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Davis embracing Team USA leadership role

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

Anthony Davis is eager, not to mention proud, to accept the physical risks that go with playing without pay for Team USA.

With the FIBA World Cup approaching this weekend, Davis said playing for his country does more than make him a better player. It’s also a way to spend his offseason doing what he loves while showing his appreciation for others who’ve made greater sacrifices, and taken far greater risks, in the name of patriotism.

“I love playing for USA basketball. Some guys look at it as they don’t get paid, so you don’t have to play or whatever,” Davis said on a conference call with reporters on Thursday. “I love playing the game of basketball and any time I get a chance to represent my country, especially for all the servicemen and women who do so much for us, I think it’s a great opportunity to show your appreciation.

“So I love doing things like this and I look forward to future years playing for USA Basketball.”

His focus, however, is the much more immediate future. Namely, Saturday, when Team USA opens group play against Finland in Bilbao, Spain.

The risks of playing in events like the FIBA World Cup became magnified earlier this month when Indiana Pacers star Paul George broke his right leg in a stomach-turning collision under the basket.

Davis said he, like many on the court and around the world, were shaken by George’s injury, which he called gruesome. But the 21-year-old Davis said he and fellow US teammates are now committed “to keep moving forward and try to win this (championship) for him.”

Certainly, the last person who was going to dissuade Davis from playing was his Pelicans coach, Monty Williams, who is an assistant with the US Team under head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Williams believes the environment created by USA basketball has only accelerated Davis’ growth.

“He’s understanding that he is a lead dog among a number of alpha dogs,” Williams said of his 21-year-old power forward. “Mentally I think he’s taken that up a few notches and I think Coach K has been a big part of that, pushing him to be a leader, pushing him to be the guy on the team.

“When you think about the names on this team and you look at the impact on the game that he has, you seldom say there’s a better player on the floor than Anthony, so that’s got to help him from a confidence standpoint,” Williams added.

Indeed, Davis has been Team USA’s leading scorer during its four World Cup tuneup games against Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Slovenia. He has averaged 13.8 points to go with 13.5 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game.

Davis, 6-foot-10, 237 pounds, said his role as a leader on the floor and in the locker room “definitely got bigger” after George was injured and other prominent players decided against playing.

And it’s a role he’s embraced.

“Getting an opportunity to be one of main guys on team means a lot,” Davis said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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