VIEW FROM THE COURT When DeJuan Marrero (Class of 2017) began his college basketball career, Morehead State wasn’t on his radar. Growing up in Gary, Indiana, Marrero went to DePaul University in Chicago. He thought he had a solid path forward until an ACL injury changed everything. After the injury, his time at DePaul ended, and he moved to Marianna, Florida, to Chipola College, a junior college program, and began exploring his prospects for the next step in his journey. Then MSU Men’s Basketball Coach Sean Woods contacted him and convinced Marrero that MSU would be a good fit where he could develop into a player with pro basketball options. MSU turned out to be exactly what he needed. Marrero found a home and community with the MSU basketball program. When former assistant coach Preston Spradlin was promoted to head coach, the foundation Marrero built only strengthened.
Through the mentorship of Coach Spradlin and then Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Charles Holloway (Class of 2018), Marrero started developing more than just basketball skills. “I credit Preston, Dr. Holloway and others with a lot,” Marrero said. “I further developed my basketball skills, but I also learned discipline and focus; to treat others with respect and grace and not walk in the room thinking I know it all.” During his last year at MSU, Marrero was drafted to play professionally in Puerto Rico. Completing his remaining MSU classes online, he hit the court in the Caribbean, flying back to Kentucky that May to attend the graduation ceremony. For several years, Marrero spent spring and summer playing
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MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY THE MAGAZINE
