Chris Lenox, '18

By Nasir Aziz, ’20

As the polished wood floors thrum beneath his dribbling, Christopher Lenox, ’18, weaves between three opponents and shoots the basketball with a flourish. For a fleeting moment, it hangs it the air.

Swish.

The remainder of the Men’s Club Basketball team on the sidelines breaks out in loud cheers; it was a good shot. But after a few seconds, they settle down again to continue watching today’s practice. It’s Tuesday afternoon in the Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness, and one of the basketball courts is reserved for the next couple of hours. A usual scrimmage takes about 20 minutes, and the winning team stays on as the losing teams rotate.

The chemistry between the players is evident as the ball is passed back and forth without hesitation. Even after one of the players misses his shot, the entire team rings in a chorus of “good shot!” It is this rapport that is the team’s single, most powerful tool as they compete with a standard of excellent sportsmanship, while also creating a close-knit community of friends.

“I don’t really have a specific favorite thing about club basketball,” Lenox says. “I just enjoy coming to practice, playing against the guys a couple times a week, seeing them in class, at the dining hall, going on trips and tournaments with them – it’s a lot of fun. And it’s better than doing homework.”

If it sounds like the team is a casual gathering of friends on the court, you’d be wrong — at least when it comes to Lenox. In addition to scheduled practices and training, he’s been devoting an extra 10 hours a week since he joined the team his freshman year. His passion for sports eventually brought him to the position of vice president of Men’s Club Basketball during his sophomore year, a role he still holds today. “It’s definitely a lot more than just playing on the team,” he says. “There are quizzes, meetings, learning how to manage funds, compliance policies, being a safety officer – but this opportunity for a leadership position is the most valuable thing that club sports have given me.”

When Lenox is not on the court, his head is still in the game as a student assistant for the Athletic Department. The business major helps create marketing strategies, promote events, and officiate intramurals.

“You have to find something that motivates you,” he advises. “Just work on your game, be confident, and you’ll be all right.”