Austin Mudd

            Life experience is something people all enjoy as they learn and grow, each telling a different story than the other. The difference is what makes one person great and the life experience of Justin Saunders was indeed different.

            From the small city of Athens, TX, the 6’3” Saunders excelled in basketball, earning First-Team All-Region honors and being named to the All-Henderson County First Team. Saunders also played in two state all-star basketball games. However, Saunders was not just the typical high school jock. He was named to the Academic All-State Team and graduated as the class Salutatorian in 2006 from LaPoynor High School.

            During his time in high school, Justin also found opportunity in the NBA. The six-foot three inch Saunders worked as a ball boy for the Dallas Mavericks and was part of the organization during its championship run in 2006. “Players at the level were professional,” Saunders said. “They performed at a level I knew I could never reach, but it was cool to meet so many people during my time there.”

            Saunders met numerous Mavericks players during his time in Dallas, including small forward Shawn Marion. “Yeah, Marion was cool guy, and like many of the guys he had his hobbies,” said Saunders. “I remember he liked to DJ actually.”             During his time on the NBA sidelines, Saunders mingled with some of world’s most talented athletes. Saunders even helped in preparing the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the all star game in Dallas in 2010. “It was incredible,” Saunders said. “The all star game gave me an opportunity to meet players like Lebron James.” Saunders spoke of crushing defeats and glorious triumphs as he chronicled his expediencies in the NBA.

“It was weird to see the reaction of some of the players after the 2006 NBA finals,” Saunders said. “Those guys were grown men and it was weird to see them break down and cry when they played at the level they are playing at, but at the same time it was important to them. The NBA final was the pinnacle of the sport.”

Saunders also met other celebrities, such as Lil Wayne and Usher, through his job with the Dallas Mavericks, but the star struck feeling of meeting all these famous faces eventually faded with time. “I eventually got used to it.” Saunders said. “You eventually realize they are just normal people like us, except a little taller.”

In 2006, Saunders graduated from high school and received a scholarship to play basketball at LeTourneau University in Longview. However, in his sophomore year Saunders transferred to Stephen F. Austin State to pursue a degree in economics. During his time at SFA Saunders was very active. “I really enjoyed getting involved,” Saunders said. “Whether it was with the fraternity, Jack Walkers, or whatever, I always wanted to be involved on campus.” Justin joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, was part of the Driving Jacks Review board, and also received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in 2009. And in 2010 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

            However, Saunders was not done learning. Following graduation, he was accepted into Masters of Business Administration programs at the University of Mississippi and Tulane University. However, Saunders declined and instead continued his education at SFA. “I was content here at SFA and I knew I could get a good education here as well,” Saunders said. “So I decided to pursue my education further right here in Nac.”

            Saunders is in the final semester of his MBA program at SFA and will graduate in December 2012 to eventually pursue a career in finance.