Men’s Basketball Guard Aaron Nettles is Building Confidence and Leadership On & Off the Court

Aaron Nettles, ’21, comes from a basketball family. The guard on Seattle University’s Men’s Basketball team started shooting hoops in the second grade and grew up around the sport as his parents operate a basketball training facility. It is here where Nettles started working with rising hoop stars as both a coach and a mentor to youngsters whose love of the sport mirrors his own when he was their age.

It’s the passion for the sport that is so intrinsically part of who Nettles is that continues to motivate him and it’s what drew him to Seattle University. The graduate of Seattle Prep was looking to continue to build upon his basketball playing at a Division I school close to home (family is very important to Nettles.)

Nettles, who earned a degree in Communications in 2021, is currently pursuing a Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

As a senior member of the men’s basketball team, Nettles cites the special connection and close-knit feeling among players that creates a winning formula. For Nettles, being a leader on the team comes not only from experience but also from learning from others—coaches and mentors alike—who helped him along the way. 

“I have always had a lot of people in my corner over the years who kept pushing me and I kept stepping up.”

Looking ahead to life post-Seattle University—he’s slated to earn his Certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation this year—Nettles is keeping his options open while not ruling out continuing to play basketball, perhaps overseas.

“My dream job would be running my own company. If it’s related to basketball, that would be great,” says Nettles. “I would also like to do something along the lines of helping youth.”

Athletic News Roundup

WAC Champs!

Men’s Basketball captures first-ever regular season WAC title.

Congratulations to Men’s Basketball for earning its first regular season WAC title, ending the season with a stellar 23-8 record—14-4 in WAC action—and earning a second seed in the WAC tournament, advancing to the WAC tournament in Las Vegas.

In the last regular season game Riley Grigsby, Cameron Tyson and Darrion Trammell combined for 60 points in the 74-66 win over Chicago State at the Redhawk Center. Later that night, T-Mobile Park—home of the Mariners—lit up red in tribute to the team's title win.

Check out the recap of the game. 

Men’s Soccer WAC Champs

Seattle University men's soccer won the 2021 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament, advancing past Grand Canyon, 4-3 in penalty kicks. Player Akili Kasim made the game-winning penalty kick save that earned the Redhawks the WAC title.

“It was a great team win,” says Head Coach Pete Fewing. “Our guys were clutch."