Bet on Yourself: Matt Ilodigwe
My name is Matt Ilogidwe, and I’m a basketball player at Lycoming College. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to not just play basketball but play at a high level. Going to the gym and working on getting better is truly the highlight of my days, and basketball has meant the world to me. So far, I’ve gained many incredible relationships and opportunities through the sport, and I know that basketball will continue to provide me with these fortunes.
The game has also taught me so many life lessons of hard work, discipline, and perseverance. In middle school, I was cut from the basketball team two years in a row. To say I was devastated is an understatement - I remember going home and crying both times. It was extremely hard watching all my peers succeed on the team, especially when I believed I was good enough. So, from that day on, I vowed to become so good that the coach couldn’t overlook me. I spent countless hours working on my craft, and my hard work finally paid off when I made the team.
Looking back, getting cut from my middle school team was probably the best thing that has happened to me as a basketball player, and even though I was completely devastated at the time, it gave me motivation. To this day, it continues to drive me, and I still see myself as the underrated kid who just wants an opportunity to showcase his talent.
Throughout my career, I’ve faced a ton of obstacles. At one point, I even contemplated quitting basketball altogether, but based on my experiences, I would tell my younger self to both stay the course and not compare myself to anyone else. As I was coming up at a young age, a lot of my peers received attention from being ranked in the state and had colleges reaching out to them left and right. This was hard to see, and at times, I questioned when my time would come. But by running my own race, staying consistent, and understanding that everyone’s path is different, my time came.
During my freshman year of college, I set a single-game school record by scoring 33 points in a win against Hood College. I knocked down 11 of my 15 three-point attempts for a 73% clip from beyond the arc. Before this defining moment, I was still overlooked and unnoticed by many people, despite having a solid season. A lot of people thought I wasn’t good enough to play college basketball and have an impact at such a high level. This breakout game taught me that if you trust in God, stay patient, and grind hard every day, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.
To other athletes, or people in general, who feel they are underrated, I say stay patient and continue to work hard behind the scenes, using the fact that you are underrated to drive and motivate you. When you don’t feel like getting up in the morning to work out, think about all the people who have doubted you or think of you as an afterthought. Continue to grind to not only prove them wrong, but to prove yourself right. And, always believe in yourself. Although many people don’t believe you’re good enough yet, if you believe in yourself and have confidence in your abilities, you will be unstoppable.
