DeMarcus Cousins says he had thoughts about attending an HBCU
[caption id="attachment_227343" align="aligncenter" width="1697"] Photo via UK Athletics[/caption]
DeMarcus Cousins' career at Kentucky panned out well for him, but what if he had attended an HBCU?
In a recent interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks, Cousins explains how he might have done things differently back when he was a senior in high school if he were given the opportunity.
After the announcement that five-star center Makur Maker made his decision to attend Howard University, the former Wildcat spoke with another five-star recruit, Mikey Williams, who is also considering making the jump to an HBCU. Cousins then confessed that he wishes he could have gone the route of an HBCU.
“I basically sent him a message saying, ‘You got a chance to change sports as a whole. Start a trend that should’ve already happened,’” Cousins said. “Looking back on it now, I wish I’d had that opportunity to do it the right way, in my opinion. The attention and the energy that a kid like Mikey could take to any HBCU, like I said, could change the face of college sports.”
https://twitter.com/taylorrooks/status/1283056146245455873?s=21
Cousins took a visit to Howard before landing with Kentucky back in 2009 and was struck by the differences from what he grew up accustom to seeing.
"I was in awe of how many Blacks," Cousins said about his visit to Howard. "I've never seen it in my life and I was just in awe. With that being said, even in that moment, I was like 'Damn, I should have came to Howard.' or whatever the case may be."
The difference in Cousins' words now compared to his decision over a decade ago is that he says he understands that basketball--even at the college level--is a business.
“The business,” Cousins said. “It’s sad to say, but even college is a business. Obviously, the athletes don’t benefit from it, but everything around it is a business. There’s a reason they want those kids at the school. That could easily be an HBCU with that type of attention and that type of income, and it’s well-deserved.”
Cousins played one season at Kentucky before being drafted No. 5 overall in the 2010 NBA Draft.
Photo via UK Athletics[/caption]
DeMarcus Cousins' career at Kentucky panned out well for him, but what if he had attended an HBCU?
In a recent interview with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks, Cousins explains how he might have done things differently back when he was a senior in high school if he were given the opportunity.
After the announcement that five-star center Makur Maker made his decision to attend Howard University, the former Wildcat spoke with another five-star recruit, Mikey Williams, who is also considering making the jump to an HBCU. Cousins then confessed that he wishes he could have gone the route of an HBCU.
“I basically sent him a message saying, ‘You got a chance to change sports as a whole. Start a trend that should’ve already happened,’” Cousins said. “Looking back on it now, I wish I’d had that opportunity to do it the right way, in my opinion. The attention and the energy that a kid like Mikey could take to any HBCU, like I said, could change the face of college sports.”
https://twitter.com/taylorrooks/status/1283056146245455873?s=21
Cousins took a visit to Howard before landing with Kentucky back in 2009 and was struck by the differences from what he grew up accustom to seeing.
"I was in awe of how many Blacks," Cousins said about his visit to Howard. "I've never seen it in my life and I was just in awe. With that being said, even in that moment, I was like 'Damn, I should have came to Howard.' or whatever the case may be."
The difference in Cousins' words now compared to his decision over a decade ago is that he says he understands that basketball--even at the college level--is a business.
“The business,” Cousins said. “It’s sad to say, but even college is a business. Obviously, the athletes don’t benefit from it, but everything around it is a business. There’s a reason they want those kids at the school. That could easily be an HBCU with that type of attention and that type of income, and it’s well-deserved.”
Cousins played one season at Kentucky before being drafted No. 5 overall in the 2010 NBA Draft.
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