Emmanuel Koveos
Emmanuel Koveos is a dedicated student-athlete at Georgia State, juggling his academic pursuits and athletic commitments. A junior psychology major with a focus on pre-medical studies, he’s earned several awards for academic excellence alongside his teammates in the Panthers basketball program, including a spot on the President’s List.
Interview by Paige White
Why did you choose Georgia State?
I chose Georgia State University because it gave me the opportunity to compete at a high level in basketball while also being in a strong academic environment. That combination is important to me. Being in the heart of Atlanta has also been a huge part of my experience. There are so many opportunities. In general, it’s a great place to live.
A lot of times, I find myself going to the Beltline, the mall or just trying different restaurants with friends. Academically, I’ve spent a lot of time at the STEM Tutoring Center and that has been the biggest difference-maker for me since I’ve been here. It’s helped me develop relationships with my professors and my classmates. Overall, I think Georgia State is a great place that allows students to grow into their full potential and that’s something I’ve been most thankful for.
How do you manage your time as a student-athlete?
Efficiency is the most important thing for me. I’m currently taking multiple challenging courses and being in these classes while balancing basketball has been a true test. There have been many situations when it’s been difficult to find enough time to study for a test or finish an assignment. However, these challenges gave me the chance to learn and grow.
The biggest lesson I learned this year has been the value of sacrifice. I’ve had to give up a lot of things I enjoy doing because I’m always on a time crunch. However, learning to be intentional about how I use my time has made my priorities stand out to me. I’m grateful that my priorities align with my goals.
Why did you choose to study psychology?
Psychology is one of the most interesting topics to me because it focuses on how people think and behave, especially in high-pressure situations. Being able to handle and understand these situations is important to me because I need to master them to succeed in both basketball and dentistry. My coach used to always say, “Competitive greatness is performing at your absolute best when your absolute best is needed.” That has stuck with me. Whether it’s a big moment in a game or working on a patient in the future, being able to stay composed and perform at a high level under pressure is everything. That’s something I feel like I thrive in.
What lessons have you learned from being a student-athlete?
Being a student-athlete has taught me a lot. I’ve learned what it means to be disciplined, time-efficient and, as I mentioned before, how to handle pressure. Learning how to sacrifice is also a big character-building lesson. Being a student-athlete has also shown me what it means to show up every day and do my absolute best to grow but also to stay consistent and keep showing up.
What does playing basketball mean to you?
Basketball means everything to me. I started playing back home in Rhodes, Greece. At first, it was because of my cousin. When I was little, I just wanted to play like him. I still remember my first day of practice when I joined a team called Kolossos. I was so excited just to finally play. Then I played for my hometown team, Ialysos. I remember staying after practice and shooting on the side hoops while watching the older players train. I wanted to get better so I could be like them.
After practice, my grandfather would pick me up, and I’d go home to a home-cooked meal from my mom or my grandmother. That was my routine, and when I look back at my childhood, those are the moments I think about. Basketball is big in Rhodes but not many people have played at this level in America. Coming from a small island in Greece, I’m taking advantage of my opportunity here because I know this doesn’t come often. Thinking back to where I’m from always gives me perspective, keeps me grounded and reminds me not to take anything for granted.
What are your goals for the future?
My goal is to take basketball as far as it can take me. That might mean playing professionally somewhere in Europe for a couple of years. When the “basketball stops bouncing,” I’m excited to go into the dentistry field. I also have a strong natural interest in business and entrepreneurship, so I’m open to building in different areas. However, dentistry excites me most because it’s such a unique field that allows me to truly make an impact on people’s lives.
What is your motivation?
My parents are my biggest motivation. I honestly can’t even put into words how much they’ve sacrificed for me to be in the position I am in today. I could talk forever about them and my family, but there’s no way to fully explain everything they’ve done for my brother and me.
What made you decide to be a dentist?
I think there is no other field like dentistry. I’ve seen people come in on their worst days, dealing with pain, and then just a couple of hours later, they leave with relief and almost immediate satisfaction. Being able to do that for someone is just the most incredible feeling. Though I haven’t done that yet, I’ve been very fortunate to have shadowed the best dentists and seeing the work they’ve done and the way they’ve changed people’s lives has been really inspiring.
Confidence is another thing. There are a lot of people who aren’t happy with their smile and being able to change that and help someone feel confident and comfortable with themselves again is powerful.
I also love giving back to the community. Even with basketball this past year, I worked with KIPP Soul Primary School in the Athletes as Mentors program. Some of my teammates joined me. We went to the kids’ practices, helping and sharing words of encouragement and being there for them. I thought it was important for them because I wish I had someone to guide me back when I was in Greece and this goal of playing college basketball in America felt so out of reach. I feel like dentistry will also allow me to give back to my community in a much bigger, more impactful way.
