Rathen Carter – Senior – Marketing
When did you start playing basketball?
RC: Around 4 or 5 years old. I was a really active baby and my mother used to say in order to get me to stay still, you’d have to turn on a basketball game or if I was crying, you’d just have to hand me a ball. It’s just one of the sports I got exposed to young like most, then I just fell in love with it.
How did you end up at Washburn?
RC: That’s a long story… Honestly, I’m just extremely blessed. I texted [head men’s basketball coach Brett] Ballard that I was transferring and liked his program a lot, and thankfully he took a chance on a kid that just came off of 3 years of unfortunate injuries, and everything kind of just fell into place.
Throughout your basketball career, who has influenced you the most?
RC: My brother. He’s the hardest worker I know, whatever he wants to accomplish he’s going to accomplish in an elite fashion. Also, he never lets anyone say he can’t do something. Even if it’s something he doesn’t know how to do, trust me he’ll figure out how to do it in a high level very quickly. So, I just modeled my style of work after him.
What do you plan on doing with your career?
RC: I’m going to be professional basketball player after I’m done here at Washburn. Following that career, I’m going to become a mentor and basketball trainer because I love to enrich the knowledge of the youth on and off the court. Then, if I were to work within my field of study, I’d be a creative director.
Do you have any hidden talents?
RC: I have some pilot hours. Every summer in middle school through sophomore year of high school, my mother made me go to an “educational” camp because she’s really big on education and didn’t want me just playing sports all summer. I got to go to an aeronautics camp one summer and I actually got to fly a plane a couple of times. It was just a little Cessna but it was super cool and I’m forever appreciative for my mom exposing me to so much stuff.
What is the craziest thing on your bucket list?
RC: One day, I’m going to hang glide in Switzerland.
What other interesting hobbies or interests do you have?
RC: I like anything design- anything from studio art to graphics to clothing. Also, I love to paddle board, during the summers I try to go every weekend. For the interest in design, that stemmed from my mother being an artist. I’m a freelance graphic designer. I’ve done a few logos, banners, and posters for small businesses, and teams. I also dabble in fashion design. I do mostly altering right now but I want to start making pieces from scratch. I got into paddle boarding because you can’t surf in Oklahoma and for me, it’s a solid substitute that’s way more relaxed. My favourite spot is the Shawnee Mission Park. There’s a large lake out there with great views.
