Junior David Jean-Baptiste.
Photo by: Dale Rutemeyer
6/28/2019 10:41:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Junior David Jean-Baptiste uses Chattanooga’s Mocs Club generosity to further develop leadership skills as he enters fourth year in the program.
ROSTER | TICKETS | ABOUT CHATTANOOGA BASKETBALL
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We're trying something new. The Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball program is turning the page to the 2019-20 season, and if you click the roster link above, you'll see just seven player names. The idea is to reveal the roster in a series of short feature stories on GoMocs.com introducing the squad throughout June and July.
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It's time to reveal No. 7. Well, No. 3 but our seventh story for the OCD crowd. He's the most recognizable name. Not just because the junior is entering his fourth year in the program. Not just because he's started nearly 40 games in his Mocs career.
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There are three things that stand out when you think about David Jean-Baptiste. It's the ever-present smile and positive attitude…the joy that comes through to the fans each time he dons the jersey. How about the hair which changes within the seasons? It's also the connection a community gets with someone who immerses himself in it.
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We won't go too deep down this road. It's already been written in last year's "In A Word" series here. But he's not stopped growing, learning. That much is evident by his recent trek to the Winning Edge Leadership Academy's Game Changing Retreat in Atlanta. He spent June 20-23 with 15 other student-athletes around the nation learning more about the life-changing student-athlete experience.
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"There were topics and discussions about what it means to be a student-athlete and maximizing our opportunities," Jean-Baptiste shared. "Taking what the student-athlete experience teaches and applying it toward future professional opportunities whether it's on the court, in the board room, really wherever life takes you.
Â
"Basically how to take what we learn from this experience to use that advantage for our future."
Â
It was an extensive weekend that included mentorship, personal brand awareness and professional development among other things. Jean-Baptiste looks forward to applying those currently within his team environment as well as down the road as his career develops.
Â
"There are different types of leaders and that's something I've always struggled with...how to be a leader," he continued. "Being one of our veterans, one of the oldest members of our team, it's something that helps prepare me for this season. (At the retreat) I got to see different mindsets, different leaders essentially. Everybody in the room was a captain on their team and played at a high level in their sports.
Â
"Seeing their mindsets and getting ideas from them on being leaders, I think provides more perspective on how different people think."
Â
He also mentioned the networking opportunities and the impact that come with them.
Â
"I met our Adidas rep J.R. Sims who played at basketball at Eastern Michigan," Jean-Baptiste added with a personal flair. "He knew who I was which kind of stunned me. His is a career path that interests me so making contact with him was great.
Â
"Maria Taylor (from ESPN) was also there. So many people from the top of their fields. They were inspirational and informative. It was just a great experience."
Â
That experience was provided by a special group. The Mocs Club provided the funds necessary to attend the event. That was not lost on Jean-Baptiste.
Â
"I think as student-athletes, we often overlook or maybe take for granted our donors and what the Mocs Club provides," he began. "I am very grateful for their investment in me to go on a life-changing weekend. I am very appreciative of that opportunity."
Â
One thing is for certain, Jean-Baptiste will make the most of it both now and in the future.
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ROSTER REVEAL SERIES
4 – Maurice Commander: http://bit.ly/Commander4
1 – Jonathan Scott: http://bit.ly/Scott01
0 – A.J. Caldwell: http://bit.ly/Caldwell0
15 – Ramon Vila: http://bit.ly/RVila15
32 – Matt Ryan: http://bit.ly/Ryan32Â
5 – Jaden Frazer: http://bit.ly/Frazier5
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SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets are on sale now. They can be purchased on GoMocs.com (at the link above) or by calling (423) 266-MOCS. Fans can also stop by the Gate 1 ticket office at McKenzie Arena.
Â
Full season tickets range from $105-190 for lower-level reserved seating.
Â
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.
Â
Â
We're trying something new. The Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball program is turning the page to the 2019-20 season, and if you click the roster link above, you'll see just seven player names. The idea is to reveal the roster in a series of short feature stories on GoMocs.com introducing the squad throughout June and July.
Â
It's time to reveal No. 7. Well, No. 3 but our seventh story for the OCD crowd. He's the most recognizable name. Not just because the junior is entering his fourth year in the program. Not just because he's started nearly 40 games in his Mocs career.
Â
There are three things that stand out when you think about David Jean-Baptiste. It's the ever-present smile and positive attitude…the joy that comes through to the fans each time he dons the jersey. How about the hair which changes within the seasons? It's also the connection a community gets with someone who immerses himself in it.
Â
We won't go too deep down this road. It's already been written in last year's "In A Word" series here. But he's not stopped growing, learning. That much is evident by his recent trek to the Winning Edge Leadership Academy's Game Changing Retreat in Atlanta. He spent June 20-23 with 15 other student-athletes around the nation learning more about the life-changing student-athlete experience.
Â
"There were topics and discussions about what it means to be a student-athlete and maximizing our opportunities," Jean-Baptiste shared. "Taking what the student-athlete experience teaches and applying it toward future professional opportunities whether it's on the court, in the board room, really wherever life takes you.
Â
"Basically how to take what we learn from this experience to use that advantage for our future."
Â
It was an extensive weekend that included mentorship, personal brand awareness and professional development among other things. Jean-Baptiste looks forward to applying those currently within his team environment as well as down the road as his career develops.
Â
"There are different types of leaders and that's something I've always struggled with...how to be a leader," he continued. "Being one of our veterans, one of the oldest members of our team, it's something that helps prepare me for this season. (At the retreat) I got to see different mindsets, different leaders essentially. Everybody in the room was a captain on their team and played at a high level in their sports.
Â
"Seeing their mindsets and getting ideas from them on being leaders, I think provides more perspective on how different people think."
Â
He also mentioned the networking opportunities and the impact that come with them.
Â
"I met our Adidas rep J.R. Sims who played at basketball at Eastern Michigan," Jean-Baptiste added with a personal flair. "He knew who I was which kind of stunned me. His is a career path that interests me so making contact with him was great.
Â
"Maria Taylor (from ESPN) was also there. So many people from the top of their fields. They were inspirational and informative. It was just a great experience."
Â
That experience was provided by a special group. The Mocs Club provided the funds necessary to attend the event. That was not lost on Jean-Baptiste.
Â
"I think as student-athletes, we often overlook or maybe take for granted our donors and what the Mocs Club provides," he began. "I am very grateful for their investment in me to go on a life-changing weekend. I am very appreciative of that opportunity."
Â
One thing is for certain, Jean-Baptiste will make the most of it both now and in the future.
Â
ROSTER REVEAL SERIES
4 – Maurice Commander: http://bit.ly/Commander4
1 – Jonathan Scott: http://bit.ly/Scott01
0 – A.J. Caldwell: http://bit.ly/Caldwell0
15 – Ramon Vila: http://bit.ly/RVila15
32 – Matt Ryan: http://bit.ly/Ryan32Â
5 – Jaden Frazer: http://bit.ly/Frazier5
Â
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
Season tickets are on sale now. They can be purchased on GoMocs.com (at the link above) or by calling (423) 266-MOCS. Fans can also stop by the Gate 1 ticket office at McKenzie Arena.
Â
Full season tickets range from $105-190 for lower-level reserved seating.
Â
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the UTC Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.
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Players Mentioned
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