So, I got this idea the other day, kinda out of the blue, to look into Mormon basketball players. Yeah, I know, pretty specific, right? But I was curious, so I figured, why not dive in and see what I could find? It started as a simple thought, but man, did it turn into a whole thing.
Getting Started
First off, I hit up the usual spots on the internet, you know, just to get a feel for who’s who. I started typing in stuff like “Mormon basketball players” and “Mormons in the NBA,” just casting a wide net to see what would come up. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, just wanted to get a general idea. At first it is not a lot to go on to be honest.
Digging Deeper
After I got the lay of the land, I started digging deeper. I found out about this guy, Sam Merrill, who played for Utah State. Turns out, he was the final pick of some draft. That was pretty cool to learn. Then there was another name that kept popping up, Jimmer Fredette. This guy was apparently a big deal in college basketball, and everyone was talking about him. He’s from Glens Falls, which I thought was interesting. But I felt like I was just scratching the surface with the common findings, so I kept digging.
Finding More Names
I then moved on to looking up about team, such as BYU. I learned that they’re part of the NCAA Division I, play in the West Coast conference, and they’re called the Cougars. I found out that 45 players from BYU have been drafted into the NBA, with 7 in the first round. That’s a lot of players! And there was this one guy, Bynum, who was an All-American in high school and went straight to the NBA. He played his first game with the Lakers just after turning 18. Imagine that, playing in the NBA at 18!
Making a List
So, I started making a list of all these players I was finding. It wasn’t just about the big names; I was also interested in the guys who might not be as well-known but still had interesting stories. For example, I read about Travis Hansen, who played college ball near his hometown in Utah and then served as a Mormon missionary in Santiago before playing in NBA. Then I tried to organize them by where they played in college, what teams they were drafted to, and any cool facts about them. Just getting them on the paper helped me make sense of what I was finding.
Putting It All Together
Once I had my list, I started to put it all together. It was like piecing together a puzzle, trying to see the bigger picture of Mormons in basketball. I looked at their journeys from college to the pros, their achievements, and any challenges they faced. It was fascinating to see how their careers developed and the impact they had on the sport.
Realizing the Scope
Honestly, when I started, I didn’t realize how many Mormon players there were in the NBA and college basketball. It’s not something you hear about every day, but once you start looking, you find them all over the place. These guys are really out there, making a name for themselves, and it’s pretty inspiring to see.
Wrapping Up
So, that’s my little journey into the world of Mormon basketball players. It was a lot more involved than I expected, but I learned a ton. It’s cool to see how these players have made their mark on basketball, and it’s given me a new appreciation for the sport and the diversity within it. I even made myself a list of those guys and their achievements so that I can check them out in future games! Hope you guys can do the same! Peace out!
