By BRITANI STOWE
Contributing Writer
Many athletes dream about going to college for free to play the sport that they love, but few actually get to live that dream.
Twenty-year old Pharroh Gordon, a Saint Rose sophomore, forward, from Manchester, England, is one of the average 5,300 male student athletes to live their dream and go to college on a full scholarship.
From the age of 7, Gordon knew that he wanted to play basketball professionally. At age 14, he knew he wanted to play college basketball in the U.S.
One of Gordon’s dreams came true when he was recruited by Saint Rose.
Brian Beaury, head coach of the men’s basketball team, is the one who recruited Gordon. Beaury received information from coaches at Davidson University, who were looking at Gordon’s high school teammate, to show interest in Gordon.
“Once we met him, we wanted him. He’s sweet, engaging, interested and interesting,” Beaury said.
A young boy aspiring to be a professional basketball player is not uncommon, but for that young boy to not idolize any basketball players as he was growing up is.
“My mom, because she is the strongest person I know. She’s been through a lot,” said Gordon, when asked about his heroes.
Even though Gordon grew up with the hardships of living in a single parent household, at the age of 7, he chose to use basketball as a positive way to escape.
There is always sense of brotherhood and family that comes with being a part of any sports team. That feeling of a possible brotherhood and being a part of something bigger than himself is what draws Gordon to basketball.
“I would consider Pharroh to be a brother to me,” said teammate Jamaal Greenwood. “He will always have my back and I will always have his.”
Since schooling is different in England than it is in the US, Gordon attended Urmston Grammar School until he was 16 years old.
After attending Urmston Grammar School he went to Loreto College, which is pre-university school in Manchester, until he was 18 years old.
Gordon never played for a school organization until he went to Loreto College, but before that he played club basketball for Manchester Magic.
Gordon is working to earn a degree in psychology by the end of his four years at Saint Rose in the spring of 2018.
If he doesn’t further his basketball career and play professionally, Gordon would like to work with athletes as a sports psychologist.
“I want to do sports psychology because I am interesting in why some athletes have the drive to win and others don’t,” Gordon said.
With the 2016-2017 basketball season rapidly approaching, Gordon and the Golden Knights are only looking forward to one thing, which is getting the opportunity to call themselves NE-10 Champions at the end of the season.
Last season Gordon was one of the Golden Knights’ major players, averaging 25.9 minutes, 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
“He’s on a team with guys that could also help rewrite the history books,” says Beaury.
This season, keep your eyes out for Pharroh Gordon.
