Buffs To Honor Four At Sunday's Senior Day vs. UCLA
February 23, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Every senior class is special to every coach, particularly if that coach recruited those players to campus.
It is why Senior Day — that day when a team's seniors play their last home game — is an emotional one for all involved.
That will no doubt be the case Sunday afternoon for Colorado coach Tad Boyle when the Buffs honor seniors George King, Dominique Collier, Tory Miller-Stewart and Josh Repine before their 2 p.m. game with UCLA at the Coors Events Center.
"The only thing that's sweet is that you know they're going to graduate," Boyle said Friday afternoon. "The bitter part is you don't get to coach them again. We have four terrific young men. They have all made contributions to this program in their own way and the four years they've been here, I've been really proud of all of them. When you talk about character, when you talk about trust, when you talk about work ethic — which are the three core values of our basketball program — all four of these kids have character, I trust them and they have great work ethic."
All four players were on at least one team that earned an NCAA Tournament berth. All were on teams that recorded wins over top-10 teams, and all four contributed — each in their own way — to establishing the foundation of Colorado basketball.
The fifth-year senior will leave Colorado with his name liberally sprinkled through the record books. With at least three games still to play, he currently ranks fifth on CU's all-time list in 3-pointers, sixth in 3-point attempts, ninth in games played and 17th in rebounding. He is also currently second in career 3-point percentage, with a chance to still move up into the top spot.
"The thing about George King that I will always remember and appreciate is his commitment to making himself a better player," Boyle said. "I can count on one hand the practices we've had where he has not stayed after and shot. Every single day. In the offseason he's committed to his game, committed to getting better. That started in his redshirt year. He took that work ethic, took that commitment, that daily grind-it-out mentality. … I really appreciate his commitment level and his work ethic. I think that's something that these freshmen, if there's a legacy he can leave them, it is that."
King, a fifth-year senior, redshirted his second year with the team, then earned honors as the Pac-12's most improved player in his sophomore season. He played on two NCAA Tournament teams, as a freshman and a sophomore, and was also on the team that produced one of the bigger wins in recent CU history, a heart-stopping 75-72 win over Kansas in 2013.
"That's one I'll always remember," King said. "I didn't play much, but that atmosphere was great. A fun game to be a part of. It was hot in the arena because there were so many people here, it was electric. It's the reason I came here, a big game and we came out with the win over a talented team. A lot of fun."
But more than any particular game, King said he will remember the friendships he developed with teammates during his time in Boulder.
"The brotherhood we had when I was here," King said. "The fun we had on and off the court. Just being a part of a special group of guys. Not that I'm not planning to get married anytime soon, Â but if I get married 100 years from now, I'm still inviting these guys. These are times you will never forget."
The senior from Denver will make his 67th career start Sunday. He currently ranks 19th in games played on CU's all-time charts, as well as 22nd in steals and 23rd in assists. He also still has a chance to become just the 16th player in CU history with 200 assists and 100 steals.
Collier started 10 games as a true freshman, then started 33 in 2015-16, playing a key role in helping CU to an NCAA Tournament bid. He missed some time last year with an injury, but still started 15 games. This season, he stepped into a reserve role and has played a key part in some of CU's biggest wins, including back-to-back victories over nationally ranked Arizona State and Arizona in January.
Collier was a highly regarded prep player at Denver East who chose to stay close to home to continue his career.
"He has embraced his role and he's really performed well in his role," Boyle said. "He's certainly had a good career since he's been here. I just want for Dom for this thing to finish on a high note, to finish strong, to leave here with a good taste in his mouth. He's a terrific young man who I care a lot about. There's some players you just want them to be successful and Dom's one of those guys. As a coach you want him to be successful because you believe in him. He's got a great family, he's a local kid who chose to stay home and play, and that's something that's special to me."
Collier had offers to play from major programs around the nation, but said his heart was always in Colorado and his goal was to help establish a foundation of success in Boulder.
"I think the in-state kids have maybe a little more investment sometimes," he said. "We want to put it all out there for our state. It's where were were born and raised and the chance to improve the program means a lot. I think the in-state kids especially always want to put Colorado on the map, whether it's Josh Scott, Wesley Gordon, Derek White, Xavier Talton. You always want to get better and try to represent our school in the best way possible."
