Meet Madisen Carter: UPB’s Social Media Coordinator and new Operations Intern

May 05, 2022

Sports have always been an important aspect in my life. Although I was never the most athletic person and did not play too many sports growing up, being a part of the conversations about sports is what has always kept me going. Being knowledgeable about basketball, football, and baseball was and still is important to me, and I love being able to connect to other individuals through sports. 

I got into sports through my family, especially my dad, Max. My dad has always been a sports fanatic and knows every statistic, every historical play, every player, everything. He taught me all that I know and is the reason why my love for sports grew so much starting from a young age. My whole family is passionate about sports, and I am grateful to have grown up in a family that went to sporting events or always had a game playing on the television. They helped keep that fire for sports inside of me as I continued to grow.

I watched and talked sports throughout my entire childhood, but I did not realize I wanted to have a career in sports until I was in high school and I was involved in journalism and multimedia broadcast programs. At the start of my junior year I was fortunate to be the head of the sports section of the school’s news channel, Titan TV News. As I interviewed athletes, sideline reported basketball games, pieced together sports news segments and was able to learn more about the athlete’s lives and hear their stories, I knew that was something I wanted to continue to pursue when I went to college. 

I was born and raised in Sacramento, California, and when I graduated from high school in 2016, I decided I was going to attend Arizona State University. I spent my whole time as an undergraduate in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. In May of 2020, I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Journalism and a certificate in Sales and Marketing Essentials. 

During my time as an undergraduate, I was able to increase my skills in writing and broadcast journalism, as well as expand my knowledge in many other sports such as Triathlon and Swim and Dive. I learned a lot in those four years, but I knew there was so much more for me to learn, and I wanted to continue my education in sports.

In May of 2021, I was accepted to the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. I am officially halfway towards earning a Master’s Degree in Sports Law and Business as I finished up my first year in the program a few weeks ago.  

Before I started the Masters Program, I was fortunate to know former Unlimited Potential Basketball employee, Ashley Hawkins, through high school and her sister Bailey, to get me connected with UPB. At the time, UPB was looking for a Blog Writer and Social Media Coordinator Intern, and the opportunity was a perfect fit and could not have come at the perfect time for me. 

I was able to interview and speak with UPB’s Director of Basketball Operations, Rūta Savickaitė, CEO Bianca Turner, and Chief Training Officer, Packie Turner about the opportunity. Everything went well and for almost one year now, I have been a part of the UPB Family and I could not be more grateful!

I have learned so many things since I have been with UPB and I know I am going to continue to learn more. I have been able to speak to so many athletes, and it has been an honor to hear their stories, their backgrounds, their accomplishments, what makes them love the game of basketball, and everything above. I now have so many people I get to cheer on and watch succeed in their basketball careers. 

In June it will be a year that I have been with UPB, working remotely from Phoenix, Arizona. Now that school is out for the summer, I am happy to say that I will be in the Bay Area for the next three months and will be able to work in person at the UPB Training Facility. This summer, I will be able to broaden my skills and learn new things as an Operations Intern, as well as keep my role as a Writer and Social Media Coordinator. 

I am so grateful for every opportunity that I have had with UPB so far, and I can not wait to finally be a part of the team in person and to meet everyone who walks into the gym face to face. My first day is May 8th, and I am excited to meet you all that are a part of the UPB community! I will see you on Sunday!

- Madisen Carter