Gambian native at home on Bronco court

Being an international student-athlete like WMU Bronco basketball player, Muhammed Conteh, requires a major dedication to time management.

"Not everyone can be an athlete with all the stuff you go through, but at the same time it has its own rewards," said Conteh, who arrived in the United States in 2002 and learned the game when he was 13 years old.

Conteh spends anywhere from 16 to 18 hours a week on the court practicing basketball with his team, not including game time and travel time associated with away games. Off the court he’s enrolled in four classes, with an additional two lab classes and then spends around six-to-eight hours a week studying for his exercise science major and business minor.

His high school successes on the court made him an attractive candidate for many United States universities.

"When I was in high school, I received eight or nine offers, visited about half the universities and didn't like the atmosphere I encountered on those campuses," he said. "When I came to Western, met some of the players, and scrimmaged with them, I knew I belonged in Kalamazoo."

Conteh said the team is his local family, and the players help him get through the struggles of being a busy college athlete.

”When I walk into the locker room, everybody is always cracking jokes, which reminds me of being back home with old friends,” he said. “If I’m having a tough time in practice, they cheer me on and help keep my spirits up.  I can definitely grow here—I have already learned a lot and have made many changes in my game. I am better at finishing with my left hand and on my outside shots. My teammates and coaches are always helpful.”

Despite the pressure to do well on the court and in the classroom, Conteh enjoys being a college athlete and getting recognition from people on campus and in the community for his contributions.

"Everywhere I go I'm proud to be an athlete for Western," he said. “My court motto is—go hard every time, every possession. My coach said I bring energy to the court; when the team is down, I’m the guy who pumps the team back up!”

The team’s away schedule means Conteh spends a good deal of time on the road, which sometimes means missing classes. Assignments pile up and he has to figure things out on his own because he missed information shared in class. “The team’s study table helps me maintain a good GPA,” said Conteh, who is majoring in exercise science, with a minor in business.

One of his dreams is to play basketball in the NBA, but he said if that is not possible he will continue to play overseas. He believes his business minor will help launch a career in Gambia, where he hopes to work with people who are less fortunate, and who were not able to get an education.

Surprisingly, his favorite memory from the court this season was the team’s 68-65 loss to Xavier University in the season-opener. “We went out there to a crowd of about 10,000 people and took it right to their noses,” he said. “It felt real good to play as hard as possible.”

Story by Nate Coe

Conteh's stats

Story about Conteh from Kalamazoo Gazette