When I was about six years old, I walked to the park with my grandmother and saw some boys playing basketball.
The game caught my attention.
I asked if I could join them, and luckily, they were cool with it.
Before I knew it, I was completely hooked.
Crazy how it works sometimes, right?
From that day on, I started playing for my school teams, AAU teams — all that fun stuff.
The more I played, the more I realized basketball was something I wanted to do for a long time.
It is more than just a game to me.
Finding my way
Much has happened since that six-year-old stepped on a basketball court for the first time.
Countless memories that will forever be ingrained in my memory.
One of those moments is when I was named a McDonald's All-American in 2022.
I met so many new people and played against some of the best players in the nation. That experience reflects one of the coolest parts of basketball — it introduces me to people from all over and connects me to what turn out to be lifelong friends.
After playing a year at Arizona, I entered the transfer portal.
The whole transition process was definitely overwhelming.
I wanted to make sure I made the right choice for the next three years of my life.
No pressure, you know?
But once Coach Mox connected with me, I knew from the jump that Virginia was the right place.
I felt confident I could excel on and off the court.
Once I stepped on campus, I felt at home.
Everyone creates a positive environment here, so that made it easier adjusting to the new program.
The culture is strong and supportive at UVA, and I’m so grateful to be a part of this team.
Basketball has definitely played a huge role in my life, but it isn’t the only thing I’m passionate about.
New York State of Style
Growing up in New York influenced my style. The city introduced me to so many different people who each use fashion to express themselves. I was surrounded by different translations of what fashion means to people, and I loved developing my own idea of what it means to me.
At first, fashion was just a fun hobby for me – kind of an expensive hobby.
I love to shop for new looks.
As I got older, this passion took on a life of its own.
They say life imitates art, and I feel like that represents my closet. My shirts often reflect the bold, colorful patterns you see on city streets. I take inspiration from murals, and I like to pose in front of cool architecture and cityscapes.
It's so fun to play around with different layers and textures, like denim.
Sometimes I find pieces to wear that others may think look kind of strange, but then I style them so the outfit looks good together.
I love those moments.
I feel like I get to express myself in a completely new way, you know?
As a student-athlete, my passion for fashion gives me an outlet outside of basketball.
I like having something else to focus on for a moment.
And I think NIL is going to help me hone in on that focus, too.
Maybe I will partner with clothing brands or even start my own brand one day — that would be super cool.
Today, I’m just so grateful to be able to play the game I love and pursue something I’m really passionate about outside of basketball, too.
I can’t wait to see where life takes me next.
Stay tuned – this is going to be a really special season at UVA for me — on and off the court!
