BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh University held its spring undergraduate commencement Sunday at Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem, headlined by CJ McCollum, a shooting guard for the New Orleans Pelicans and a Lehigh alumnus.
- Basketball player CJ McCollum spoke at Lehigh University’s spring commencement in Bethlehem Sunday
- McCollum, who graduated from Lehigh in 2013, is known among alumni for his role in an upset NCAA tournament victory against Duke
- More than 1,900 students received undergraduate degrees in the Class of 2023, representing 82 disciplines, 41 states and 54 countries.
In the university community, McCollum is probably best known for his role in Lehigh’s now-mythic upset victory against Duke in the 2012 NCAA tournament.
“Any Lehigh alumnus of a certain age, we all know the answer to the question, ‘Where were you on March 16, 2012,’” said University President Joseph Helble.
McCollum graduated from Lehigh in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, and was subsequently an NBA first-round draft pick. In 2021, he was elected president of the NBA Players Association.
Recounting his arrival on campus in 2009 in his speech, McCollum said it looked a bit different from his Ohio hometown.
“I had no idea what boat shoes were,” he said, drawing laughter. “No clue what lacrosse was, not the slightest clue what field hockey was about. And I had never seen so many North Face and Canada Goose jackets in my life. All that changed when I got here.”
"No star shines alone"
McCollum shared a story about when he was a sophomore in high school, playing on his school’s basketball team. Or, rather, not playing – he said he was benched most of the time, having been pushed out by a new transfer student.
“The result was me averaging an underwhelming six points per game – which is very bad, for those that don't play sports,” he said. It was nowhere near what he would need to get a basketball scholarship.
In response, McCollum said he decided to work harder. He woke up at 5:30 each morning to the sound of his own voice repeating affirmations and goals for the next season – “I will average 20 points per game. I will train harder than I ever had before, and it will pay off.” He shot 1,000 baskets every day, with the help of his dad and brother.
“Game one of my junior season happened to be my first career start. I went on to break the school record for points in a game with 54,” he said.
McCollum offered a five-step process that he said helped him push toward achieving his goals: evaluate your goal, get rid of distractions, be patient, take risks and don’t stop.
He shared another story of powering through hardship: when he was a sophomore at Lehigh, McCollum tried out for the U.S. Olympic basketball team.
In his mind, he had earned a place on Team USA, in fact, he said he still to this day thinks he should have made the team. The coaches disagreed.
Being cut from USAB became my crucible. It made me hungry and determined beyond reason.CJ McCollum, shooting guard for the New Orleans Pelicans and a Lehigh alumnus
“I'll never forget it after being cut – that's right, CJ McCollum was cut,” he said. “Being cut from USAB became my crucible. It made me hungry and determined beyond reason.”
That hunger and determination, he said, led him through his junior season and on to Lehigh’s stunning postseason defeat of Duke – “one of the greatest upsets in March Madness history.”
That said, McCollum was quick to point out that he could not have done it alone. Neither could the soon-to-be graduates before him, he said.
“No star shines alone. It's always surrounded by other stars and celestial bodies, and it can't shine on its own light,” said McCollum. “Like people. It takes a constellation of effort, support and contributions to create a dazzling display in the endless expanse of space.”
