casey rucks (AKA "ruckus")
brown hyena

(preliminary info subject to change)

Casey Rucks grew up to a college sport family. His father, Eddy Rucks, former head coach of Alabama Mammalian University’s championship basketball team, began Casey’s introduction to the sport early on. Casey was on track to be mentored into an elite collegiate basketball tradition until scandal at AMU back in 2007 forced his father out in disgrace. After the divorce of his parents and constant financial struggles, Casey still managed to maintain the focus instilled by his father (who he always insisted was innocent of his part in the department-wide scandal.) Casey would face yet another devastating set back in 2011, when a deadly tornado outbreak devastated the South, leveling Casey’s neighborhood and many surrounding counties. The massive tornado claimed everything but his mom, his sister and most of the clothes on their backs. It took another couple of years for Casey to get back on track, wanting to quit school all together to help rebuild and support his family’s life. Through encouragement (and support) from friends and family, Casey eventually clawed his way to college, enrolling in the very school his dad supposedly helped disgrace. Powering through the lingering stigma, Casey earned every inch of ground he gained in the since rebuilt basketball program. He considered the struggle and resulting rewards of being one of the best guards the school had seen since the incident as testament to his father’s lessons and his own resiliency.