Before stepping onto the court, Andrew’s Qasam Alzir took a walk down memory lane. The 6-foot-1 small forward was the centerpiece of a special ceremony on senior night that he celebrated alongside his six classmates Wednesday. The memories, however, were countless. “The whole night was kind of b ittersweet because some of these guys I’ve known since sixth grade,” Alzir said. “And others I’ve been playing with since freshman year. “I don’t know how to put this in words, but seeing everyone in the crowd — my parents, family and friends, my coach from middle school — was an amazing feeling.” Alzir capped off an amazing night by scoring 13 points to go with five rebounds and four assists in leading the host Thunderbolts to a 65-38 nonconference win over Washington in Tinley Park. Senior guard Kenneth Peters added 12 points for Andrew (11-15), while senior forward Hisham Massad made three 3-pointers in scoring 11 points. Andrew’s Qasam Alzir (1) goes for a layup against Chicago Washington during a nonconference game in Tinley Park on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown) Andrew coach Justin Stirn went with an all-senior lineup as normal starters such as junior forward Ryan Dinnon and freshman forward Titus Payton watched from the bench. Fittingly, Alzir is the only senior starter for the Thunderbolts. “Watching him grow from where he was as a freshman says a lot about what you can accomplish when you put in the work,” Stirn said. “He was the only senior chosen as a captain. “I think that speaks to what his teammates think about him, both on and off the court. It’s a testament to the person he’s become.” Andrew’s Qasam Alzir (1) brings the ball up the court against Chicago Washington during a nonconference game in Tinley Park on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown) Massad has played with Alzir since they were in sixth grade. “(Wednesday night) was really fun, and it’s definitely something I’m going to look back on in later years,” Massad said. “He’s definitely one of the most mature people I’ve met through our grade. “He’s unselfish, he’s respectful and he’s definitely someone I can go to.” In his first season as a starter, Alzir has blossomed as a glue player who connects the various parts of the team. Andrew’s Qasam Alzir (1) looks for a passing option against Chicago Washington during a nonconference game in Tinley Park on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown) “Last season, I started a couple of games but didn’t play too much,” he said. “I don’t really look to score. I want to get my teammates involved, screen hard and play as hard on defense as possible. “My main goal is just to win.” His parents came to the suburbs of Chicago as young adults from Palestine. Basketball became a big part of his assimilation. “My dad watched the Bulls when he first came here,” Alzir said. “He told me about it and he’d say I should play basketball. I started watching the NBA and then started playing in third grade. “After the pandemic, I tried out for the team in eighth grade and I went from there.” Alzir, who is part of a special tutoring program at Andrew that works with special-needs kids, counts communication as his calling card. He speaks English, Arabic and Spanish. Andrew’s Qasam Alzir (1) calls out a play on offense against Chicago Washington during a nonconference game in Tinley Park on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown) He’s also part of the Spanish honors program. “I used to go to Arabic school and absolutely hated it,” he said. “But I learned how to read, write and comprehend in Arabic. “I really appreciated my mom for doing that because there were a lot of similarities between Arabic and Spanish. I picked Spanish up so quickly.” He’s the middle of five kids, with that game being a crucial part of Alzir’s growth and identity. Playing basketball has a clear end date for him, though, so he’s relishing these final moments. Interestingly enough, on a night that the leading scorers for the Thunderbolts were all on the bench watching, Alzir stayed true to his character. “I wasn’t going to go crazy out there and take a bunch of stupid shots,” he said. “I just wanted to run, get my teammates involved and obviously win. I hate losing more than I love winning.” Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. ...read more read less