I’m from Onset, Massachusetts. My great-grandparents came over from the islands of Fogo and Brava in Cape Verde, Africa, and settled in Onset and New Bedford. Onset, known for its beautiful beaches and village atmosphere, is located just before the Cape Cod Canal. It is also home to the annual Cape Verdean festival, which draws thousands of attendees from across the United States.
I grew up playing basketball and riding bikes around town with neighborhood friends. Being third- and fourth-generation American-Cape Verdeans, many of my friend’s families had known each other for decades and we were a tight-knit community. As I started to improve and travel with basketball, I was exposed to other players who aspired to play in college. My grandparents and mother worked hard but never went to college, I wanted to be the first in the household to go, and it was important to me to set an example for my younger siblings.
I started getting recruited by Bridgewater State for basketball during my junior year at Wareham High School. Many other schools of various divisions also showed interest. Bridgewater stood out to me for their strong education programs, affordability, and personable coaching staff. I visited campus with a friend, felt very comfortable, and envisioned myself becoming a BSU Bear. It was my top choice school, but they’re division III and don’t give athletics scholarships. My family couldn’t help me cover all the costs and taking out massive college loans didn’t appeal to me. So, I set my sights on getting into universities that would offer me a basketball athletic scholarship.
I chose to attend Marianapolis Prep School, in Connecticut, for more academic development and athletics opportunity. In the meantime, a few of my high school friends ended up attending BSU. They spoke highly of the professors and had a lot of fun living on campus. It turned out that doing a year of prep school paid off in my receiving some full-ride basketball scholarship offers from other universities. I had a successful four years at a private college and completed my degree in 2013.
After graduating from college, I set out to play professional basketball overseas. I crossed paths again with Bridgewater State while playing for the Cape Verde National team. BSU took their men’s basketball team to Africa to play against my team and help us run youth basketball clinics for kids in Cape Verde. It was an incredible, humbling experience for players on both teams. Following that, I also played professionally in Escazu, Costa Rica, for a season.
I came back home to Massachusetts wanting to have a career helping people while also continuing to be involved with basketball for as long as possible. That’s when I started coaching and teaching, and that has become my thing. I finally ended up at BSU in 2022, when I was offered a job as an assistant men’s basketball coach. I continued teaching while working part-time at BSU, until recently when I became a full-time admission counselor and diversity recruitment coordinator.
It did take long for me to develop genuine relationships with my fellow staff and students. You very quickly pick up the community vibe on campus, and there’s a really sense of pride within the Bear village.
My favorite part of this job is holding the door of opportunity open for others like me who want to go to college and have a better life.
I’m here for you and know that us BSU BEARS have your back!
Aaron Strothers
Diversity Recruitment Coordinator,
Admission Counselor, & Assistant Basketball Coach
Bridgewater State University
astrothers@bridgew.edu
508.531.1194
