Alyssa VanPelt, Staff Writer
In the Fall of 2024, Jacob Brown began his freshman year at SUNY Oneonta. However, despite his enrollment, there was an aspect of SUNY Oneonta that was missing – basketball.
Jacob Brown, a young black man and a freshman majoring in Sports Management with a
minor in coaching, founded the O-State Ballers with friends to allow easier access to the sport for others. Brown is currently the president and head coach of the club. He has been
playing basketball since he was nine years old thanks to the influence of his twin brother.
He played on teams through middle school and high school. However, he was unfortunately involved in a car accident on June 1st, 2023. This accident affected his
ability to play basketball, and he realized how important basketball is in his life. When he
came to college, he understood that he could not be a player for the SUNY Oneonta Men’s Basketball because he is still currently undergoing surgeries and recovering from the car accident. However, that was not going to stop Brown.
So, he, with the support of his friends, worked hard to establish a men’s basketball
club in Fall 2024. They found it was difficult to start a new club at SUNY Oneonta. A reason
for this, Brown explained, was because they are freshmen. Jayniya Owens, who is the safety officer, Treasurer, and manager of the O-State Ballers, expressed a similar worry. Owens is a freshman majoring in psychology. Owens expressed that perhaps it would have
been better to have waited a semester to get into an academic groove. However, Owens
wanted to support her friends, so she gave it her best. Kadeem Russell, a freshman majoring in adolescent education with a focus on history and vice-president of O-State
Ballers is also friends with Brown and wants to support him like Owens. Russell played
basketball in middle school and high school like Brown.
Russell, during his interview, mentioned that the O-State Ballers cannot compete in this year’s league because of when they made their team official. However, they were able to get in touch with the league, so they will be able to compete next year. Despite not being in the league, they have a game against Cortland on February 23rd in Chase Gym from 1PM to 4 P.M.
Ahmed Njie, a freshman majoring in business with a minor in fashion marketing, is a
player for the O-State Ballers. Njie became friends with Brown and Russell from summer
EOP. Brown and Russell invited Njie to join the O-State Ballers. Njie agreed as he wanted
another way to find team bonding and develop other skills outside of basketball. His
current goals with the club is to gain a leadership role, connect to his club both on and off
the court, and to have fun. Njie would like readers to know that the O-State Ballers are very
welcome. Additionally, they have great coaches and staff who know what they are doing and genuinely care.
O-State Ballers is a men’s basketball club, but they are interested in supporting a
women’s basketball club if there is interest. They had their tryouts January 31st, but they will have in-house scrimmages and activities for everyone regardless if you were on their league team. If anyone is interested in supporting, they are hosting a sneaker drive on February 16th for students to donate their old shoes. Also, check out their game on February 23rd!
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