2017 BIG EAST Freshmen Fundamentals Photo Gallery

NEW YORK -- The BIG EAST Conference hosted its third annual Freshmen Fundamentals program, which is designed to assist men's basketball student-athletes make the transition from high school to college and the elite level of BIG EAST basketball.

Freshmen Fundamentals was held in New York City on Sept. 16-17.  All scholarship and walk-on freshmen from the league's 10 schools were invited to attend, as 35 student-athletes participated.

"We are very excited to host our third Freshmen Fundamentals program," said BIG EAST Senior Associate Commissioner for Men's Basketball Stu Jackson.  "Our incoming freshmen players have to deal with many new challenges on and off the court as high-profile athletes in the BIG EAST Conference.  We're pleased with the quality of our group of speakers and believe the program will be a valuable supplement to the ongoing efforts of our institutions to assist student-athletes with practices they can use during their college years and throughout their lives."

The Freshmen Fundamentals schedule for Sept. 16 included a panel of former BIG EAST players, as well as instruction from nationally acclaimed experts in media training and personal branding.  There was also a presentation on relationship management and safety.   At the conclusion of the Saturday sessions, the players visited the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in lower Manhattan. 

The panel of former BIG EAST players included Doug McDermott of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won National and BIG EAST Player of the Year honors in 2013-14 while at Creighton; Randy Foye, who was the BIG EAST Player of the Year in 2005-06 while at Villanova and has played in the NBA for 13 seasons; and Jerry Walker, who played at Seton Hall from 1991-93, and was the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in 1993.  After playing overseas for several years, he returned to his hometown of Jersey City, N.J. and formed Team Walker, a non-profit foundation that provides inner city youth with a safe and fun place to focus on academic and recreational activities.

On Sunday, the players toured Madison Square Garden, the home of the BIG EAST Tournament, and heard insights about planning for post-college careers.  Former NBA coach and player Sam Mitchell offered his perspectives about a career in professional basketball.  He has coached the Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey Nets and was the 2006-07 NBA Coach of the Year while with Toronto.  Mitchell also enjoyed a 13-year playing career with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers. 
  
Tarik Turner returned on Sunday to discuss how to take advantage of the educational, social and career-planning opportunities afforded by playing basketball at a BIG EAST school.

Saturday's media training session was conducted by Dan Broden, the President of Broden Communications and a national expert on communications and presentation skills.  Broden's clients include the NBA, NASCAR, top business executives and a variety of sports and entertainment figures.  DeNita Turner, President and CEO of Image Builders, Inc., spoke to the players on etiquette personal branding and how to create a positive personal image in campus and social settings.  She has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies, the NBA and WNBA. 

Kalimah Johnson, Founder and Executive Director of Sexual Assault Services for Holistic Healing and Awareness (SASHA) in Detroit, Mich., addressed the group for a session on Relationship Management and Safety.  She has worked in the sexual assault and domestic violence field for over 15 years with the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Detroit Police Department and Serenity Services. 

About The BIG EAST:
The BIG EAST Conference is an association of ten nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments.  The athletic programs of BIG EAST institutions provide national-caliber participation opportunities for more than 3,727 student-athletes on over 180 men's and women's teams in 22 sports.  Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST's members are located in seven of the country's top 36 largest media markets and include Butler University, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John's University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University.  For more information, visit www.bigeast.com.