Q: Three Things I Can’t Live Without...
A: 1. God 2. Family/friends 3. Basketball
Q: Why I Chose Stony Brook University...
A: I chose Stony Brook University because of its academics, coaches, and staff. When deciding where I wanted to go to college, my parents stressed the importance of picking an academic institution. Stony Brook is a Top 100 University and has a big reputation when it comes to academics ,so it was hard to say no. Upon meeting Coach Pikiell and his staff I fell in love with the University, as did my parents. I was told great things about Coach and his staff before considering Stony Brook as my new home and they’ve all come true since I’ve been here ? he is motivated and driven! He drives his energy into each player to make you see and do things that you never thought possible. When I visited Stony Brook I was fortunate enough to meet the president of Stony Brook, Dr. Shirley Strum Kenny. She has such an interest in our athletics program and its future success and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.
Q: Favorite class and why...
A: My favorite class this past semester was American Sign Language. I really enjoyed this class because it opened my eyes to the deaf culture and introduced me to their language. It taught me not to take my physical abilities for granted and to learn how to communicate with others using American Sign Language. A few of my teammates were in my class and now we try to apply it to our everyday living. When one of them forgot a pen, he signed me, asking for an extra one and I was happy that I could communicate using another language. We still have a lot to learn though and we’ll take Sign Language II next semester.
Q: One thing I have learned at Stony Brook that I will carry with me for the rest of my life is...
A: One thing that I have learned that I will carry with me for the rest of my life is that time is a virtue. Time flies and it never comes back. If you waste it, it’s gone. All you are left with in the end are memories, whether good or bad, and you can’t go back to relive or change them. Coach Pikiell teaches us that we should not take our time here for granted but to play and work hard as if each day, game, or moment is our last. We can not go back and play that game we did not try our hardest in. We can’t go back and study for the test that we did not prepare for. We should learn from our past and apply it to our future. He teaches us that the quality of hard work we put into the time measures our rate of success that we get in the end. We need to take that attitude out onto the court, but also use it in the classroom, and then when we go out into the world.
Q: My Dream Job, other than the NBA/WNBA, is...
A: I really just want to make a positive difference in other peoples’ lives. I’m not sure where that will lead me, but I feel I am on the right path right now. I have so many things that I want to be and many things I want to do, but I know that I will leave Stony Brook and do great things. I want my legacy to be a great one.
Q: The person, other than my parents, who has had the most influence on me is, and why...
A: My teammates have had the most influence on me. They are like my extended family and we around each other 24/7. When I went home for the Christmas holiday I actually missed them and I’ve never felt this way on any team sport of which I’ve been a part. We are like brothers and through the good and the bad we stand by each other’s side and we support each other no matter what any outsider may think or say about us.
Q: The best thing about being a Stony Brook Seawolf is...
A: The best thing about being a Seawolf is that you become part of a family that supports you and uplifts you as an athlete and as a human being. Being here is like no other experience you can imagine and we have the best support staff in the country. Our Athletic Director, Jim Fiore, is literally everywhere you turn, giving real life advice. Our academic advisor, Courtney Sanfelippo, is there before our first class in the morning and then stays at night to run our study hall and make sure we get all the academic support that we need. Lisa Cantara, our athletic trainer, is like our mom away from home and she makes sure we’re as healthy as we can be and keeps our morale high. Coach Van Dyke, our strength coach, annihilates our bodies but keeps getting us stronger and faster. We have 5 coaches who continue to teach us discipline and dedication on the court and in life. This is way more than I signed up for and I thank God each day for guiding me here. I have so many adults here who care about me and have created a home away from home.
Q: Most memorable moment as an athlete...
A: This moment is memorable, but not extremely happy, but it will remain stitched in my heart forever. After Manu’s mom passed away I will forever remember the meeting in the locker room where Coach Pikiell explained the efforts that many people made to help allow her to have surgery. These people, here and across the country, all came together as a team. It made me realize the amazing things that can happen when people work together. Regardless of the sport, or even no sport at all, people can make a big difference in other’s lives.
Q: What I did this week as a student (classes, tests, projects, study hall)...
A: We didn’t have classes this last week but I’ve been checking my fall grades online. My cumulative GPA is a 3.0 so my coaches and academic advisors are happy. However, my goal is to get it to a 3.4 so I have to put in some extra work this spring.
Q: What I did this week as an athlete (practice, games)...
A: Each day we practiced if we didn’t have a game and we lifted 3 times. We also had a lot of game film to watch, both of us and our opposing teams. We played a tough game against Cornell but we lost to them. Practice the next day was tough. Tonight we play UMBC so technically our record is 0-0, it’s a new beginning. Conference play begins all over so now is a great time for college basketball.
Q: Based upon my experiences growing up, my advice for young kids about school and athletics is...
A: I would tell young kids to take school seriously and learn to be disciplined in sport and in life. Our teachers, coaches, parents, and advisors are older than us and have experienced a lot of things we have not ? we should learn from them. My parents always told me to work hard in school but my grades were only mediocre. Then I started to get better at basketball but my grades in the last two years of high school had to be so much better than my first two years or I wouldn’t be able to play college basketball. I worked my butt off in school those last 2 years because I wanted to play college basketball. Had I listened to everyone earlier, my last two years of high school would not have been so hectic. I would tell young kids to try their hardest in school, all four years, because it is necessary to go onto college. Then they’ll need to continue to work hard every day in college too.
Q: Why I am looking forward to the America East Basketball Championship...
A: I am looking forward to the tournament because I want to go to the NCAA tournament. Winning the tournament is our ticket to the dance and I can’t wait. People only remember the winners so I want to finish with a winning season. Getting that America East Championship ring would be awesome.