AJ Williams
AJ Williams
Class Year
’26
Hometown
Chicago, Illinois
Major(s)
Finance
Sport(s)
Basketball
For finance major AJ Williams ’26, basketball has been around him his whole life. He grew up in a family where basketball was important, leading him to play in second grade. Now, AJ plays for the Carthage men’s basketball team as a shoot guard. He balances being a student-athlete with the help of his professors, coaches, and The Aspire Center, which has helped him find internships. “Just knowing my coaches are available to talk or meet with me pretty much whenever I need provides a source of comfort and support for me.
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Why I chose Carthage
“The campus is beautiful, the academics fit my major, it is close to home, and I get to compete in an elite conference for basketball at Carthage.”
What it means to be a Firebird
“Being a Firebird means competing every day in every aspect of life. Whether the task is small or big, attack it with perfect effort.”
My favorite team memory
“My favorite experience was winning the CCIW conference. The arena was electric, and it was an all around amazing experience.”
What makes the student-athlete community special
“There is a lot of spoken and unspoken respect among the student-athlete community at Carthage. We all know and are experiencing the grind of being a college-level student-athlete — having late night or early morning practices on top of classes. It takes a lot of energy and effort, but knowing you have a team and community doing it with you makes it a little easier.”
How I balance academics and athletics
“It definitely has its challenges. Time management is huge. I would recommend building a schedule on a calendar, so you can physically keep track of everything rather than doing it all mentally. Prioritize the most important things and don’t procrastinate!”
My biggest accomplishment at Carthage
“Being a CCIW champion and an all-region academic student-athlete is my biggest accomplishment.”
My favorite athletic facility
“The weight room is my favorite place because I love to lift!”
My career goal
“My career goal is to be a financial advisor or wealth manager. Carthage has helped me along this path by offering classes and J-Term opportunities that directly correlate to what I want to do.”
Advice for other student-athletes
“Being an NCAA student-athlete is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an experience you should take if you have the chance. It is very challenging and grueling at times, but the lessons, people, and experiences you will have are invaluable.”