Balancing books and basketball: Men’s Club Basketball player shares his journey at ASU

On top of the normal barrage of classwork and lectures, student-athletes at Arizona State University also work their practices and games into a hectic schedule. However, for fourth-year sports business student Mekhi Stewart, it is a welcome challenge. 

As a member of the ASU Men’s Club Basketball team and an avid intramural sports player, Stewart has prioritized his physical health since coming to university. 

“I've been playing basketball since I was young, basically since I could pick up a ball,” Stewart said. “It's always something that I've enjoyed doing, especially in my free time. It allows me to deal with stress.” 

Hailing from Racine, Wisconsin, Stewart had to adjust to the hotter temperatures when first landing in Arizona. As is the case for most out-of-state students, the sunny skies were an added perk for Stewart when deciding to attend ASU. 

“Wisconsin is really cold, so it was a lot different,” Stewart said. “The environment seemed really fun because of the nice weather. There are a lot of mountains to go hike and tons of activities that I wasn't doing before.” 

Stewart was first motivated to find his community at ASU for broader health reasons, but then it developed into a daily habit. 

“When I first got here, I considered myself overweight,” Stewart said. “I always struggled with being a little bit on the bigger side. Because everybody always wanted to go to the gym or work out, I felt like I needed to do something about it, and the only form of exercise that I felt like doing was playing basketball. Little did I know, I would play almost all day, every day.” 

Since starting with pick-up games at the Sun Devil Fitness Complex (SDFC), Stewart has gained momentum and grown his skillset over time. 

“I ended up gradually getting better at basketball,” Stewart said. “I started playing and becoming more confident in what I was doing, and now I like to play competitively.” 

Aside from the physical impacts he has experienced from frequent practices and games, Stewart also praised the positive impacts the sport has had on his mental health. 

“If I'm feeling depressed or sad and I go play basketball, it always helps,” Stewart said. “If I didn't do so well on a test, I play basketball to ease my brain. It's the thing I turn to that makes me comfortable and keeps me sane.” 

In balancing his busy days, Stewart has learned a valuable lesson in time management, understanding how to prioritize his classwork while simultaneously playing weekly games.  

“It's more about understanding that I am a student-athlete first,” Stewart said. “But I know that’s kind of cliche. I always handle my student responsibilities first, and then I can go have fun as an athlete.” 

Throughout his basketball career at ASU, Stewart has held true to himself and encourages other student-athletes to do the same. 

“Be yourself and work hard,” Stewart said. “There's a lot that comes with being an athlete, but I feel like if you're just always being yourself, staying true to the game that you love and not doing it for other reasons, good things will come out of it eventually.”

For Stewart, one of the many unforeseen positives that accompanied his involvement with the ASU Men’s Club Basketball team was a strong sense of community. 

“My group of friends from basketball have helped me to stay afloat, especially after moving here from Wisconsin,” Stewart said. “They’ve shaped me into the person I am today.” 

When asked how other students at ASU might develop similar connections, Stewart mentioned the connectivity felt at the SDFC. 

“I'm pretty sure I met at least 400 people in one week at the gym,” Stewart said. “Don't be afraid because this campus is really big. You're going to find a crowd for yourself, especially if you get out of your comfort zone.” 

In a similar vein, Stewart encouraged Sun Devils looking to kickstart their athletic career at ASU to consider joining an intramural sports team through the SDFC. Leagues and tournaments are offered periodically throughout the school year. More information can be found on the Sun Devil Fitness website. 

“Sign up and don't be afraid,” Stewart said. “It is really that simple. There’s something for everyone.”