By: Will Phillips
KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State forward
Alex Peterson is no stranger to being on his final card and slam dunking on his opponents in the card game UNO. This season, he faces a new challenger at the rim; his final season in the game of basketball.
"I did so much to get here," Peterson said. "I'm ready to leave it all on the floor this year and just let the chips fall."
Peterson says he, like many others, had days "where it felt like I wouldn't get here."
The 6-foot-7 forward was dealt a hand not everybody would succeed with. He started as a walk-on at Missouri State West Plains. After earning 14 starts his freshmen season, he earned a scholarship for his sophomore season.
KSU head coach
Amir Abdur-Rahim raved about Alex's path.
"Alex probably doesn't get enough credit for what he's meant to our program. You're talking about a guy that paves his way to junior college his first year, gets a scholarship his second year," Abdur-Rahim said. "We all need help getting to where we go and the things we do, but if there is someone that is the epitome of self-made, I'd say it's him."
One stat that can be difficult to quantify is experience. As the oldest player on the team, Peterson has been through plenty of basketball. Through it all, he says his favorite part of college basketball has been being able to help his teammates.
"To be in my third year and to really understand what's going on and to be able to help the guys on my team, it's fun. That's probably the best thing I've experienced in college basketball," he said. "Just being able to help teammates and knowing everything that's supposed to be going on."
Abdur-Rahim shared that in practice, he makes sure he puts freshmen guard Simeon Cottle with Peterson.
"Every time he's with Alex you see Simeon's play rise and it's because Alex has a very unique ability to know when to put his arm around you and when to get in you a little bit and get you going," he said
Peterson knows what it's like to be dealt a brutal hand and face adversity. Last season, there was a time when Peterson wasn't seeing the floor as much as he'd like or getting the minutes he wanted. He had experienced this before in junior college and learned it's about how you respond to adversity.
"I could've just sat on the bench all game, but I think the good thing I did in that situation was just attack it. I embraced it. I started pouring into my teammates more. I started watching the games more. I felt like I owed my teammates more," opened Peterson.
Despite the amount of college basketball Peterson has seen, he says this is one of the most connected teams he's been a part of. This team does everything together as a family from eating at The Commons, to sitting in the locker room talking, to Peterson's favorite part of the season, bus rides, where they play UNO.
Peterson recalls a ride back home on the bus after a tough loss on the road. To uplift everyone's mood a bit, the team played the popular card game.
"One of my teammates kept yelling out 'What color you got? What color you got?'" he shared. "Once we got back, this was brought up during film session. In the moment, we didn't think it would be one of my funniest moments since I've been here."
This season, the Owls draw a schedule with huge games on the road against the likes of Indiana, VCU, and San Diego State. As mid-major schools can get looked down upon compared to these other schools, Peterson and the Owls are excited for the opportunity to compete against these programs.
"At the end of the day it's basketball. They put their shorts and shoes on just like we do. Everybody has to get it," said the senior. "At the end of the day, I think we take the approach in believing it's us against the world."
Peterson's favorite from this last season was the home playoff game against Eastern Kentucky due to the unforgettable atmosphere with the fans and the bench down the stretch. He's looking forward to giving it another run in the playoffs as he lives for those moments.
Peterson doesn't shy away from the fact his eyes are on a final playoff run.
"Everybody probably doesn't but I love those moments. I love them now, I can remember my freshman year, I second guessed myself," he said. "So now, this year as a senior, it's going to be so much fun attacking the moment and seizing the opportunity. I've been here before; I know what to do."
Peterson has been making a big impact in his final season, as the Tappahannock, Va., native has played in all seven games while making a pair of starts, and has posted several big plays for the Owls. Currently he is averaging 3.9 points and 1.7 rebounds per contest.