Collier played a key role in a number of big CU wins over the years, but he said his lasting memory will be his teammates.
"I'm going to remember the relationships that I built," he said. "No doubt I will remember some of those big wins — Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State — and how much fun they were and everyone's faces in the locker room after those games. But the relationships that you build in four years, the good times that we had and how we all kind of grew up together is something I think will really stick with me."
After three seasons playing behind Josh Scott and Wesley Gordon, Miller-Stewart appeared poised for a big senior season — only to see his season ended prematurely by a broken foot that sidelined him for the year after just six games.
He is eligible for an injury redshirt season and could return next year, or he could transfer and play somewhere else. It is a decision that probably won't be made until after this season. But no matter what he chooses to do, he has left his mark on Colorado basketball.
Miller has appeared in 101 games for Colorado (14 starts), averaging nearly five points and four rebounds while also delivering solid defense on the block. But he may be remembered most for his passion and energy on the court and a personality that matches his 6-foot-9, 245-pound frame.
"Tory's a guy that's just fun to be around," Boyle said. "His teammates enjoy him, his coaches enjoy him. I've never met one person on campus that's come to me and said something about Tory Miller that's in any way derogatory or that he didn't handle himself well in a situation. In fact, it's quite the contrary. I've gotten a lot of unsolicited compliments and comments about Tory Miller and how he handles himself outside of the Coors Events Center, outside of the team, when he's on campus, whether it's a relationship with a professor or someone he meets at a restaurant. He's a guy who's been a great ambassador of Colorado basketball since he's been here."
Miller had his share of big moments, including a double-digit scoring effort in a win at Stanford and an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double in an epic three-overtime win at USC in 2015. He also had key roles in CU's wins over top-10 teams Oregon and Arizona, and was part of the Buffs' 2015-16 NCAA Tournament team.
Those, he said, are no doubt memories he will take with him for years to come.
But, he added, "All those things, all those big moments,  the single constant in all of that is who you did it with," he said. "You don't go out there and beat Arizona by yourself. You don't beat Oregon by yourself. You don't play with an NBA first rounder by yourself. All those things you do as a team, with your team. The camaraderie that you feel with the team, whether that be a win or a loss, a good day or a bad day, that's something I don't think I will ever forget. Ten years from now, I'll miss all of them — from the head coach to every player I ever played with."
Every college program worth its sneakers has a quality walk-on program. Such a program requires players willing to dedicate the time and effort necessary to play Division I athletics simply for the chance to help the team.
Those seeking individual glory need not apply.
"I can't say enough about him," Boyle said of Repine. "With our walk-on program, the tone was set early with guys like Beau Gamble and Kevin Nelson, who were here and really had a big-time impact on our team in practice and in the locker room. Josh Repine has certainly taken that role on this year as a non-scholarship player who has has impacted this team. He has impacted this team in the locker room and our guys respect him, they love him, they listen to him. The thing I appreciate about guys like that they are all about the team. There's not a selfish bone in his body."
Walk-ons know they will seldom see playing time. In his four years here, Repine has appeared in 20 games for a total of 27 minutes.
But he has been invaluable as someone who can run "scout team" plays in practice, play almost any position on the floor — and serve as a team leader.
"Unbelievable influence," Boyle said. "Just look at how (freshman) McKinley Wright reveres him and respects him and listens to him. … The best thing about Josh is he's not afraid to open his mouth. You can't lead with your mouth shut. The only way you can lead is by opening up your mouth and letting your voice be heard and Josh Repine is not afraid to do that."
Repine, a business major, said playing major college basketball is something that has taught him work ethic, responsibility and time management.
"Being a D-1 student-athlete is a full-time job and you have to take care of academics at the same time," he said. "The discipline and work ethic you have to develop is big. And, it's also been a big part of the maturation process. I've gone from a 19-year-old kid to now being a young man ready to move on into the world."
Like his fellow seniors, Repine has been part of some of CU's biggest wins. Those, he said, are certainly memories he will cherish. But, just as his classmates said, the lasting memories will be his teammates.
"All the friends I made through basketball," he said. "I've had great friends throughout my time here, great teammates. Josh Scott, Derek White, Dom Collier, Dallas Walton, McKinley Wright. As a walk-on, you remember lots of things that maybe other players wouldn't remember … but it's the friendships I think that will stay with me for a long time."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.eu
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