CHATSWORTH, Calif. — Sometimes you just have to leap into your dreams.
When it comes to getting to the NBA, TJ Starks knows it comes with a grind.
What You Need To Know
- The NBA Draft is happening Thursday night
- TJ Starks is an NBA prospect hoping a team gives him an opportunity
- Starks played at CSUN last season
- He was the sixth in all of Division 1 college basketball in scoring
Starks has been working on his strength, skills and conditioning at The DSTRKT athletic facilty in Chatsworth. To get where he’s trying to go, he has to work through the pain.
"Being mentally tough, fighting through adversity, fighting when it’s hard, things you don’t wanna do, you gotta push through it," he said. "That’s life lessons."
Life has brought this NBA prospect lots of success. Starks helped Texas A&M get to the Sweet 16 three years ago. He has also experienced a major low, however, having to transfer from the Aggies after being charged with marijuana possession. It brought him out west to California State University Northridge.
At CSUN, Starks shined. Last season, he was the sixth leading scorer in of all Division 1 basketball.
“It was a pride thing for me, not to let myself get down or quit on myself, or quit on my family,” Starks said. “I had come so far, and my goal was to provide for my family and make it to the NBA, make it professionally.”
It’s why Starks is doing everything he can to prepare his body for greatness, both on and off the court. He has already had draft workouts with the Clippers, Pistons and Kings.
"I plan on playing at least 12 years, whether that’s in the NBA or overseas, but I know I can take this game a very long way, my career personally," he said.
Ed Pilot, Starks' agent, said Starks could have gone back to school and been a higher draft pick in 2022. But he says a previous agent dropped the ball. So now, Pilot is helping Starks go through the process under the radar.
“It’s about getting the attention of the right people, and we have a short time in which to do it,” said Pilot. “The NBA Draft is coming up Thursday. Summer League starts on Aug. 8.”
Starks said he's ready to step into his basketball destiny, no matter how long it takes.
“I just used a lot of things and a lot of situations as motivations to keep going especially my story, what I been through.”