Basketball Diaries: A Chat with Steven Hunter and the BSU
Logo for the Black Student Union at Northern Arizona University.
Northern Arizona University (NAU) has never lacked in the special guest department. Whether it be a visit from a famous author or a concert featuring a popular artist or band, NAU is always trying their best to inspire the student body and encourage them to make the most of their college experience. Oct. 5, the Black Student Union (BSU) at NAU welcomed a very special guest onto campus: retired Phoenix Suns player, Steven Hunter. Hunter joined the BSU, and any other guests that desired to attend, in the Kaibab room of the Fieldhouse for an inspirational and motivational talk about college, life and all of its ups and downs.
Despite not having graduated from a university himself due to being drafted into the NBA, Hunter still had plenty of lessons to give his listeners. Although retired, he made a point to emphasize the personal joy it brings him to offer something for his community. The admirable qualities about the BSU’s special guest were endless and he left his audience enthralled with ears wide open.
“Anything that the Suns want to do as far as represent the community, I’m involved with," Hunter said. “I take a lot of pride in doing that . . . I really think that basketball was my platform to give back.”
Hunter attended DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois for two years before his big break with the NBA. He went on to mention that although time may fly, college and all it has to offer is a force to be reckoned with.
“College was the best times of my life,” Hunter said. “I’m 32 now and I always think back to how much fun I had in college.”
This was a reassuring thought for many students in the room that happened to be stressed about their futures, and what is to come at too young of an age. This advice appeared to have even more weight coming from a retired NBA player — someone who has traveled the world and experienced things countless college students dream about.
It became very clear very quickly as to why the BSU pounced on the opportunity to have Hunter speak with them. His motivational advice inspired and impressed everyone in the room as he transitioned from story to story about his hardships and blessings alike. If just one moral could be taken from Hunter’s discussion, it’d be that hard work does in fact pay off. But just because you may have made it in no way means the trials and tribulations stop there.
“I think the richest people in the world are those who are rich in knowledge and self-worth. Those who care about their family, who care about helping other people, who care about the next person,” Hunter said.
Fellow listener Reggie Eccleston, working in code compliance for the city of Flagstaff, had his own advice to give as well, “It’s also important to have that backbone, that person that really supports you and really believes in you, and isn’t there just for that status.”
The lessons to be learned in the short amount of time Hunter had to share with the BSU and its visitors were almost overwhelming. Ranging from treating others how you want to be treated, to putting money away little by little until retirement — all of it added up to be quite the didactic experience and leaving everyone feeling more secure with themselves and the people they trying to become.
However, none of this could have happened if it was not for the BSU itself and the admirably ambitious students that comprise it.
“It was a good opportunity for BSU,” said president Marquitta Lambert. “We haven’t really been seen on campus and I think this was a good chance for someone who has been successful to come and talk to our members and motivate them to do more.”
If interested, Lambert suggests coming to them because anyone and everyone is encouraged to attend a meeting, fundraiser or event and offer their support.
Read on jackcentral.org