Leading up to the men's basketball regular-season opener on Nov. 6, GoStanford.com will profile all 15 student-athletes on the team and learn more about their interests, experiences and goals.
In the third edition of our Cardinal Capsule series, we get to know freshman Keenan Fitzmorris from Overland Park, Kansas.
At what age did you start playing basketball?
I started playing basketball in fourth grade. Soccer was always my first sport, before I ever stepped on a basketball court. I really like soccer. I played baseball, football, volleyball and competed in track and field as well.
If you were not playing basketball, what sport would you play?
That's an easy one, volleyball. I have been around volleyball my whole life with my two sisters playing. They inspired me and it has been a lot of fun watching them play the sport. My oldest sister, Alexandra, is now a volleyball coach.
Did Audriana (volleyball) playing at Stanford already have any effect on you choosing to come here?
It was always a dream to come to Stanford. With my sister already here, that was icing on the cake. We are really close as a family. I look up to her. There is such a great environment here, I would make this choice, no matter what but it was a no brainer with Audriana here.
What is the best advice Audriana has given you to help you prepare for your experience here?
She has given me a lot of great advice. I have always looked up to her. She leads by example. She is so humble and hard working. Sometimes it is not what she says, but how she acts. The one great piece of advice she told me is that I absolutely will need a bike. I have a bike and now she is showing me the best routes around campus to get where I need to go quickly.
With the summer session complete and the fall quarter underway, is there a class or area of study that has piqued your interest so far?
Actually, taking Audriana's advice, I enrolled in the Global Warming Paradox seminar with Professor Diffenbaugh over the summer. It was really interesting to me. I was thinking about majoring in psychology, but I am not certain yet. After taking the Global Warming Paradox class, I am now enrolled in an introduction to earth sciences class.
Is there any significance behind the No. 12?
I chose the number in honor of my sister.
Nickname?
Everyone calls me Fitz. However, everyone calls my sister Fitz too. It's fun when we are together and you hear someone say Fitz.
