The Game in a Deeper Lens: Dalton Donovan

By Khalil Cook

 Dalton Donovan is a student-athlete at the University of New England entering his junior year

Basketball first started as just a dream for Dalton Donovan as ever since the young age of eight, he’s had a love and passion for the game. “I remember vividly watching Kobe Bryant play as a young kid and dove deeper into how much hard work and dedication that he put into his craft. I wanted to emulate him in any way.” From this point on, the game of basketball went from just a dream and pastime to something that drove him into a young career based on his determination and perseverance to be great. 

A significant turning point for Dalton was landing at UNE. “I recall telling my high school coaches that I wanted to play college basketball, and they told me to work on being a team manager of some sort.” This made him want to work even harder on his craft, defying obstacles that were set by his peers, and he held on to this for as long as he played. He started to spend hours in the gym, practicing on the weekends although most people would not be doing much, and gaining a mindset that was centered on showing that he would be the hardest worker even if that meant he had to do way more than others. Dalton wanted to prove to others and most importantly himself, that if he put the work in, results would follow. 

Dalton’s journey began in a small town called Holderness, New Hampshire. He knew right away that he wouldn’t be the most naturally gifted athlete or player, but knew that hard work could help him with the game that he loves. “I was inspired by Kobe’s Mamba Mentality, which is something that I have even posted on my wall to this day. I won’t let anyone outwork me.” He attended Holderness Prep School, which had an early college type of feel. “I always felt that the transition from prep school to college would be easy as I felt as I was an adult at a very early age.” The atmosphere at his school was very competitive, as he competed against some of the top high school talent in the entire country. On top of this, the academic course load was rigorous, but that motivated Dalton even more. “The transition to UNE felt more manageable because of the workload, the balance between classes and basketball, and the expectations.”

A significant turning point for Dalton was of course landing at UNE. He was told that he wouldn’t have a guaranteed spot on the roster, and that put forth a huge goal for him to achieve. “I went back to what coaches told me about making it to the next level and how I wouldn’t be able to make it happen. I knew that the work was just beginning and I had to keep going.” This dedication to the game that he loved pushed him to making the final roster. With him now being on the roster, he has accepted a sometimes overlooked, but very important role on the team as someone who infuses the locker room with his energy and love for his teammates. His story is about becoming the most committed player on the floor rather than the most gifted one. 

“My story is just getting started, what keeps me going is thinking back at that little kid who just wanted to see his dreams come true, and to see it happening in real time is super surreal to me.” Dalton’s story is compelling because it reveals a side of the game of basketball that sometimes isn’t looked at. The game is more than just hitting shots, having the best stats, or winning all of the awards; it has a whole other side, which is going through early mornings, having uncertainty or doubt about your ability, or just even receiving criticism from people that you feel had your best interest. Dalton’s story shows that even if stacked up against the odds, you can pull through if you simply just believe. It’s a very cliche saying, but believing in yourself and putting everything into your dream can get you there. He recalls what it was like to be told that he didn’t belong, so he doesn’t take any chance for granted.