NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — There are a lot of new faces on the court for NSU men’s basketball this year. One of those players is Justin Wilson, a transfer from South Carolina State.
Wilson didn’t start playing basketball seriously until his senior year of high school, but that hasn’t stopped him from being a reliable teammate on and off the court.
“If you cheat the game, it’s not going to reward you,” said Demons head coach Rick Cabrera. “He hasn’t cheated this game as long as I’ve had him, so he’s being rewarded for it right now.”
While it’s only his first year with the Demons, Wilson has become a vital part of the NSU basketball team. However, it hasn’t been an easy road for him, he’s battled through various kinds of adversity to get where he is now.
“I had epilepsy seizures growing up,” explained Wilson. “I outgrew my seizures once I hit 16, but I had asthma growing up. Over the years, as I started playing, I had episodes where I’d faint or lose control of my breathing.”
The forward has never let his health issues bring him down. Justin looks at these obstacles as a source of motivation on the court.
“I’m not going to stop the way I play just because I should be concerned about if I could have an episode,” Wilson said. “I don’t care about it, as long as my team gets the win.”
“His energy was contagious from day one,” added Coach Cabrera. “I’ve been coaching 24-25 years, and I have not had a player that has had that energy on a consistent basis.”
One of Justin’s biggest aspirations in life is to make his Granny proud. He feels he’s accomplished that.
“I’m the only sibling in my family that’s actually going to get a bachelor’s degree,” shared the graduating senior. “That’s one thing that will make her proud. Then she loves basketball because I play it. She’s my number one fan, I know that in my heart.”
Justin’s infectious optimism has become a fundamental part of the Demons’ team culture this year.
“If we don’t have him,” Coach Cabrera said. “His energy and leadership in the first semester, then I don’t think that we would have had the success in conference play that we’ve had.”
“Every day I’m giving it my all,” concluded Justin. “If you cheat the game, you’re not getting rewarded.”
Justin and the Demons close out the regular season this Wednesday, Mar. 6 at 7:30 p.m. when they travel to Texas A&M Commerce.
