Drew University Athletics

 
Why did you choose Drew University?
I chose Drew because I wanted to come to the East Coast, attend a school that had a tight-knit community and develop real relationships with my classmates, professors and coaches.

Why did you choose your major and what is your favorite course?
I chose Business as my major because I want to one day own my own business. I thought that understanding the ins and outs of business in general would also suit me well for whatever career path I choose later in life. My favorite course in the business department has to have been Business & Technology. We were able to examine the power of technology in the business world and study the growth that our society has made with technology.

What is your most memorable moment as a Ranger?
My most memorable moment as a Ranger has to be beating the previously undefeated, nationally ranked Susquehanna River Hawks in 2016. It was a packed house and we played a close game and fought all the way till the end where we won on a buzzer beating lay up. It was great to do that in front of our home crowd and knock off a nationally respected program in our conference.

How has being an athlete helped you as a student and in the classroom?
Being an athlete has taught me all about time management. As a collegiate athlete, I am committed to my sport. This means hours training and practicing every day, long bus rides, overnight trips, and the stress of a long winter season of basketball. This being said, I have learned that I am a student first and I have to be very diligent with my work in order to be able to excel in the classroom and on the court. I have developed the skill of time management by default, because quite frankly, I have no other choice. If you are not able to manage your time well as a college athlete, your grades or athlete performance will suffer.

What is the most difficult part of your sport?
The most difficult part of my sport is when it ends. the last game is always the hardest because you spend everyday with your best friends for 5-6 months and then it ends and you don't see them everyday anymore and some of them you won't get to play with again so it is really hard.

Why do you wear your jersey number?
I think the most difficult part of my sport is the length of the season. We officially begin practice in October, and end at the end of February. It is a grueling winter, and we do not get to enjoy a full winter break at home with family and friends. We are fortunate to be able to play the sport that we love at this level, but it becomes grueling during the long winter when all the other students are at home with family.

Why do you wear your jersey number?
As much as I want to make up an elaborate, deep story, there really is no symbolic meaning behind the number of my jersey. I chose 11 because I used to wear the number 10 in high school, so I figured that I should go 1 number up since this is the next level.

What advice do you have for a prospective Drew University student-athlete?
My best advice would be to make sure that you are fully committed to being a STUDENT-athlete. Academics is valued in this program, and you must devote yourself to doing well in the classroom and on the court.

Why is community service important to your role as a student-athlete at Drew?
Community service is important to my role because I am a representative of our program. With the opportunity to be a captain and a member of the Drew Rangers comes responsibility. It is my responsibility to represent our program with dignity, class, and respect. As I have assumed this position, I have also understood that everything that I do reflects the program that I am proud to be apart of.

Name one obstacle or form of adversity you have had to overcome...
One obstacle I have had to overcome was a concussion during my sophomore year. I have had many ankle sprains, finger fractures, and bone bruises in my career, but repeated head injuries have been very hard to completely get rid of. Concussions are very serious and cannot be taken lightly. I received a concussion last season in the middle of conference play, and was out for most of the last part of the season. I tried returning back to action, but I found out the hard way that my brain was not fully ready to participate in sports yet as I spent a night in the hospital following terrible migraines and stomach pains. Since then, I have taken all of the necessary steps to properly heal, and I am 100% healthy now. My patience was certainly tested, but I am glad to be back on the court now.

Rapid Fire:
Color? Blue
Food? Burger
Restaurant? Mr. Chow
Movie? Batman: Dark Knight Rises
TV Show? Entourage
Musical Artist? The Weeknd
Athlete? Kobe Bryant
Pro Team? Los Angeles Lakers
Hobbies? Beach
Biggest Fear? Snakes
Most Prized Possession? Limited Edition Kobe Bryant All Star Sneakers