By Copper Williams
T.J. Wallace is an extraordinary student on a full-ride scholarship at University of the Pacific. He plays Combo Guard position for the Tigers, Pacific’s basketball team, and has received numerous honors for his skills on the court.
How did you first get into basketball?
I have three sisters, and my sister Tanicia played basketball. I kind of wanted to be around her and I followed in her footsteps. When she stopped playing I took it upon myself to continue gaining knowledge of basketball.
When did you begin to realize that basketball was something you were really attached to?
I played basketball for fun, I didn’t know the advantages of it until seventh or eight grade. In my sophomore year of high school I started playing more seriously. I loved football more than basketball, but I opted to stop playing football. During that year, I developed a love for it. I wanted to work at it as much as I could.
What was it that stood out for you when it came to the UOP Tigers?
Initially, during the recruitment process, it wasn’t until my junior year that I started looking into the program. I value education. You need a plan B to fall back on. As a lasting foundation, education is something you fall back on. At UOP, I’ll receive the education I need for when I stop playing basketball. Also, it was very close to home.
Has your family been a driving role in your playing basketball?
My family has always been very supportive. They aren’t heavily into sports. My father is a mechanic. My sisters were cheerleaders. They were all more like, “We’re going to support you the best we can.”
Has playing basketball helped you in your chosen major?
It’s helped me in networking and knowing how to communicate with people. In basketball, I’ve met so many people. You’re able to develop these relationships with them and network. You’re able to communicate on a personal level and come up with interesting ideas as a whole. So being able to communicate is something I’ve been able to translate into my major. Also, playing basketball requires a lot of hard work and work ethic is something I can apply to the business world. Basketball basically taught me to work hard in everything I pursue.
