How the Rochester alumnus has converted his experiences as a student and an athlete into career success on Wall Street.
Since graduating, former University of Rochester basketball star Jon Onyiriuka ’08 has traded jump shots for market calls. Now, as the managing director in US case equities sales trading at BTIG, a boutique global financial services firm based in Manhattan, he brings his court-honed instincts to high finance. There, he runs point between institutional clients and financial markets, managing relationships with hedge funds, mutual funds, and pension funds.
“Playing basketball has had a lot to do with it getting me where I am today,” says the 6’7” tall Onyiriuka, who started shooting hoops as a kid in Corning, New York. At Rochester he went on to become a four-year starter who finished his career with 1,267 points (seventh all-time entering the 2013–14 season), 829 rebounds (fifth), and 109 blocks (fifth) with three appearances in the NCAA tournament.

Although his college years were full of athletic accomplishments, Onyiriuka’s overall undergraduate experience wasn’t just about personal achievements—it was also about creating lasting relationships and learning valuable life lessons.
“Jon brought positive energy to everything, enhancing every environment with his likable personality and strong presence,” says Luke Flockerzi, the men’s basketball coach. “He made hard work enjoyable, pushed teammates to excel, formed lasting bonds through sport, and was a key part of our exceptional 2008 class of students and athletes.”
Onyiriuka emphasizes that the things often taken for granted in sports, such as being a team player, striving for your individual best, and managing your time well, directly apply to workplace professionalism. He adds that “as alumni, the workplace gives us great opportunities to apply and build on skills we learned and practiced as college athletes,” drawing parallels between practice habits and workplace professionalism.
A game-changing decision—plus a pivot
Despite having Division I aspirations, when it came time to choose a college, Onyiriuka chose the University of Rochester, a Division III school known for its academic rigor. He wanted a balanced academic and athletic experience more than he wanted to play for a Division I team.
During a car ride home from a campus visit to Rochester, Onyiriuka’s father posed a question that crystalized Onyiriuka’s priorities. He asked his son, “Seven years from now is anyone going to ask where you played college basketball?”

Onyiriuka’s transition from athlete to aspiring finance professional wasn’t his initial academic or career goal. In fact, he started at Rochester as an electrical and computer engineering major. “I changed my major to financial economics after a lot of self-reflection, at a time when I was really looking at how I could build on my natural strengths and interests,” he says.
Onyiriuka overcame obstacles along the way, too. For instance, as a junior, he didn’t get the summer internship he wanted in New York City. Geared for student athletes, it often served as a feeder program to a Wall Street career. That setback ended up turning into as a catalyst for growth.
“It became clear, real fast, that I’d have to find something else to do that summer,” he says, noting that he did end up getting an internship at a Rochester-area financial firm. “That whole experience opened my eyes. It helped me dig deep at what I could have done better, which turned into a great life lesson.”
In his professional life, Onyiriuka draws heavily on the lessons he learned through sports, in the classroom, and from his overall student experience. He credits the discipline, time management, and teamwork skills he honed on the basketball court to his success in sales and banking. Onyiriuka also stresses the importance of networking, professional relationships, and leaning into the benefits of being part the University’s large alumni community.
“All of this can help you better understand yourself and what motivates someone else,” he says. “And with that knowledge always growing, you start operating in service to others—with that comes a positive feedback loop that ends up circling right back to you.” This approach has benefitted Onyiriuka in his sales-focused career, where building genuine relationships is the key to success.
Giving back while paying it forward
As an alumnus, Onyiriuka continues to give back—as a guest speaker for Athletics and as a member of The Meliora Collective, an online platform for alumni, students, and the University of Rochester community that fosters personal and professional exploration. In 2024, he established the Onyiriuka Family Endowment for Men’s Basketball to provide ongoing programmatic support to the team. He is also a member of the George Eastman Circle, the University’s annual giving leadership society.
Adds Flockerzi, “Jon’s accomplishments as a student and an alumnus speak to his capabilities and work ethic. We are grateful to him for all his contributions to our program, including the endowment he created, which will forever benefit those students here who play men’s basketball.”
Although Onyiriuka no longer plays basketball every day, his competitive drive remains a key part of his daily life.
“I wake up before the 4 a.m. alarm because I’m excited to get the day started and be the best I can be,” he says. “I see every moment as an opportunity to show people that I have something to offer and that, together as a team, we can do great things for each other, our organization, and our clients—I owe so much of my life and career to what I learned at Rochester and my experience as a student.”