Waterbury native Mikey West began to live out a dream this past season as a freshman at Bethune-Cookman University.
“It was a great experience playing at the Division I level, to be able to measure my talents with the best competition around the world is a blessing,” West said.
West played in 21 of 30 games his freshman season. He averaged 5.2 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists in 17 minutes per game. West shot 73.3 percent at the foul line.
“To play against those high major schools such as Seton Hall, Utah, UCF, and many others allowed me to measure my game,” West said. “Some things I took from playing at the Division I level are having confidence in yourself and being mentally prepared.”
It wasn’t the easiest season for West personally. He missed a total of nine games over two different stints, the first due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the second due to a shoulder injury. It was an adjustment to go from Lee Academy (prep) to Division I college basketball.
“Division I is more fast-paced and some of the differences, alongside of the faster pace I would say, are guys are stronger and more experienced,” West said.
West’s biggest game of the season came against Air Force on Nov. 21. He played 36 minutes and tallied 13 points, three assists, two rebounds and one assist. West had a season-high seven assists against Johnson University on Dec. 15, but also posted six assists at Seton Hall University (Nov. 28) and five assists at Middle Tennessee State University (Nov. 12). He had six rebounds against both Bryant University (Nov. 20) and Johnson University.
Photo credit: Bethune-Cookman University athletics
