Two-sport standout Stuart Phair excels for both The Sage Colleges men's basketball and golf teams. A native of Canberra, Australia, Phair made an immediate impact after arriving at Sage in 2018. He joined the golf team in 2019 and helped the Gators to a fourth place finish at the 2019 Empire 8 Fall Championship.
As a member of the basketball team in 2019-2020, he helped to lead the Gators to their first Empire 8 Tournament appearance. A starter in all 26 games, he added a personal-best 7.4 ppg with 5.5 rpg. He also led the team with 35 blocks. He added a pair of double-doubles, while finishing in double digit scoring 10 times.
Phair is a business administration major, who has emerged as a leaders on and off the field of play, who has participated in several community service events as a Gator. He excels in the classroom as well, with a 3.7 grade-point average. He was named to the Empire 8 President's List in Fall, 2019.
Stuart Phair - Tomorrow's Leaders
Major: Business Administration
GPA: 3.70
Class Year: Sophomore
Anticipated Graduation Date: May 2022
Favorite Professional Team: Green Bay Packers
Favorite Professional Athlete: LeBron James
Various Academic Honors/Academic or Athletic Clubs:
- Empire 8 Presidents' List, Fall 2019
- SAAC member
- Dean's list-every semester, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019
What Type of Community Service Have You Done: Sage's Chompers' Reading Program, which involves traveling to nearby elementary schools to do activities with them. We read, do arts and crafts and other fun activities with these kids. I have also been a part of Sage Department of Athletics Shoe Box Project, which is a back to school supply drive. We collect school supplies and donate them to a nearby elementary school. This made me appreciate how such small things as pens, pencils and other supplies can make kids so joyful. Every elementary school I have been to, the kids have been very excited to see me as a student-athlete and role model.
Plans After Graduation: I am keeping my options open, as I have two years until graduation. I am considering going to graduate school to continue my knowledge in business administration or I will try and work in the sports industry whether it be playing basketball or working on the business side of sports.
What Do You See Yourself Doing in 5 Years: I would have completed my graduate degree if I choose to go down that path. If I do not I would like to continue my basketball career in the United States or overseas whether it be playing or not.
What Do You See Yourself Doing in 10-15 Years/What is Your Ultimate Professional Goal: My goal is to become a professional basketball player. However, if my career gets shortened, I would like to work in the professional sports business. There are endless opportunities within sports because of how it is such a big business. I am still unsure of what country I want to end up living in. I would like to stay in the United States because I like sports here and there is endless opportunity.
How Has Playing Collegiately and in the Empire 8 Prepared You For Life After College: Playing college athletics has made me more responsible. It has taught me to be more organized and dependable. Being a student-athlete means you have to juggle many different responsibilities at once. Time management is the biggest responsibility for me. With a busy schedule, it is a must to have good time management. Not are you only responsible for yourself, you are responsible to your friends, teammates, coaches, and professors.
Favorite Athletic Memory from Your Time in College: Winning at St. John Fisher, the top team in the Empire 8 this season, as we beat them on their court by four points to clinch a playoff spot. To go into their building against the odds and come out with a crucial team win to make the playoffs was a great moment for me and the Sage basketball program.
Biggest On-Campus Mentor: John Johnson: He is the manager of my basketball team and is also the student government president. He is always there if I need to talk to him about anything basketball, school or life-related. To have a fellow student to be a mentor emphasizes how John is such a great person.
What Have You Learned About Yourself in College: I have learned to take every opportunity you get. Moving to the United States from Australia was a big step for me because I was unsure what it would lead to. The easy option would have been to stay in Australia and go to college there. However, I chose to attend Sage and it was a great decision. I have opened up many more opportunities I wouldn't have had, and made many great friends along the way. The decision to take this opportunity and step out of my comfort zone was a great idea.
What Type of Leader Are You: I am a leader by example. I lead people through actions. Whether it be on the basketball court making the right plays and giving all my effort for the team or more importantly acting as a role model younger people can look up to.
One Thing Most People Do Not Know About You: Most people do not know I am from Australia. Once I speak and people hear my accent they realize I am definitely not American.
Advice for Freshmen Teammates or Student-Athletes: Value every day because you only get four years as a college athlete. To make the most of your time in college I would recommend getting involved with campus life as much as possible and push yourself to be the best you can be in the classroom and athletically.
The Empire 8 Conference's "Tomorrow's Leaders Compete Here" Series features a student-athlete from one of its member institutions who has emerged as a leader not only on the field of play, but in the classroom and in the community. The complete list of featured student-athletes is available.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com.
