Graduating is important to most college students, but for Weber State University’s Scott Bamforth, it holds a little extra importance.

“I’m happy that I’m in this position,” Bamforth said. “I think I’m the first one in my family to ever graduate, so that’s a huge accomplishment. I’m not too sure, but I’m the first one in a long time to graduate.”

Bamforth said that when he first started college, graduating wasn’t his focus, but as he’s gotten older, he’s started to realize the importance of getting a degree.

“I went to college to play basketball,” Bamforth said. “I was thinking I’m going to play basketball, and I’ll go to school because I have to so I can play. But as you grow older, you realize what a degree means and how it’s an accomplishment just like anything on the basketball court.”

With graduation a few days away, Bamforth is now looking toward the future. He said he hopes to continue playing basketball at some level.

“I’m working on getting an agent now,” Bamforth said, “then I’ll go from there. The plan is to move back to Albuquerque with my wife and son, and then we’ll just see how it goes from there.”

Bamforth said he’s enjoyed this year, both on the court and off of it.

“It’s actually been a really, really fun year,” Bamforth said. “I don’t think I could ask for more, aside from winning a championship . . . I’ve watched my son grow over this last year. Me and my wife and my son have grown as a family, and I’ve really grown as a person.”

Head coach Randy Rahe said Bamfoth has been vital to the team’s success over the past two years.

“He’s had a huge impact in his two years,” Rahe said. “His impact has been beyond basketball, this year especially. He’s taken that leadership role and absolutely did a great job with it.”

Rahe also said Bamforth has helped younger players develop throughout the course of this year, acting as a leader and friend to incoming players.

“He’s also taken some younger players and taken them under his wing, like Joel Bolomboy,” Rahe said. “He really took an interest in helping Joel out, and Joel progressed a lot because of that.”

In his time at WSU, Rahe said, Bamforth worked hard to get better and was always willing to put in the extra time required to improve his game.

“Damian Lillard is legendary for his work ethic here,” Rahe said, “but what people don’t understand is that Scott Bamforth is not far behind, if he is behind at all. He’s terrific as far as honing his skills. He never quit working. Off the court, he is a great kid and a great teammate.”

Throughout his life, Bamforth has faced many trials, from both his parents dying when he was young to complications after his son was born last year. Throughout it all, he said, he’s tried to stay positive. He said that after all the trials he’s had to go through, it will feel good to graduate and begin the next chapter in his life.

“It feels good,” Bamforth said. “It’s been a long journey of college to get to this point. It feels good to get a degree.”