For me, it all started back home in my garage.
That was my first basketball court where I practiced with my dad.
I loved his passion for the game and I wanted to be like him.
I instantly fell in love with the game.
I began my college career at Biola University, a Division II school in California.
Biola was a great school and I truly loved my experience there.
After being named Pacwest Freshman of the Year, I transferred to Alabama A&M University.
And honestly, adjusting to a DI program challenged me, but it was everything I wanted.
I learned a lot at Alabama A&M — not only as a basketball player, but as a person, too.
After two years in Alabama, and becoming an HBCU All-American by the end of my junior year, I decided to enter the transfer portal again after my coach left.
It just wouldn't be the same without Coach Richards.
I chose to come back to California to play at San José State University.
From the start, they embraced me, and I couldn't have appreciated that more.
My overall journey as a student-athlete was everything but normal — going from a DII to a DI HBCU and now to a school in the Mountain West.
But, make no mistake, I wouldn't change a thing about my journey.
Throughout my career, I never wanted to take a practice or game for granted.
A lot of players dream of playing in college — I’m one of the lucky few to live out that dream each day.
I try to take each opportunity as a lesson and a blessing.
And by sharing my story, I hope to encourage others to do the same.
Sharing Who I Am
Basketball is my favorite sport, but it is not my sole identity.
I’m more than my jersey number and game stats.
Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities opened a lot of doors, allowing me to show who I truly am.
I have been able to share my faith and walk with the Lord through my social media platforms.
My faith empowers who I am and what I do.
I got to where I am because of God, nothing else.
I want to use my platform to inspire and encourage young athletes so they can also learn to trust God’s path.
With His grace, I strive to be a positive influence in life.
Whether it's through my random dancing reels, brand partnerships, day-in-the-life vlogs. or fit checks, it all helps me tell my story, and I hope to give my audience a peek into what it's like to be a college hooper.
And my favorite part about my brand is being able to use it for a bigger purpose than myself.
By staying true to myself, I hope my followers feel comfortable to be true to who they are.
NIL helps me connect with my audience and build valuable relationships with brands whose goals align with my own.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities God gave me, and I am excited to continue to grow my personal brand to make a positive impact on the world.
Connecting with Brands
As a student-athlete, I have had the opportunity to work with several amazing brands.
While each partnership is special in its own way, there are a couple that stand out.
One of my favorite experiences was partnering with PSD, underwear and apparel. PSD is such a colorful, dynamic brand.
My partnership with Oikos Yogurt was another deal I enjoyed filming.
That collaboration was particularly meaningful to me because of the time and effort we put into preparing the strategy for the campaign.
Recently, I was able to do a deal with Walgreens X Degree and I enjoyed making content for that deal as well.
We wanted a create a meaningful way to integrate the product into my life so it became part of my daily routine.
I loved brainstorming how to approach that creative challenge.
When the partnership was finalized, it felt like a major accomplishment, and I am proud of the work we did together.
As I continue to grow and evolve as an athlete and a brand ambassador, I look forward to working with new companies and expanding my network.
Moving Forward
I am grateful for the opportunities to compete at the highest level, pursue my education, and build my personal brand.
To all the young athletes out there, I want to leave you with this:
If you love your sport and are passionate about it, pursue your dreams with everything you have.
It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
You are not alone.
Whatever you’re going through, remember, on the other side of adversity is an award.
Have faith and trust in God’s plan for your life, and know that anything is possible.
