University of the Pacific men’s basketball player Moe Odum ’26 is laser focused on achieving his goal of playing professional basketball.

“My mom and dad put a basketball in my hand, young,” Odum said. “I was always playing. I’m from New York, so we don’t really stay in, we go to the park to play basketball.”

So when deciding where to pursue his collegiate career, he looked carefully at schools—and decided on a cross-country move to Pacific.

“I knew [I was going to Pacific] once I felt the genuine connection between me and Coach Levy and Coach Perry,” Odum said. “They were calling me every day recruiting me. When I came to visit, I committed on campus.”

Since making the nearly 3,000-mile journey to Pacific from his hometown in the Bronx, the sophomore guard hasn’t looked back.

Odum began his true freshman season in the fall of 2022. He played in 31 games in his first Tiger campaign, starting 18. He averaged 5.6 points per game, hit 13 three pointers and garnered 24 steals across 31 contests. Last year he was selected for the 2022-23 All-WCC Freshman Team.

Now in his sophomore season with the Tigers, Odum has become a staple in the Pacific lineup. Over the past year, his game has improved significantly. “My basketball IQ has gotten way better, and I’ve gotten stronger,” he said. “I have been instilled with more confidence by the coaching staff.”

Odum currently ranks second in the conference in assists, dishing out 20 through four games.

“It took him a while to get used to how physical the game is at this level,” said head coach Leonard Perry. “But by the end of December his freshman year, you could see his understanding of the game and situations become clearer. Now as a sophomore he has a much better understanding of what it takes to be an all-conference player.”

“His growth in the classroom has been the best part,” Perry added. “We look forward to watching where he takes these opportunities.”

A playmaker on and off the court, Odum is pursuing a degree in communications and a minor in music industry. He hopes to help the Tigers achieve a winning record and earn an All-WCC honor at the end of the year.

The team plays at home against California State University Northridge on Nov. 29 before heading on the road to take on Northern Arizona Dec. 2. See the full schedule and purchase tickets online.