Q: What are you up to these days?
A: I just retired from playing basketball for 13 years professionally in France. My wife, Rebecca Wright, who graduated in 2003 from ODU as well, and our three girls Rayne (9), Rozi (4) and Rielle (8 months) are all back in America and getting adjusted. We just got back in the country on June 20th. Rozi and Rielle were born in France and Rayne and Rozi are both fluent in French.
I am doing a lot right now. I have my own basketball and physical training company called Rasheed Wright Basketball (www.rasheedwrightbasketball.org). I am also the vice president of a non-profit organization named Save A Seed (www.saveaseed.org), where we help the youth and community in Sussex County, Va. through various programs and events.
I am doing some scouting for my French agency, Fusion Sports. I am also writing a book about my experience of being a basketball player and living in France for 13 years. So as you can imagine, I really don't have a lot of free time, but I am excited and dedicated to this next chapter in our lives.
Q: What are your favorite memories from playing at Old Dominion?
A: One of my favorite memories from playing at ODU would have to be opening up the Ted Constant Center against the North Carolina Tar Heels my senior year. Even though we did not get the win, I will always remember this moment and the excitement that came with it.
Q: What did you get your degree in?
A: My degree is in communications with a minor in sports management.
Q: Have you had the opportunity to come back and attend an ODU basketball game since graduating?
A: Over the last 13 years, I have only attended one ODU game and that was over a Christmas break when I was home. I am looking forward to being much more active and present with ODU basketball now that I am back for good.
Q: What do you miss the most about your playing days?
A: The thing that I miss the most about my playing days is the love of competing. I always enjoyed pushing myself to get better and the challenges that come along with that. I now look for those same motivators in all aspects of my life.
Q: How did ODU prepare you for life after school?
A: ODU prepared me for life after school in a number of ways. As a student, education has always been on the forefront of everything. I was pushed to excel off of the court as well as on the court. That importance has stuck with me and I use it everyday in my attempt to continually educate myself. As an athlete, discipline, accountability, hard work and determination are some of the tools that I took with me in my basketball career and now as an entrepreneur. The entire multi-cultural experience that I was a part of at ODU was a microcosm of what I would later encounter in France and my in my personal life.
Q: Tell Monarch Nation more about Rasheed Wright Basketball.
A: Over the years, I have learned about the need for recreational opportunities for children in rural southern Virginia. Teaching basketball is one opportunity I can provide. Not only is it fun, but it is also teaches characteristics such as teamwork, responsibility and hard work. I hope my camps, clinics and personal training give children the opportunity to play basketball no matter what their demographic, skill level or financial status entails.
This weekend, another former Monarch, Ricardo Marsh, will be teaming up with me for my Overnight Boys and Girls Skills Camp, which will be held July 29-31 in Wakefield, Va. For more information, please CLICK HERE.
Ricardo has his own company called Ricardo Marsh Training. We are both based out of Richmond, but we travel all over to train. Ricardo is also a certified physical trainer. We actually both train at the Center of Wellness in Richmond. I help him out when I can and he does the same for me. We are brothers, so it all goes hand in hand.