Jodie 
Meeks has finally earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Kentucky. He spent three years attending UK from 2006-2009. However, three years isn’t typically enough time to earn a degree, especially for student athletes.
They spend most of their time at practices, traveling for tournaments and games, generally missing a lot of class time. For most athletes who turn pro, completing their degree isn’t something that’s too high on their list of things to do once they’re being paid to play a sport and the thing they love most.
Jodie Meeks is different than most. After being drafted in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, graduating from college could’ve been the last thing on his mind.
He has bounced around in his five year career, playing for the Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, the Los Angeles Lakers, and just signed with the Detroit Pistons this past summer for three years and around $20 million.
What athlete who just signed a new deal for almost $20 million goes back to college during the summers over the past few years and finishes his degree in business administration? Jodie Meeks does.
Meeks posted this photo to his Instagram Monday, even though the date says August of 2014. He was home in Atlanta for a day, which is where he must be keeping his hard-earned diploma.
“Finally got to see my diploma from this summer! Took a lil bit of time but glad i went back to get it. No dumb athlete over here!! #proudmoment”, he said regarding the photo.
No dumb athlete indeed. Good for you Jodie Meeks. You are one of a small number of athletes who actually go back and earn their college degrees, and it’s a good thing to see.
Hopefully the number of college athletes that go pro and decide to return back to school to earn their diplomas will increase. Your path would be a great example of how to accomplish that, allowing you more of a future once your pro career is finished.