The move was a culmination of years of hard work, a journey carved not through fame or early accolades, but through silence, rejection, and belief. For Chima Moneke, one of Shorts’ earliest supporters and closest friends, the moment carried a special resonance—a confirmation of what he had seen in Shorts all along.

Their story begins in 2016 at the University of California, Davis. Shorts, then an unheralded JUCO player without a single Division I scholarship offer, was being recruited by UC Davis. Moneke, the Aggies’ star forward, met him over dinner during the visit. He immediately saw something familiar in the quiet confidence of the undersized guard.

“I liked him right away,” Moneke told Athletiko’s Thanasis Asproulias. “We had the same story. We were both disrespected and overlooked, and we carried that chip with us. Even before I saw him play, I believed in him.”

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That shared experience of rejection forged an instant bond. Moneke saw a reflection of himself in Shorts: unassuming on the surface, but radiating quiet determination underneath. The two became inseparable on and off the court. Moneke treated Shorts like a younger brother, a relationship defined by mutual respect and tough love.

After a standout college career, Shorts faced yet another round of silence from the basketball world. No immediate pro offers. Instead, he joined a tournament team in China, playing against established professionals like Jalen Reynolds. It was a wake-up call—and a spark.