issues - Seton Hall University

On and Off the Court
Head Coach Tommy Amaker (second from right) formally introduced the newest members of the men’s basketball
team — (from left) Damion Fray, Andre Barrett (in front), Eddie Griffin and Marcus Toney-El — at the Pirate
Blue Salute (see page 43). The quartet makes up the number-one recruiting class in the country.
points, 12 rebounds and
10 blocked shots).
Fray is considering a
major in business. “I’ve
learned not to take anything
for granted,” he says. “My
father owns a construction
business in Jamaica. If basketball
is not in my future,
I’d like to expand his business
throughout the
Caribbean. Though I’m
here on a basketball scholarship,
I’m going to work
hard both on the court and
in the classroom.”
Both Toney-El and
Barrett are interested in the
University’s communication
program. “I’d love to play
for the NBA after I graduate,”
Barrett notes. “But if
that doesn’t work out, I
might pursue a job in the
communications or business
industry — maybe even
become a sports commentator.
Whatever I choose, I
believe in giving it my all.”
Toney-El hopes to give
something back to his
native East Orange. “When
I graduate, I want to live a
comfortable life and go as
far as my potential takes
me,” he says. “Most importantly,
I’d love to go back to
my community and build a
recreation facility. Instead of
the kids roaming around the
streets with nothing to do,
they would have a safe
place to go.”
Well into their second
semester at Seton Hall, the
freshmen are more at ease
with college life. “When
I first arrived on campus,
students would come up to
me to say hello, introduce
themselves and wish me
luck in the upcoming
season,” Toney-El smiles.
The team felt everyone’s
support as the Pirates
had their “first game, first
bucket, first win,” he says.
“We want this Seton Hall
team to be a dynasty like
no other.”
Fray’s playing for Seton
Hall brings an added benefit
for his family. Born in
Jamaica, he had moved to
New York to play the game.
“Because my parents still
live on the island, my mom
has never seen me play,” he
explains. “My family was
finally able to watch my
team’s games on television.”
Adds Fray, “I hope our
team is able to go all the
way this season. We’re
a young team with a lot
of talented players like
Darius Lane, Ty Shine and
Desmond Herod. As freshmen,
we’ve been given
the opportunity to add to
that talent.”
Confident in their capabilities
as a team, the freshmen
know that the road to
victory is bumpy. “It is all
about pride and striving for
your goals,” Toney-El
explains. “If you have
pride in yourself, you are
going to succeed.”
For Barrett, the key to
the Pirates’ future success
is simple. “It all comes
down to teamwork,” he
stresses. “In the end,
we’re going to succeed
as a team. We’re going to
be focused and we’ll give
it our all. We came here
together, and we’re going
to stick together.”
WINTER 2001 25