My name is Caleb Eaves. I was born in Mississippi at Keesler Air Force Base to Wade and Tylie Eaves. My dad is a 20-year Air Force Veteran and I lived in lots of places before my dad retired from service and we moved to East Tennessee, which is where my mom was born and raised.
We are a sports family and always have been. Both my parents were athletes and played multiple sports in school. My dad even played football for an Air Force team in Japan! I started in organized sports when I was about four, but I know my dad started teaching me to catch a ball before I could even walk. I have two brothers. I am the middle. My big brother is Noah (C/O 2025), and he plays golf, football and soccer. And my little brother is Isaac (C/O 2029). He plays basketball and soccer like me. We also have a dog named Diesel. He’s a maltepoo and he’s, like, 98 in dog years now.
I have played the game of basketball all my life, but I didn’t really, truly fall in love with it until the summer I turned 10 years old. That summer, something clicked. I quietly practiced every day for hours a day and didn’t tell anyone. I just remember thinking “I really love this, but I suck. I don’t want to suck anymore.” So while my friends were riding bikes or going to the pool, I was in my neighbor’s driveway with a basketball.
My mom, who loves almost all sports and is probably as competitive as my brothers and me, coached my rec team that following winter and we only got to have one practice before they scheduled our first game. We spent most of that one-hour time just trying to learn who everyone was and what positions they might play. Mom was braced for a rough first game, but I managed to score 12 points and found out that all that practice on my handles had given me an edge. We won!
I remember my mom being so excited! My friend’s dad said, “I didn’t know he could play like that!” To which my mom replied with a laugh, “Neither did I!” She told me later that during the game she just tried to act cool and pretend like she knew all along, but inside she was freaking out. It was the most fun I had ever had in my life and from that day on, I was a hooper.
I’m a big believer that a man is shaped not just by how he plays, but also by how he lives. I am a Christian and an active member of my church and I try to put as much energy into my faith as I do into my sports. I mess up and make mistakes and fall down, but I trust God through it all and I give Him glory for all the good things in my life, and that includes basketball.
I’m blessed with a fantastic family; my parents, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are very close. They are my cheering section and my biggest fans. My parents especially. They both invest so much time and effort to help me be the best I can be and they always show up for me. We talk through every game, good or bad. My whole family is great. We like to spend time together chilling and enjoying life’s simpler moments. I have a great group of friends, too. They are hilarious and so fun.
Let’s see, what else? Oh, I have an eclectic taste in music and food. I like so many different types of music and so many different types of food – but, I’d say my spirit food is anything Asian. And, I’ve never met a buffet I didn’t like.
Thanks for taking time to learn a little more about me. You can connect with me through my contact page or on social media. In the meantime, my stats, news and blog will be updated regularly. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
