Life is full of highs and lows, challenges and opportunities.
American Brandon Wood has jam-packed a lifetime of them in his 15-year college and professional basketball career but now faces a moment in his journey most would find unimaginable.
Australia will be the 14th country that Wood’s basketball career has taken him to, but the first without his wife Aujalen, who died after a traffic accident in May.
Wood shared some insight into his bigger-than-basketball approach when he delivered the eulogy at Aujalen’s memorial service.
“It’s now on me to continue to honour her and carry on her legacy. I haven’t let up a day since this happened and she wouldn’t expect anything different,” he said.
“She would expect me to push forward and to use our life and our journey as we always have and planned to. We have lived an amazing journey and have been able to put reason behind everything we have experienced, whether it’s the good or the unfortunate.
“Now, my journey will be to show the reason behind this – the lives, the impact, and the community we have touched and can continue to influence from the journey we have lived,” he said via a club media release.
The 34-year-old has faced all challenges with the same open heart and embraced each moment to learn, grow and connect with people and new cultures.
The 6’3” point guard from Kokomo Indiana is UniSC Rip City Men’s Basketball team’s first signing for the 2023 NBL1 North season.
It is a significant signing for the NBL1 North club with floor general Isaih Tueta out for the season after sustaining a knee injury in Game 2 of the 2022 Grand Final Series loss to Gold Coast.
The Inside The NeighborWood podcaster plans to pick up the team right where they left off after Rip City’s historic run last year with the club’s first home playoffs game and first Grand Final series appearance.
“My expectation coming in is to win,” Wood said. “Obviously take it game by game, but my expectation is nothing short of winning the title. I have won titles at all levels so I’m bringing a winning mindset from day one.
“I’m looking to lead, play my game, play aggressively on both ends of the court and make plays for my teammates and myself.
“I’m looking to come in to have a full, strong, healthy, winning season and try to make a difference on and off the court. I’m looking to be involved in the community as I can and to continue to learn about the Australian culture.”
The highs of Wood’s basketball career include Michigan State’s 2012 Big Ten conference titles, a NCAA tournament Sweet 16 appearance, and playing on one of the most unique basketball courts ever in a dream year.
“I could say many highlights but having the opportunity to finish my college career at Michigan State University as a Spartan, being able to play under coach Tom Izzo, being able to be teammates and roommates with Draymond Green, and being able to open up that season playing against North Carolina on an aircraft carrier where Barack and Michelle Obama were there – we got to meet them before the game and they sat court-side – and Magic Johnson was our honorary team captain so that was a great experience,” Wood said.
“Whereas two years before that I was playing at a community college, so I went from the bottom of college basketball to the very top – we were No.1 seed in the NCAA tournament before losing to Louisville in the Sweet 16. It was a surreal year, even to this day.”
Wood said he heard from friends that basketball in Australia has taken a leap in recent years and expects this NBL1 season to be the most competitive year yet.
The NBL1 North season starts on March 25 with Rip City hosting local rivals Phoenix at UniSC Stadium.
For sponsorship and partnership information, contact Rip City President Matt Nason at president@uscbasketball.com.au
To be part of the Rip City Pink and Green Army, go to usc-rip-city-basketball.yapsody.com/. Membership includes exclusive Rip City merchandise, season pass with exclusive seating for all home games and opportunities to win great prizes.
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