The RoundHouse | 10/27/2022 9:54:00 AM
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Jalen Ricks loves numbers, so much so a Wichita State professor suggested he major in accounting.
His focus is on that subject and on basketball as the Shockers get ready to start the season. Ricks, a redshirt freshman guard, will play a lot of basketball and put up a lot of those numbers before it is time to run the numbers on his business goal.
He wants to build a subdivision full of smart homes.
"I enjoy computing numbers and solving problems," he said.
A career in real estate is one of the possibilities he considers. The idea of a development where each homeowner controls utilities, appliances and more through a phone or tablet intrigues him.
"I've always been interested in real estate and want to start a business that not only builds houses but builds houses in a way that is technologically sound," he said. "Growing up, I moved into a new subdivision where a lot of houses were being built and I saw how it how it took place and developed the area. I thought the technology implemented with that would be a cool idea and something nobody is really doing."
Wichita State fans can get their first look at the Shockers on
Thursday at Shocker Madness (6:30 p.m.) at Koch Arena.
Ricks, from Sherwood, Ark., earned the team's Shelley Cox Academic Leadership Award last season. He made the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (GPA's above 3.0) both semesters. Accounting makes sense for a man with a knack for numbers.
"I wanted to take a deep dive into the numbers of running a business, even personal finance," he said. "There's a lot of different things with numbers that can get complicated, especially when you're talking about money and businesses."
Wichita State coach
Isaac Brown uses Ricks as his recruiting host because of his academic performance, his personality and his connections after playing at Oak Hill (Va.) Academy. Oak Hill plays a national schedule and produces many prominent players, so Ricks offers a connection to people from all over the country.
He grew up in a military family, raised on discipline, work and organization. Clinton Ricks, an Air Force veteran, rewarded his son's good grades with more time to play basketball.
"He's a mature kid," Brown said. "Excellent student. His schedule is unbelievable, the classes he is taking."
Ricks' favorite campus site to show off for visitors is Wayne and Kay Woolsey Hall, the new home of the W. Frank Barton School of Business.
"The majority of my classes are in there," he said. "It's a good place to go and study and have discussions."
Ricks, 6-foot-7, played in last season's exhibition game before knee surgery sidelined him in December. With plenty of depth on the wing on last season's roster, it made sense for him to redshirt and rehab. Although he has yet to play a college game, Ricks is one of the more experienced Shockers on a roster with 12 newcomers. While learning, he is also expected to set an example.
"He's a veteran," Brown said. "He knows the system. He knows the expectations."
Ricks played two seasons at Oak Hill, a that produced NBA talent such as Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo and Jerry Stackhouse. Ricks averaged 10.7 points and made 39 percent of his free throws as a senior.
"He's a guy that can make shots," Brown said. "That's what I need him to do. Defend his position. Make wide-open shots. Rebound."
With the big changes in the roster for this season, it may take time for Brown to establish lineups and playing time. Ricks is ready to play his role.
"My role this year is to be a person who contributes to winning," he said. "I think it's important to bring intensity on the defensive end. Offensively, I'm a knockdown shooter and can bring that to the table, too."
Those numbers matter to Ricks and Brown. So do his qualities that can't be measured with numbers.
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
