Staten Island, NY – With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, Wagner men's basketball senior guard Michael Carey (Nassau, Bahamas/Lamar Consolidated [San Jacinto College]) looks back on what the previous two years have meant to him at Wagner College, in his own words.

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Dear Wagner College Community,
 
As I enter my last week on campus, I think back to one day, in particular, August 26, 2015. On that day, I boarded a flight destined for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. I promised myself that, in a million years, I never wanted to live in New York City.
 
Not to say I disliked the city, but being born in Nassau, Bahamas, and residing in Texas for so long, I was accustomed to the warm weather. I am not a fan of cold weather. After tossing around the idea, I knew that at this point in my life, I was finally about to live out one of my long dreams at the age of 22 years old. I was getting the opportunity to play for a Division I program in the game that I loved.
 
After two long years in the southeast of Texas at San Jacinto College, followed by nine months in the Canary Islands competing at the Canarias Basketball Academy, I found a sense of appreciation for life and the game of basketball, filled with a new drive, destiny, and purpose. 
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Some may call junior college basketball "prison" or "basketball rehabilitation." To me, it was my "second chance." 
 
It was nearing the last month of classes at San Jacinto, and I had still not received an offer. Many schools showed interest, but, I was once again one class short of being cleared by NCAA Clearinghouse.
 
The bigger universities I guess thought, "all was lost for Mike Carey, again." My basketball tombstone was starting to read like this, "What he could have been... What If?..." Back to the proverbial corner of doubt. No school caught interest in me, so the wait was on... Again!
 
The last week of classes, right in the heart of final exams, my cell phone rang and the call was from Associate Head Coach, Michael Babul from Wagner College. Coach Babul went through the regular recruiting talk, and before long, we scheduled a time in which I would visit Wagner College located in New York City, the place where I had promised myself that, in a million years, I never wanted to live. The "City That Never Sleeps," "The Big Apple," "The Place Where Dreams Come True." After my visit, it was the best decision I could ask for.
 
After visiting and taking a tour of campus, I told head coach, Bashir Mason, before I left, that I will be committing to the program. As soon as word got out, I got calls from various people: "Why did you choose such a small school?... Where's Wagner?"... And of course, the famous, "You Could Have Went Bigger!"
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August 26, 2015... Coming off the plane, I was greeted by one of the Wagner assistant coaches, whom I later come to think of as a father. His name: Scott Smith, however, he told me to refer to him as "OG." He gave me a long talk upon arriving on campus about what the team needs and how I fit into that equation.
 
Here I was embarking on a new basketball journey. Recruited out of high school by a Big 12 school (Texas Tech) along with others, and I'm now joining a program that won ten games in 2014-15!
 
Many say that I was a key reason for the change, but I feel I wasn't. I was a piece of the puzzle that came in at the right time, in the right situation. From the first moment stepping onto the court of the Spiro Sports Center, I could see the level of talent in these young men, that same hunger I had was also in my teammate's eyes.
 
What could I bring to this team? I gave a sense of invincibility, a sense that anything could happen.
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2015-16... Year One at Wagner.. 2015-16 Northeast Conference (NEC) Regular Season Champions... Reached the NEC Title Game for the first time since 2005... Lost in the title game, but qualified for the 2016 National Invitational Tournament (NIT)... Shocked the nation in beating the No. 1 seed, St. Bonaventure, on their home court in recording the program's first-ever postseason win.
 
It was a fantastic year for us, but what would year two bring for the Seahawks? For me?
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November 11, 2016.... Wagner vs. No. 18 The University of Connecticut... Gampel Pavilion... Wagner held 18th-ranked UConn to 36 percent shooting en route to a near wire-to-wire 67-58 victory. The only lead of the game for the Huskies was 2-0 with 19:23 left in the first half. Wagner handed the Huskies their first loss in a home opener at Gampel as UConn came in 27-0 in such games.
 
2016-17... Year Two at Wagner... NEC First-Team... NEC All-Tournament Team... All-Metropolitan Third Team selection... NABC District 18 First-Team... Second-most career double-doubles.
 
In my two years here on Grymes Hill, I could go on and on, but, I want to take the time to acknowledge the school, the Wagner Community, and most importantly, the Wagner coaches administration for allowing me the chance to come here and live out my dream.
 
The small school on the hill, which many people don't know about, that's little by little starting to get the recognition it deserves. I remember President Guarasci telling me that many alumni never leave Wagner, they always stay close or come back. He is right, however, for me, I will be leaving Wagner, though this place will always have a special place in my heart.
 
I want to thank the facilities and maintenance personnel for the work that they put in and waiting on me late into the night after using the gym to better my craft. Additionally, I want to thank the Sports Information staff for all the exposure they've given me. 
 
I thank the many friends I've encountered who showed me various personalities; giving me the confidence to be able to interact with anyone in the world. I won't ever forget the memories I've accumulated here.
 
It's not goodbye… I prefer, 'til the next time'.
 
Sincerely,
Michael Carey

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