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“Any type of gift, any type of donation, just giving to Students First will make a difference.”
Help students fulfill their dreams. Make a gift online to the Students First Matching Challenge Fund.
The Students First matching initiative provides need-based scholarships or fellowships for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on any of the three UW campuses.
Through June 30, 2008, the University will match at 50 percent any qualifying gift to a Students First fund.
Q. Why did you choose the Huskies out of all the other colleges that were looking to recruit you?
A. Some people say I'm a mama's boy and wanted to stay home, but that's not it. I chose to stay in Seattle specifically to attend and play basketball at the University of Washington. There's no feeling like being a part of your hometown team.
Q. What is your fondest memory of your four great years at Washington?
A. First, my experience with Coach Romar. I don't think he knows how much he meant to me. He was there for me not only on the court, but also off and helped me to develop into the person I am today. I really appreciated his influence as well as his whole staff at the UW. My second favorite memory - when I think of the University of Washington - I think what also comes to mind for me is the fans. Not only the fans before the game, but the students on campus. I never had an experience like that. Just to have that level of support from fans and family, I think that will also stay as one of my best memories.
Q. You've enjoyed immense success as a pro basketball player and yet you returned to the UW to finish up your degree. What motivated you to come back and do that?
A. I did four years at the University of Washington, but still had one last quarter to go. Then I had a baby boy. I thought, I want my son to grow up to say his dad not only made it to the NBA, but he has a degree from the University of Washington. When Brandon Jr. was born, I said, "I have to go back and do this." I want him to be able to look up to me and not only say his dad was a great basketball player, but he also was a college graduate. I want to be able to teach him to be a student first and I have to practice what I preach, so he can't point a finger at me. That's one of the biggest reasons I decided to go back.
Q. What are your hopes for your son's future - Brandon Jr.?
A. Making it to the pros is my dream, and I don't want to make that his dream. I want him to be able to grow up and do whatever he likes. I'm definitely going to push him in the classroom. When you have an education, there are so many different doors you can open up for yourself. I'm definitely going to make sure he's reading. I read books to him now and am just there for him - just trying to teach him everything I know.
Q. Who instilled that importance in education in you?
A. I'd say it was my parents. When my dad grew up, he played basketball and he wasn't fortunate enough to get a scholarship out of high school, so he went into the military instead. With me, he really wanted to emphasize education. He said basketball's great, but you have to make sure you get in the classroom and do your schoolwork, so that way, if you break a knee, you'll still have your education. My parents definitely instilled that in me at a really young age.
Make a gift online to the Students First Matching Challenge Fund