Walk-on Ethan Wright hopes to make waves for RedHawks

Walk-ons are the lifeblood of collegiate athletics. All-time greats such as Scottie Pippen and Jeff Hornacek began their college careers as walk-ons. Football legends like Baker Mayfield and Stetson Bennett were also walk-ons in college.

Each year, thousands of students at hundreds of colleges and universities try out to become a member of a varsity athletics team. Coaches hold tryouts in the preseason and pick a limited number of athletes to fill out their rosters.

The players are not on scholarships – they are simply in it for their love of the game. These athletes sacrifice plenty for the chance to continue playing the game they love and have been playing for as long as they can remember.

Often, walk-ons do not see the court or field. However, they help in practice and can bring a jolt of energy in times of need. It might not be glamorous, but walking on is one of the things that makes collegiate sports so special.

Ethan Wright is a sophomore from Dayton, Ohio. Wright is a new walk-on for the men’s basketball team, taking a nonconventional way to playing Division I basketball.

“I tried out freshman year and didn’t make it,” Wright said. “I asked them if I was able to come and watch the practices and still be exposed to that to make sure I can maybe try it again. I was invited to open gyms.

It was this commitment and willingness to learn that really stood out among peers and coaches.

“As far as a teammate, he’s great on the court,” teammate Blake Anderson said. “[He’s] always bringing the energy, encouraging guys, making sure that guys are getting what they need.”

Walk-ons have to be selfless. They are there because they love the game and want to help the team. They don’t get all the glory but are vital to a program. Off the bat, Wright’s ability to put the team before himself was a huge boost for the RedHawks.

“The guys gravitate towards him because he’s a selfless individual,” assistant coach Carl Richburg said. “He seems to be as selfless as any kid that I’ve been around here. He’ll help guys shoot, rebound for guys on his own.”

As with any student-athlete, Wright gets support from many different areas within the coaching staff.

“Coach Holmes and coach Richburg are the two I am more familiar with,” Wright said. “Coach Steele seemed very down-to-earth and very humble.He just seemed like a good guy. Every time I mess up, I ask Coach Richburg, and he helps me out.”

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He has also received plenty of support from his new teammates, who are impressed with his resiliency and work toward integrating himself in the team.

“I think that it’s kinda tough coming in, especially when you’re joining the team after we’ve already kind of gotten things rolling,” Anderson said. “It’s tough to fit in, but I think he’s done that really well.”

The team had been set all summer. They worked out and did many off-court activities together. Wright joined in the middle of September, putting him a step behind his now-teammates.

Wright has made his mark on this team in the short time he has been there. He encapsulates what makes college basketball so special. A normal, down-to-earth student is now playing Division I basketball.

jollifvm@miamioh.edu