Have You Met Uyi?
November 06, 2013 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 6, 2013
I WAS RAISED in Charlotte. It was great growing up there. It was relaxed. I didn't have to worry about too much, just play basketball and go to school. I really like it and when I get through with school I would love to be able to get job back in Charlotte.
I STARTED PLAYING BASKETBALL when I was in the third grade. I played soccer a lot and I was big for my age, so I was encouraged to go out and play basketball. I was taller than most, but also kind of husky. Basketball helped me thin out a little bit.
MY FAMILY is everything to me. They're the reason I'm here, they're reason I am who I am. I love them to death and I'm grateful to have them as my family.
PLAYING BASKETBALL AS A KID I was always wild. I had fun, but it was organized chaos almost learning how to play. When I got into middle school I pretended to be Dwayne Wade, but I liked to be myself before then. Once I really started liking basketball I always pretended to be Dwayne Wade.
WHEN I FIRST MET COACH LEBO I was blown away about how honest he was. He's a great people person. He knows how to relate to all types of people. He made me feel comfortable.
I'LL NEVER FORGET watching Akeem [Richmond] making the winning shot in the CIT or Corvonn [Gaines] hitting the shot against UCF. Everyone was running on the court with time to go against UCF because we're all so excited. The atmosphere in Minges was crazy that night. When Akeem made that shot I ran and hugged him probably harder than I've hugged anyone in my life.
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN MY LIFE are my mother and father. They taught me to trust in God, do your work and everything will be fine; God will handle the rest. They molded me into the person I am today.
ECU BASKETBALL IS a mentality. Nothing is given to us. It has to be earned. The culture is changing, the fans are coming out; everything about it is just great.
PLAYING COLLEGE BASKETBALL is a dream come true. I didn't think it was possible, especially Division I basketball. I'm blessed to have the opportunity.
I DECIDED TO COME TO ECU because it has a great medical school and I want to get into the Brody School of Medicine.
NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THIS ABOUT ME BUT my real name is Uyioghosa Francis Uwensuyi-Edosomwan. Uyioghosa means "glory be to God." It's a very common Nigerian name. No one wanted to say my full name so I've been called Uyi since birth. My mom called me Uyi and people just stuck with it.
MY DREAM HIGHLIGHT would be dunking on somebody. I'm sneaky athletic. I think I might catch somebody off guard, and then yell and maybe do a Pirate sign.
I'VE LEARNED THAT if you want to get somewhere in life you need to work hard for it. You just can't dream it or wish it, you have to have a plan and you have to constantly be working toward it.
TO ME BEING AN ECU PIRATE is being different that everybody else. It's the spirit of never quitting, never giving up; it's a mindset. When we were younger, we always thought about being pirates and living that adventurous life. Being a pirate is something cool.
IT WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL SEASON if we don't worry about outside influences and instead focus on ourselves. If we work on our game, do the things we need to do execution wise and play with toughness I think we'll be very good and surprise people.
