COVER STORY
on this team was to train our guys both mentally and physically to be prepared for a long journey. I feel like we did an excellent job of executing and a great job of being there at the end. So that would probably be the best memory. Journal: What advice do you have for young athletes? The young guy out there who wants to be the next Tar Heel star? Meeks: I would say be your own person. Be your own athlete and remain focused. That’s the main thing. I think that’s how some people fail in college and are not as successful as they’d like to be because they lose focus, and they lose sight of the main objective, which is getting your education. So, the main things I would say for sure are to be your own person and remain focused. Journal: What are your future plans? Basketball career first, and then beyond your playing days. Meeks: My plan is to of course play in the NBA, and have a long career there. It’s been a lifelong dream and I really don’t plan on letting anything stop me from obtaining that goal. Then after that, I would love to be a sports broad- caster or analyst of some sort. Probably stick around basketball for the rest of my life hopefully. Journal: Like your chapter brother Jason Capel? (Spring 2000 Theta Omicron a former Tar Heel star who is now an analyst for ESPN and The ACC Network’s college basketball coverage). Journal: So, you have a mentor within the construct of your chapter that you can look to for mentorship for the broadcast phase of your career? Meeks: Oh yes, absolutely hands down! Meeks: Oh yes sir! That’s my guy.
Journal: When you look at your entire college career, not just basketball, what if anything would you do differ- ently? Perhaps being initiated Kappa earlier? Meeks: Ha. You’re probably right about that. Last year I felt like I kind of let my team down as far as me not being totally focused on the season. That’s part of the reason I was so focused this year, and so intense. Just relentless and never backing down from a challenge. Even though Kappa has been one of the best things that ever happened to me, I can’t forget about basketball. That’s always going to be a priority for me. Journal: What did Coach Williams think about your decision to go through the MTA process during basketball season? I know many coaches at major, big money programs like UNC forbid it altogether.
tell anyone other than my teammates so they would be aware. When coach Wil- liams found out he said I should have told him. He wasn’t mad or anything because he always tells us it’s our deci- sion, and to be responsible. But, I think he wished I would have told him before. Journal: What does Kappa mean to you? Meeks: The answer would be broth- erhood. Most people don’t understand the bond that we have. I think you can look around and say that you can see a Nupe, maybe somewhere that you don’t know when you’re struggling and down that is there to help you out. It’s a fraternity where you can rely on brothers to be there for you at the end of the day. It’s just like a close-knit family. I think that’s one of my reasons for pledging. They were friends that I already had. And for us to grow even closer, and hang out all the time, and just to be a part of my life. They had the ESPN special
Meeks: Well, being discreet, I didn’t
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THE JOURNAL SPRING 2017 | 69
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