Name: Jameel Warney
Year: Senior
Major: Multiple Disciplinary Study
Hometown: Plainfield, New Jersey
You tried lots of sports as a kid. Why did Basketball finally stick?
Jameel: “I loved the game. I watched a lot of it on TV; the NBA, college basketball. I felt like, as a kid, I played many sports and basketball just panned out for me because of some natural talent. Even though I was bad, I had a love for the game so I really wanted to keep on playing it.”
What motivates you to keep getting stronger every day?
Jameel: “Motivation to help my family out. Going over seas or hopefully making it into the league could provide what they provided for me; all those sacrifices they made. And just wanting to be the best every day and play people who are better than me and proving people wrong.”
Can you describe the feeling you get when you run onto the court every game?
Jameel: “Away games it’s just trying to warm up and shut out the crowd. At home just playing in front of people that love me, playing in front of the community that I love, playing for my coach who I love, the coaches, staff, teammates, the athletic trainers…everybody who made me, me. I like playing for them.”
With all the community support, does it ever become too much?
Jameel: “No. I feel like the fans look up to me and I actually look up to them, too.”
You said you’ve always wanted to take care of your mom. How has she responded to your success?
Jameel: “Oh she loves it. I actually made her a Twitter account so she can see all my success. Most people really admire me out here at Stony Brook and it’s just great to see my mom know that I’m making something out of my life.”
What do the Stony Brook team and coaches mean to you?
Jameel: “Well everything. I’d run through a brick wall for them. Anything the coaches ask me to do, I’m doing it. Anything my teammates want from me, anything I can help them with, I’m down to do it.”
Is there a point in your life you look back on as your proudest moment?
Jameel: “Graduating from my Catholic school and finding a way to be eligible for Stony Brook. After all the things I did in my Catholic school to try to get there. It really helped that I had people supporting me for the whole four years, even when things were bad.”
What advice would you give to your freshman self?
Jameel: “Sit back, it’s gonna be a long ride, and just cherish everything because it’s a once in a lifetime experience.”
How has your journey as a Seawolf changed you as a person?
Jameel: “Well now I love Long Island. *laughs* Just cherishing the community and being respectful to everybody and just knowing that I’m a big guy around here. I gotta be respectful and can’t do anything bad.”
What do you want your legacy to be on and off the court?
Jameel: “Just being a winner and a great guy.”
Photos courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics, Frank Fumelli, and Jameel Warney