Sadness, depression, and a sense of wanting to give up were all emotions Londen Pope used to explain how he felt when dealing with his mental health battles. 

“Basketball can be overwhelming at times, so taking a break and playing a different sport is a great way to support both my mental and physical health,” said Pope.

Pope transferred to William Paterson University in 2024 and quickly built strong connections that he continues to value each day. 

During transfer orientation, he met one of his closest friends, Natalya Calderon, another student who had recently transferred to the university.

Originally from Sicklerville, New Jersey, Pope is now a junior majoring in sports management and plays for the men’s basketball team at William Paterson. 

He was forced to transfer after Cabrini University was bought out by Villanova. Pope’s decision was made after he attended a tour at William Paterson. “They had a better major for my career path, much more diversity, and a fairly homey campus,” Pope said.

“I would say I got better when I got here,” said Londen Pope, a student-athlete whose deep empathy for both himself and those around him helps shape how he navigates mental and emotional challenges.

A look at Pope’s stats shows noticeable improvement since his transfer. “I got better playing here,” he said. From a 25.9% field goal percentage to a 37.8%, you can see Pope’s efficiency drastically improved from his sophomore to junior season.

It’s also clear that his growth isn’t just limited to the court. Through his friendships and day-to-day campus life, Pope has found a real sense of belonging.

The warmth of the whole-hearted friendships you see and feel while being around them. The constant laughs and ear-to-ear smiles of Pope and his friends create memorable moments when they hang out together.

“I see him almost like a brother,” said Skylar Ellis, a close friend and teammate for both intramural flag football and basketball. 

That bond is just one example of the strong relationships Pope has built that play a major role in his personal growth and adjustment since transferring.

“To take a break and play a different sport is always good for my mental health,” Pope shared, explaining that putting all his time and energy into just basketball can become mentally draining.

His openness raises important questions about how student-athletes manage stress, burnout, and emotional well-being while balancing their athletic commitments. 

When asked if he feels like he deals with any mental health issues, Pope was honest and confessed, “In the past, I would say I did. I definitely had some complications with mental health, but when I got here, it got significantly better.”

He said that playing flag football and surrounding himself with good friends has made a real difference. From the way he talks about his routine, it seems like he’s in a much better place, mentally, physically, and just overall with

how he’s living his life now.

Shadowing Pope, you wouldn’t immediately guess he had ever struggled with his mental health. After the flag football game, while most of the team was laughing and playing around, Pope sat quietly on the bench.

He sat there packing the things he used to play his flag football game while listening to his friends bounce and cheer around, laughing and joking, just happy to have gotten out and played another great game. 

While still gathering his things, he sat there with a small smile on his face that explained that he had enjoyed his time being out with friends. That’s when he gave his interview about Hoopdreamz 4.0.

In that moment, you could realize Pope was more of a down-to-earth, reserved person who tends to stay to himself while just happy to be around. Every answer was genuinely answered, and every word softly spoken. You can tell Pope was very excited to have been interviewed.

Making sure all my analyses were correct, I interviewed a couple of sources he had considered his “closest friends.”

Matti Chiera explained that she and Pope are often around each other due to their similar schedules, since they’re both student-athletes at the university. She clarifies that Pope is very outgoing in their friendship and gives great advice when she needs it.

Driving a little deeper into their relationship, I wanted her to reveal if Pope had described any mental health issues to her.

Chiera kind of shied away from the question but answered, “Londen comes to me about different scenarios of things that are going on in his life; sometimes we have our days where we’re both down about our sport.”

The statement from Chiera clarified that behind all the plays, the laughing, and the jokes, sports burn out our athletes, and we need to bring the spotlight to the fact that they are people as well.

When it comes to mental health, is it really just the pressure of sports that causes a disruption in mindfulness? Or is it the long, exhausting days that come with being a college student? Could it be something happening at home, or something deeper going on quietly inside someone’s mind?

“The way I was able to not sit in my room and overthink all day was because I would make myself engage in other activities.” Pope seems to be a compulsive thinker—someone who could easily overthink himself into a hole if given the time. But staying engaged in sports helps him avoid falling into those negative patterns and keeps his mind focused on something positive.

Pope’s friend from orientation, Calderon, confirms that Pope is more on the emotional side. “He keeps to himself because you can tell he has an angry side or he gets really sad easily; he’s better at controlling it now, so he keeps more to himself in these moments,” stated Calderon.

Calderon made it seem like Pope reaches out to her pretty frequently for help with situations regarding his mental health.

After asking Pope how he handles all the mixed emotions that come with life and sports, he shared, “I’ve learned that instead of letting things build up inside me, as soon as I feel something, I let it be known to somebody. In any type of way I am feeling, whether it’s happy, sad, or irritated, I’ve learned to express it the right way instead of letting it build up inside and eat me alive.” 

This kind of open communication seems to be his healthiest outlet, alongside playing sports and spending time with close friends.

Regardless of all Pope’s situations and difficulties, he is just an overachiever who wants to reach his life goals.

Pope carries such a strong sense of self-confidence when it comes to his future in the sports management world. This tenacity is what is going to catapult him on his journey to success, not only in his career but with his mental health as well.

When being categorized with the typical male athlete in his decision to pursue sports management, Pope fired back, “I’m going to be different because I’m actually going to do it, trust me. And I’m going to be a damn good one.”