By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

When Emma King was in the fifth grade, she told her father that she wanted to play basketball for the University of Kentucky.

That dream came true. And now, as she heads into her senior year with tonight’s Big Blue Madness, she’s preparing for one last ride with the team she loves — while readying for life after sports, too.

The fifth-year player from Stanford, Ky., balances her studies as a Human Health Sciences major (she’s deciding between careers like optometry, occupational therapy and marketing) with being a leader to her teammates. This summer, she won the team’s Most Improved Award and she even found time to participate in last weekend’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

To kick off the season, let’s catch up with guard Emma King, and see how she’s been able to achieve so much in so little time …

Here’s 5 questions with … Emma King:
 

It’s your last year. You’re getting ready for Midnight Madness. How does it feel? 

Well, five years has gone by much faster than I thought. I can’t believe BBM is almost here. We’re about to get rolling and I can’t wait! However, it’s definitely bittersweet.
 

You got the Most Improved Award for your team for the summer. What does that mean to you, and what has motivated you this off-season?

I’m humbled that five years in, I’m still working just as hard as I was in year one, and being recognized for that work ethic. I think knowing I don’t have any eligibility after this year really changes my perspective. I want to do something and be a part of something great here, so I’m just continuing to work toward that every day. 
 

Tell me about the Alzheimer’s Walk and how you got involved. Why is it special to you? 

The Alzheimer’s Walk has been something our team has been a part of long before I got here. It’s special to us because of our coach’s ties to (former Tennessee Head Coach) Pat Summitt. For me personally, I got to work with a man who had late-stage dementia and seeing how it affected his everyday life really put an imprint on my heart. There’s still so much work to be done and I love being able to be a minuscule part of that. 

What does the future look like for you academically and career-wise? 

I am currently finishing up undergrad while being a part-time graduate student. I will graduate in December with an HHS degree and a business minor. I’m working on a master’s in Finance currently. I’m just looking forward to seeing where the Lord takes me with these degrees. 
 

How has CHS helped prepare you for life after basketball? 

CHS has been able to show me and help me build real-world skills. We talk everyday about how to be a leader and I think that’s been my biggest takeaway from these courses.