Meet Silas Adheke, one of the returning ETSU men’s basketball players this season as well as a graduate student and a passionate entrepreneur.
Adheke plays center for the men’s team, and this is his second year playing at ETSU. He has learned a lot from his time at the university so far, both on the court and off.
“ETSU is very supportive, you know,” Adheke said. “The staff wants you to be successful. It’s a very friendly university. Everyone’s trying to help you become the best version of yourself.”
Adheke joined the team in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, so this year is a completely different academic and athletic experience. This year, Adheke wants to focus on enjoying his last season and taking the game one day at a time. He is also thankful for the new men’s head coach, Desmond Oliver.
“What stands out with Coach Oliver is, you know, how he cares for his players’ success outside of basketball. Like it’s not just basketball for him; it’s preparing us for life,” said Adheke.
Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, Adheke wrapped up his Bachelors in Applied Mathematics before moving on to a Masters of Arts in Brand and Media Strategy at ETSU. Adheke switched to ETSU to be closer to his family in Chattanooga. While he originally hoped to enter a graduate program in finance, his current program has taught him how to build his personal brand, especially in relation to his businesses.
Adheke is the CEO of his own business, a private consultation company called Ascende Superius. Through this business, Adheke helps manage e-commerce businesses and foreign investments. He hopes to use his degree at ETSU and time after college to expand his business and seek out more investors. One big goal of his is to create job opportunities for others.
“I want to be a donor for the university one day in the future . . . That’s why I want to be an entrepreneur, so I can give back to the community,” said Adheke.
You can see Adheke in action during their first exhibition game on Friday, Nov. 5 at Freedom Hall. For more information on the basketball team, visit etsubucs.com/mbasketball/.
