Basketball guard, 2010-2013

At OSU: Starks started 73 games for OSU in his career, averaging 10.2 points per contest. He played just three season for the Beavers, transferring to Illinois after his junior year to be closer to his grandmother in Chicago. Still, the 5-foot-9 guard made his imprint on the OSU record books, finishing his career as the all-time leader in 3-pointers with 185 and single-season leader with 79 as a sophomore.

Now: After transferring from OSU, Starks had to sit out a year at Illinois due to NCAA transfer rules before averaging 7.7 points per game for the Illini in 2014-2015.

Starks, 23, just wrapped up his first season of post-collegiate basketball, averaging 15.6 points per game in Sweden’s professional league, BasketLigan. Though he spent most of his time in the gym in practices or games, it allowed him to experience international living for a year.

“The big city there, Stockholm, was really nice,” Starks said. “It reminded me of home a little bit. It was a cool place to be overall. It was cold, though.”

During the offseason he lives in Chicago with his father and his grandmother, Mazola, who has dementia. Starks transferred to Illinois in 2013 to be closer to her, and he says her health is currently “as well as it could be” at age 92. Living with her and his father now is immensely meaningful for Starks.

“It means the world to me. To have that relationship with them is unreal,” Starks said. “(My grandmother) did a lot for me growing up.”

Starks expects to play somewhere besides Sweden next year, though he’s not sure if it would be a different country or even the NBA’s Development League. He’s also done some financial investing recently to prepare for his future, and he’s thinking about getting into real estate or the restaurant business when his playing days are over. Right now, though, he’s most happy to be near his family.

“I’m really happy where I am right now, just being able to come back in the offseason and enjoy my family,” Starks said. “I look forward to what’s next: playing professional basketball, God willing, and just trying enjoy life bit by bit.”

On Twiitter @BrighTes