I've shot a good number fo deer with a muzzleloader but never an elk. We'll be hunting during the rifle season in CO and I may bow hunt before that for both elk and deer as well as turkey.
As for the NBA - that is an awesome goal. You've probably never heard of Jeff Bosche but I would recommend reading a book that he wrote call "Long Shot: Beating the Odds to live a Jayhawk Dream." It talks about his career at KS and also about how he got there. Where do you want to attend/play college ball?