How Esports Is Empowering Student-Athletes Like De Carlos to Game and Graduate
In our work with high school gamers and collegiate programs, I often hear the same concern from young players and their families:
“Can you really build a future playing video games?”
After speaking with De Carlos, a talented NBA 2K player from New Orleans headed to Fisher College eon an esports scholarship, the answer is a resounding yes.
It’s about vision, resilience, and using collegiate esports as a launchpad not only for competitive success but for academic and career growth. Too often, students feel they must choose between passion and practicality.
The known issue: A student loves gaming but is told to “focus on something serious.”
The quiet concern: Even if they make it in esports, what happens after that?
The deeper challenge: Many don't realize that with the right school and support, they don’t have to choose at all.
De Carlos faced this dilemma. A skilled NBA 2K player since his early teens, he knew he could compete but also had a clear interest in tech, sparked by building PCs with his uncle. The traditional path said he should pick one. But collegiate esports gave him a new option: do both.
When De Carlos discovered that some colleges offer scholarships for esports, everything changed. He began researching programs, asking the right questions, and making smart choices not just about where he’d play, but what kind of academic flexibility he’d have. After visiting Fisher College, seeing the trophies, and meeting the staff, he knew he had found the right fit.
What sealed it? Realizing that one of his childhood esports heroes had also played at Fisher. For De Carlos, it was a sign.
Collegiate esports done right, becomes a platform for growth across three key areas:
1. Dual Development: Academic + Competitive
De Carlos will pursue a Computer Science degree online, giving him the flexibility to balance classes, practices, tournaments, and content creation. His setup allows him to study at his own pace while leveling up competitively in 2K and possibly Smash Bros too.
2. Content Creation as Career Capital
Unlike many players who wait to “make it” before building their brand, De Carlos is creating content now. He’s active on TikTok and YouTube, blending gameplay with personality and learning to monetize through engagement. He’s not just playing, he’s building a following.
3. Leadership by Example
He’s not going alone. As his friends watched him find opportunities with us, he helped them apply too, connecting them with collegiate esports directors and showing them what’s possible. In doing so, he’s becoming a community leader.
When players are supported through academic structure, flexible scheduling, and mentorship in content creation, several things happen:
They stay in school and on track to graduate.
They grow as competitors and creators simultaneously.
They learn to manage time, performance, and personal branding, skills every employer values.
For De Carlos, it’s about opening doors for himself, his friends, and the next generation of students who love gaming but also want more.
De Carlos’s story isn’t rare, it’s just under-told. There are hundreds of talented young players out there wondering if they can balance their passion with their education. And the answer, increasingly, is yes if they find the right program, support system, and structure.
He’s got a long journey ahead, filled with practices, deadlines, tournaments, and uploads. But he’s walking into it fully aware, prepared, and excited.