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Star basketball player Taylor Gleason’s work ethic allows her to shine on and off the court

Oakland University women's basketball player Taylor Gleason outside of the Human Health Building at O U

Photo by Josh Scott

Oakland University women's basketball player Taylor Gleason sits on the steps of the Human Health building and talks with a friend holding a basketball

Photo by Josh Scott

Oakland University women's basketball player Taylor Gleason stands in front of the Human Health building

Photo by Josh Scott

MVP

icon of a calendarNovember 15, 2017

icon of a pencilBy Robert Guttersohn

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Entering her final season as the starting point guard on the Oakland University women’s basketball team, senior Taylor Gleason already has a collegiate career to be proud of.

Among her many accolades from last year alone, Gleason started in 28 of 30 games, scored 20 points or more four times and double figures 19 times and led her team in three-pointers with 46.

But what is perhaps more impressive for the busy student athlete is her GPA — an impressive 3.89.

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Her classroom accomplishments led her to be named to the Horizon League Academic All-League Team and Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan (BCAM) Academic-Athletic Team last year.

As an athlete who has played basketball and other sports since the third grade, she has learned to balance sports with school for most of her life. But Gleason has always put school first, basketball second and her social life third.

“That’s how I’ve been my entire life,” Gleason says. A typical day for Gleason starts with a workout at 7 a.m. followed by homework, classes, then practice in the afternoon. “I take on a lot, but I find a way to get it all done,” she says.

Gleason played basketball two years at University of Illinois before coming to OU. She had friends attending OU and, like many students, she was attracted to the University’s intimacy.

“It has a big family feel,” she says. “They make me feel like I’m not just another player. You are an individual here. That’s not something I had when I was playing in the Big Ten.”

With her final season of eligibility, Gleason — who graduated last spring with a bachelor’s degree in integrated studies — is taking graduate courses for a master’s degree in exercise science and has her sights set on keeping a close relationship with the basketball court in some capacity.

Her advice to new collegiate student-athletes is to play hard, but always make room for a social life with your teammates on and off the court.

“It is very important,” she says. “You have to live your life. You have to make an effort not just to yourself but for your teammates and classmates as well. They want to get to know you.”

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