By Catherine Slonksnis
GoldenGrizzlies contributor

Oakland University is something of a rarity. Most athletes attend college for four to five years, graduate, and move on. Fewer remain to pursue a higher level of education. Oakland currently has three master's degree students playing on the Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team, something only one other in collegiate basketball can lay claim to, Stanford.

Michigan native Corey Petros, Ohio native Ralph Hill and California native Max Hooper are currently in enrolled in different graduate programs. Petros and Hill are pursuing their master's in business administration (MBA), while Hooper is going for his master's in public administration (MPA).

All had their reasons, but the deciding factor was Oakland's athletic program. Oakland's basketball program doesn't compete in a Power 5 conference, but athletes still choose the Golden Grizzlies over schools with bigger budgets because of the diversity Oakland offers, both athletically and academically.

While coach Greg Kampe has had graduates during his 30-plus years with Oakland, he's never coached three on the team at once. Oakland may be coming off of its worst season historically, but that didn't deter Hooper, a transfer from St. John's, from coming to play for the Golden Grizzlies. Much of the attraction is attributed to the fact that Oakland retains one of the longest-tenured coaches in college basketball.

"I hope people look at us, that we're doing our job, and that's educating student-athletes and having them get degrees," Kampe said. "I think it shows a commitment by the university, funding-wise, to keep kids here in the summer and on track. We're graduating our players and we're graduating them early."

That Oakland has three graduates attending and playing for the Golden Grizzlies concurrently is impressive. However, for Kampe and the coaching staff, it's rewarding to see that the work they've put into the students and the program, has paid off. Also, it's allowed Kampe to focus on the incoming student-athletes, instead of paying close attention to his own graduate students.

Essentially, it's a self-monitoring system because all three student-athletes have been there before. Juggling classes, homework, practice, work, gym time, games, and traveling, are all just part of their schedules now. By talking to professors ahead of time and laying out game plans for when everything needs to get done, Petros, Hill, and Hooper have become examples for what student-athletes should be aiming for.

"They're examples in the classroom, they're examples socially, and they're examples on the court," Kampe said. "A guy who's going to get his master's understands the work ethic, what you have to do. They're mature and hopefully that's radiating from them."

Their teammates see it. They saw it when Travis Bader graduated early and completed his course work for his master's degree. It prompted visits to Kampe's office and discussions with students about how they could pursue the same goal. How the athletic program has helped student-athletes succeed beyond just the court has peaked an interest in students.

Sports as a way of life after college isn't a guarantee, and the point of college is to prepare students for the everyday life. It's one thing to estimate a career-path, but it's another to create one and have a backup along the way. How Petros, Hill, and Hooper go about their lives on and off the court shows teamwork and dedication, rather than a self-centered thought process.

Kampe pushes his players to be better, but he doesn't limit himself to the court. Not only does he ensure the players are performing on the court, Kampe invests his personal time into how a player is doing as a person. For some, that has made the difference between staying at Oakland and moving onto another university.

That level of interest that Kampe has in his players as people, rather than just a number or an athlete, has created a story of success for Oakland. Graduate student-athletes see a worth to coming to Oakland, and those who are about to earn their four-year degrees make decisions to stay. It makes the team stronger and allows Kampe a greater range of focus.

Oakland may not have three graduate student-athletes every year, but it's remarkable that despite a rough 2013-14 season for the Golden Grizzlies, Petros, Hill, and Hooper still chose to remain with, and transfer to the university. They wanted challenges, to finish what they started, and to be an example for others.

It's unique enough that Oakland is the only team in college basketball with three graduates on one team this year. Beyond that, it speaks to the qualities that have made the athletic program a success beyond the court, and it's a reflection on the dedication of the department and its staff.

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