of control, the other two gets him back in check. We hold each other accountable.
SQN: What expectations do you have for this season and for yourself?
DE: To get everyone on the same page, ball movement, and less complaining.
KS: Have a better season then last year, playing together as a team the whole season, beat the Golden State Warriors Organization, as for myself, to just show up every game for my team.
DP: A better season than last season, and myself, try not to allow my emotions to get the best of me.
SQN: What is the legacy or imprint you want to leave behind?
DE: I want to leave as one of the best players to have done it all here: rebounding, assisting, and scoring.
KS: I just want everyone to remember the name “Steez” in a positive way.
DP: I want people to remember how hard I played, me being a huge part of this program, and to show incoming people the power of the program.
SQN: What are your hopes for the future after release?
DE: Taking 94 Ft., our conflict resolution program, to the streets. Help build it [by] encouraging people to get involved. Basketball-wise, I want to coach an AAU team; take them traveling to places they normally wouldn’t go.
KS: If I’m still young enough, a G-League tryout, if not, try and play overseas.
DP: I want to be successful and build a church for my mom, and continue to play basketball just because I love it. Go 94 Ft.!
Like all great trios, the San Quentin Warriors’ trio of Strickland-Evans-Pimpton tries to do their best to dominate the court while leaving a legacy of positive programming.
