Michael Nzei grew up in Nigeria, moving to the United States in 2012, just three years after starting to play basketball. In less than a decade, Nzei has transformed himself from a soccer-playing kid to a standout contributor in the Seton Hall men\u2019s basketball program on a strong BIG EAST team.<\/p>\n
An academic redshirt when he arrived at Seton Hall, Nzei took some time to adjust to college life after attending Our Savior New American High School in New York. But over time, he has turned himself into a standout student-athlete and, perhaps more impressively, into a face of the school.<\/p>\n
As part of the Seton Hall Blue Crew, Nzei leads tours for prospective students. Roberto Sasso, associate athletics director for student-athlete development and leadership, works near the coaches\u2019 offices, and says when they bring recruits and parents to campus, \u201cYou kind of hope that Mike walks by on those visits so you can stop him and say [to the recruits], \u2018Hey, this is a guy that I want you to be like by the time you\u2019re a senior.\u2019He\u2019s such a great ambassador for the University that you want to introduce him. Because you know if these student-athletes can turn out like Mike, not only will you have great people, the teams are going to win, too; that\u2019s the type of guy you want on your team.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the Pirates, the 6-foot-8 Nzei brings energy and rebounding skills to the court and a willingness, he says, \u201cto fit in where I\u2019m needed and where I can help the team. I\u2019m just a gamer.\u201d That doesn\u2019t always involve scoring a lot of points, but when Nzei does shoot he makes it count, converting roughly 60 percent of his shots from the floor.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s an impressive career for a player who spent his childhood kicking a ball, not shooting it. \u201cIt\u2019s a different ballgame,\u201d Nzei says of adjusting to the sport, \u201cbut everything carries over \u2014 strength, agility, change of balance, the footwork.\u201d<\/p>\n
An economics major, Nzei is consistently on the Dean\u2019s List, has been a member of the BIG EAST All-Academic team, and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court. He also serves on the student-athlete advisory committee, which discusses student-athlete welfare and NCAA legislation while promoting school spirit and community involvement.<\/p>\n
He also tutors other students. \u201cEverything he gets involved with he takes seriously,\u201d Sasso says. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t take anything for granted and he appreciates everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
This summer, Nzei will spend three months as an intern with the financial-services company Cantor Fitzgerald, where he\u2019ll learn everything from market analysis to sales to trades. Nzei thought he did well during a two-hour interview with the Cantor people, but didn\u2019t expect to hear about the position for a week. Instead they were on the phone later that day telling him they wanted him.<\/p>\n
Nzei misses Nigeria, where his family still lives, but he focuses on his life now and what\u2019s ahead. He works with a host family who serve as missionaries, talking with kids in poverty, teaching them about basketball, and telling them about his life story.<\/p>\n
He says he may someday return to Nigeria to help his homeland with what he\u2019s learned at Seton Hall and in the States. \u201cIf I said I didn\u2019t miss it, that would be a lie,\u201d Nzei says. \u201cBut if you keep looking back, it\u2019s going to hold you back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shawn Fury is an author in New York City.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Michael Nzei grew up in Nigeria, moving to the United States in 2012, just three years after starting to play basketball.<\/p>\n