New Kids on the Block is a series featuring student-athletes that are new to UTRGV this year to allow everyone to get to know the next generation of Vaqueros. Look out for features every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
 
Name: Malik Lawrence-Anderson
Sport: Men's Basketball 
 
1. Where are you from?
Kingston, Jamaica
 
2. What was it like growing up there?
It was very nice because I was lucky to grow up with my grandparents, who raised me the proper way.
 
3. What is your favorite childhood memory?
Having a family reunion in Ocho Rios.
 
4. What's was your go-to food as a kid? Is it the same now?
Fried chicken with rice and peas.
 
5. What's your favorite color?
Black 
 
6. What's your favorite book?
Rich Dad Poor Dad 
 
7. What was your favorite TV show as a kid? What about now?
It was Avatar: The Last Airbender, but now it is Billion or Ozark.
 
8. What's your favorite movie?
All the Fast and Furious movies.
 
9. What's your favorite song?
Best Day Ever by Mac Miller 
 
10. Who is your favorite musical artist/group?
PnB Rock and A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie 
 
11. Who is your favorite celebrity (non-sports)?
Manny Khoshbin
 
12. If you could have dinner with three people from history, living or dead, who would you choose and why?
Warren Buffet, Pablo Escobar and Kobe Bryant. I would want to pick their brains and try to learn from them.
 
13. Other than the sport in which you compete, what is your favorite sport?
The real football, otherwise known in America as soccer.
 
14. What are your favorite professional sports teams?
Chelsea F.C and the Los Angeles Lakers.
 
15. How did you become a fan of those teams?
I've been a Chelsea fan from birth as I was born in Chelsea. I became a Lakers fan around 2007 while watching with my grandma.
 
16. Who are your favorite professional athletes?
Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin, Didier Drogba, Pau Gasol, Wayne Rooney and Usain Bolt 
 
17. If you weren't competing in your sport, what would you be doing?
Either playing soccer or working in finance.
 
18. Why did you choose your sport?
It gave me the best opportunity to make something of myself and take me through school.
 
19. What is the biggest challenge of being a student-athlete?
Having to sacrifice certain opportunities.
 
20. When you have free time, what do you like to do?
I like to go to the beach.
 
21. What brought you to UTRGV?
The relationship I built with coach Jai Steadman.
 
22. What are your major/minor/planned areas of study?
I want to major in finance and minor in computer science.
 
23. What do you want to do after you graduate?
Work in finance and stay around basketball.
 
24. What's your dream job?
My dream job is not to have a job, but to own my own real estate empire, hedge fund and soccer team.
 
25. Who is the biggest inspiration in your life and why?
My grandpa is the biggest inspiration in my life because he has raised me as his own son when he never had to do that. Everything I do is to make him proud of the man he raised and one day be able to take care of him.
 
26. What is something most people don't know about you?
I constantly dream and make my own world daily, whether I'm sitting outside, walking, or in a moving vehicle.
 
27. Which New Kids on the Block song best describes you?
A. Games
B. Hangin' Tough
C. Step by Step
D. You Got It
E. Other __________________
 
28. Now be honest, had you ever previously heard of any of those songs or the band New Kids on the Block before?
Nope. Never.
 
29. Is there anything else you want everyone to know about you?
One day I'm going to be a millionaire.

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