The University of Utah

After Southern Illinois, I transferred to play basketball at The University of Utah. I was injured and had to sit out for NCAA transfer rules, so I spent this year recovering. Unfortunately, I couldn't get my knees better and had to give up basketball.

While I was at The University of Utah I was a member of The Student Media Council, Digital Media Group, and the Honors College. I also worked under Ambassador John Price and Senator Bob Bennett in the Hinckley Institute of Politics. 

I did well in investment during this time and decided to give school a break to start The EDG and try my hand at business. 8 years and many lessons later, I went back to finish economics degree in Fall 2023, I maintained a 3.88 GPA.

Weather/climate is to farming as commerce/economy is to business.

Economics teaches you where the business and material dominoes fall and how to think in broader models with lesser or greater precision depending on your analytical needs. Studying economics also humbles you about the complexity of our society, and helps you understand what question(s) you have a higher or lower probability of being able to answer with some level of precision with the given data.

To learn more about what I learned visit my blog:

What I Learned from an Economics Degree

Professional Benefits of an Economics Degree

After Fishburne Military School I committed to Southern Illinois University to play for Coach Chris Lowery. We were terrible that year, and I was terrible that year, but we had some positive experiences. I played against 8 nationally ranked teams that year, including four in our conference. I played against Creighton and the National Player of the Year Doug Mcdermott, I played against Wichita State the year they won the NIT and the year before they went to the Final Four. I got to go to Hawaii to compete in the Diamond Head Classic. I played against 5 future NBA players. I was on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, was a student athlete tutor, and I won the Missouri Valley Conference Good Neighbor Award for my efforts in charity.

I studied business and maintained a 4.0.

After high school I was a year young for my grade and 6'10" 190 lbs when I graduated from Judge. I needed an extra year to bulk up to play college basketball. Fishburne had a top 10 in the nation preparatory basketball team so I decided to go there. Fishburne was quite the experience. We finished 7th in the nation and 14 of the 16 players on my team went on to play Division 1 basketball. The military aspect was good for discipline, but the real experience of military school is being willing to be tortured for a year to move towards a higher purpose. 

I maintained a 4.0 while I was there and was admitted to several Ivy league institutions. One of my regrets has been chasing the basketball dream instead of going to one of those institutions. But it built character and I am proud of where I am today.

For High School I attended Judge Memorial Catholic High School (and East High for my junior year). Judge was rigorous and prepared me for college well. While I was there I was on the deans list, an all-state basketball player, and an all state debater. My basketball team took second at state, was invited to the ACIT tournament in Maryland, and after my senior season Coach Yerkovich told me I was the most improved player he had seen in 44 years of coaching. I won first place in the national qualifier for debate in congress.

High school was tough for me as it typically is for everyone. I had to overcome a lot of emotional and social issues; but overall I have fond memories.