Pasha Goodarzi Now a Spartan

Goodarzi signs his National Letter of Intent

As Camilla Eyring Kimball so spot-on offered, "You do not find the happy life. You make it.” In any life endeavor, another prominent component to success is having the right people in your corner. Pasha Goodarzi lives these truths and doubled down in the past couple of years. Now the 6-foot-3 Valley Christian High (San Jose) guard is headed to San Jose State University to play for the Spartans.

"I credit my last two years with the 16U Oakland Soldiers and Mark Olivier, the program founder and president," Goodarzi explained. "Some coaches thought other shooters were better than me and most said I wasn't a D1 player, but he believed in me before I believed in myself. He made a place for me and always had my back." One can bet Olivier was at least internally mouthing "I told you so" when Goodarzi totaled 19 points, including 7-for-8 from the field, and dished out four assists in a game at the 2022 Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).

Goodarzi is sporting the Spartan's uniform

The second critical pairing began when the SJSU reached out to Goodarzi. "I felt wanted and I fit in. I developed good relationships with Coach Tim Miles and Assistant Coach Damany Hendrix.

How It Began

The Spartans initial interest in Goodarzi began in the summer of his sophomore year, reaching out here and there by phone. It increased to 4-5 calls a week before he officially signed in November 2022.

Goodarzi's official visit with the SJSU Spartans took place in mid-October. "It was lots of fun. The coaching staff first went to dinner on Friday with me and my parents. Saturday consisted of breakfast with the coaching staff, watching game video, and touring the campus. Coach Miles was really honest. He basically said I was an elite shooter, not necessary athletic but a high character kid. They laid out their plans about how I would be used in the rotation as a freshman."

 Goodarzi on the SJSU campus with his father and mother

What's Next?

So what is Goodarzi doing now to ready himself for the much more physical college ball?

"I've been attending open gyms the last five weeks and my off-season training consists of working out six days a week, three times a day with Sundays off. It's a combination of lifting, conditioning, basketball skills development, with the focus on basketball and the body. I work out with Jon McCall, who drives two hours to get to San Jose. I want to be more than a shooter and possess the mindset of being ready to compete as a freshman."

First it was Olivier, devoutly believing in his protégé. Then Miles joined up, offering a scholarship. Pasha Goodarzi is making quite the young life.