Former Wichita State men’s basketball player Evan Wessel is keeping to his roots.

Wessel decided to stay in Wichita after graduating to become a business development specialist at Stoutheart Financial Group, a private wealth advisory practice.

Wessel, a Wichita native, attended school at Wichita Heights High School, played football and basketball, and lead both teams to 6A state championships. After graduating, he attended WSU initially as an engineering major, but switched to a business major.

Wessel received a degree in business in 2015.

“I’m still in the business development role until I get all my licensing done,” Wessel said. “So I’m working in conjunction with our marketing director and planning different events since we do about one to two events per month.”

Stoutheart aims to assist people financially with issues including retirement planning strategies, estate planning strategies, and small business operations. Throughout the day, Wessel’s job is to meet with customers and employees to fulfill the community’s financial needs.

Wessel said he usually has meetings throughout the day with employees and customers concerning the work. Wessel is working his way up by taking business examinations to become licensed as an Associate Financial Adviser.

“I just passed my Series 66,” Wessel said. “I’m working a lot in terms with our marketing director and prospecting and putting on different events that we do.”

At work, Wessel said his clients frequently recognize him. Cheering on WSU basketball, buzz was eclectic when the company informed everyone that Wessel would be hired, he said.

“Some of them knew I started working here, and they were pretty excited about meeting me,” Wessel said. “They were real nice and have great things to say. There’s big Shocker fans around here.”

While he’s being recognized for playing at WSU and no longer playing collegiately, he now plays in a kickball league with the Young Professionals of Wichita through his work and a few other sports for fun.

“We sometimes play some pickup games and stuff,” Wessel said. “We’ll play all kinds of sports, not just basketball, but football. I’m actually playing in a kickball league, so it’s pretty fun.”

Although he still remains active in playing sports, Wessel said he has been busy trying to advance his career, while really miss playing with the Shockers.

“Once the games start going I’m sure I’m gonna start missing it more,” Wessel said. “Right now, I’ve just been busy on my own terms getting started in my career so I don’t have a lot of time to miss it, but like I said, I’m sure once the games start up again I probably will.”