A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Aurora Deshaies has been a member of the women’s basketball team for five years. As a strong forward for the team, Deshaies is just the fourth player in program history to earn 1,000 career points and tally 1,000 rebounds. She also has earned academic distinctions and honors, as well as the dean’s list and Northeast-10 academic honor roll.
Deshaies left a significant mark on the organization – and that mark came with some sacrifices.
“Going from high school ball to college ball is a completely different game, especially in the NE-10, it’s very competitive,” said Deshaies. “It was difficult to find that life balance, because playing basketball is like a work job. We spend hours training, and I also have to handle four to five classes.”
While overcoming the challenges that come with being a student athlete, Deshaies said the hard work was worth it. Until a month ago, Deshaies did not know she was about to make program history in her final season.
“Reaching two huge milestones, 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, was a big accomplishment that I’m proud of, and I’m happy that my family was able to be at the game,” said Deshaies.
While the emotions of parting ways and spending her final year at the university are hard enough, Deshaies said she has a heavy heart leaving her teammates and coaches. Without her friendships and close relationship with coach Debbie Buff, the experience wouldn’t have been the same for Deshaies.
“It’s bittersweet. I’ve been here for so long, so I’ve had relationships come and go,” said Deshaies. “But I will say, this year we have a lot of different personalities, and I’m going to miss my team and my coach as well.”
“Our assistant coach, Jason Dunne, really opened my eyes this year since we haven’t had the strongest season since I’ve been here,” said Deshaies. “Life is more than basketball, and I’ve been doing this for a long time, so it’s all I’ve really known. He shared that there’s much more out there than just basketball and sometimes we don’t realize that in the heat of the moment.”
With graduation around the corner, Deshaies says the idea of leaving is stressful. Despite being nervous to part ways with her basketball career, Deshaies said she looks forward to getting in the field for clinical mental health counseling. Although undecided on the specific field of work, she said she is interested in working with children.
And while her final year of playing basketball is soon ending, Deshaies plans to stay affiliated with the sport, specifically with youth players.
“My plan is to go back home next year and finish my degree online, that way I can start coaching,” said Deshaies. “I just still want to be a part of the game. I want to help kids go through what I did when I was younger.”
While Deshaies navigates her future, her legacy will live on in Charger Gymnasium.
For that, Deshaies expressed gratitude toward family, teammates and coaches. Leaving the university behind, she said she’d tell any new college student: “Nobody is perfect, and everyone has their flaws. It’s about what you do after you mess up. Do you whine and pout about it? Or do you keep going?”