Former Badgers Basketball Star

SEAN WRIGHT, ’93

Former Badgers Basketball Star Makes It to the NBA, with a Whistle

IT HAD BEEN A LONG DAY. SEAN WRIGHT ’93 HAD SPRINTED UP AND DOWN THE COURT REFEREEING A NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION GAME.

Afterward, as the crew chief, he wrote a game report for the league. Then he reviewed video of the first two quarters with a less experienced crew member, “going over things to help his growth — also looking at stuff that I could have done better.” Finally, he settled into his airline seat for a rare treat: an in-season trip back home. Time to relax? Not yet. He still had “tape work” (video) to do. As fellow passengers dozed, he watched the final two quarters, still looking for ways to improve. “You’re competing against yourself to be the best you can every night,” he said. “That’s the fun of it.”

The travel is not so much fun. During the season, he gets home to Dacula, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta, maybe six days a month. He and his wife, a government attorney, have two sons and two daughters, the youngest in fifth grade. Wright, who grew up in Mobile, played point guard for the Badgers basketball team. He dreamed about competing in the NBA. Now he’s in his 17th season of doing just that, albeit not quite the way he envisioned back then. He said Spring Hill definitely made him Real World Ready, with the ability to connect with anyone, no matter their background. “Spring Hill, to be honest, is just about people, and doing as much good as you can in the short amount of time you’re here in the world. I still try to live by those values to this day.” And he tries to pass them along. He’s lobbying his younger daughter, a high school junior, to follow his example and attend Spring Hill. “Best decision I ever made.”

SPRING/SUMMER 2022