As the spotlight shined on the court, another group of student-athletes found their moment off it. This group walked away from the NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours with new inspiration, meaningful connections and a renewed sense of purpose for life after basketball.
Select members of the Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Groups capped off their yearlong service with a multiday immersive experience at the Men's Final Four in San Antonio or Women's Final Four in Tampa, Florida. Their behind-the-scenes access included exclusive programming, networking opportunities, panel discussions, and direct conversations with NCAA leaders and industry professionals.
"It's reshaped my goals a lot," University of South Carolina Upstate guard CJ Rich said of the Final Four experience. "Just to be in this environment, this is something I want to do, be in this space in some capacity. So it's reassured me to know that I can do it, and I can do it at a high level one day."
Rich said the week also served as a reminder to stay flexible and open-minded.
"You may have a dream or goal or something in mind, but it won't always go as planned," he said. "You just got to be able to think quick and pivot."
Whether it was behind-the-scenes operations experiences, attending the student-athlete-focused Final Four Talks, meeting with their respective basketball committees or engaging with NCAA President Charlie Baker, participating student-athletes got a firsthand look at what goes into staging two of the world's biggest sporting events.
"You don't realize how much work the NCAA employees put in to make this experience memorable for everyone — not just the players and coaches, but for our group and the fans," Saint Joseph's senior Talya Brugler said. "It's a production."
Colgate's Jeff Woodward said seeing the scope of planning in action gave him a new appreciation for the logistics.
"From the broadcast to the student-athlete experience to the fan experience and security — it's given me a whole new perspective on how much time and effort it takes," he said.
But for many who attended, the most lasting takeaway was the people — not only the professionals they met, but the fellow student-athletes they connected with.
"I've made some friends I know I'll have for life," said Arkansas senior Lawson Blake, chair of the men's student-athlete engagement group. "Getting to shake a lot of hands with people I've looked up to, it's been really special for me, not just as a player, but as a fan of the sport."
Brugler, a sports marketing major, said the opportunity to meet women working across all levels of sports business was eye-opening.
"I was meeting CEOs and general managers of professional soccer teams, really influential women in sports," she said. "It opened my eyes to professions I hadn't even thought of before."
Inspiration also came from powerful stories, like the Connecting Tampa panel that left a strong impression on the University of Maine's Adrianna Smith.
"They talked about being women in a male-dominated field, how they got there and how they're improving it," Smith said. "Knowing there's a spot for women and that they've paved the way, it was inspiring to know I can get there, too."
For South Florida's Romy Levy, the experience reinforced the importance of growing off the court.
"This group really helps me build connections for my future," she said. "Basketball isn't forever, and I think most of us don't realize how important it is to grow outside the court."
That growth — both personal and professional — is exactly what the engagement groups are designed to spark.
"I think it will help me just to gain insight and knowledge on things I'm going to face," Rich said. "And help me build relationships and understand how this world works."
While the Final Four was a memorable opportunity, it represented just one part of a broader mission. The Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Groups were created to ensure basketball student-athletes have a direct voice in the issues shaping their sport. Throughout the academic year, group members met virtually to share feedback with NCAA staff, weigh in on emerging topics and help guide the future of the game.
"I really feel like we've come into our own," said Woodward, who is in his second year on the group. "We've offered up some really good ideas and suggestions, our own thoughts for what student-athletes would want to see from the NCAA."
"I feel extremely honored to be part of the group that gets to help lead the direction of the future of the league," Blake added.
That sense of purpose has resonated with Brugler, as well.
"It's been so awesome just being able to use our voice," she said. "To speak on things related to women's basketball and other issues across the NCAA, it's really rewarding."
