Staten Island, NY | There are few programs that generate more hype coming into a competitive year than that of Men's Basketball, and although that was temepered by a loss of competition this year, excitement is still high thanks to a series of new faces that are sure to put CSI Basketball on the NCAA Division II map. One of those faces belongs to Luis Armas, a New Jersey native that made the jump over to neighboring New York to be a part of the Dolphins' program.
It was a big decision for Armas, who had Florida in his sights as well with potential landing spots at Barry University and the University of Tampa on his radar, and backed it up with interest from local programs at New York Tech and Montclair State University. Ultimately, it was how he saw himself fitting in at Staten Island's campus that made CSI the choice for him.
"I chose CSI because I immediately felt as if the staff I met on my visit and Coach Tibbs embodied what I believe in," Armas explained. "The sense of community, hard work, and becoming a well-rounded individual, are what I saw in the program and what appealed most to me."
For Head Coach
T.J. Tibbs and his staff, having Armas come aboard was incredibly exciting. The staff fell in love with the two-sport star from Fort Lee High School, who doubled on the Track & Field team. Armas won the Bridgemen's Athlete of the Year honor his senior year, along with Scholar-Athlete recognition and a host of tournament and all-conference selections during his career. The shooting guard, who played club basketball with the New Jersey Panthers, averaged nearly 21 points a game to go with nearly half a dozen rebounds during his time on the hardwood. The coaches contend he made a lot of the athletic work seem effortless, and it caught their eyes right away.
"Lu is a great shooter, he has great size for his position, and he had a ready-made build for the college game," commented Tibbs, who is in his fourth season at CSI. "He's been coached very well, and we feel he is very prepared for what the college game will throw his way. These are the qualities that stood out to us the most athletically."
Like the way Armas saw the entire student-athlete picture when he made his choice to come to CSI, so too did the coaching staff in assessing Armas' performance as a whole individual, namely in the classroom and the community. A four-year Honor Roll student, Armas is equally excited about majoring in Biology on CSI's pre-medical track towards a career in the medical industry.
"I intend on using this major as preparation towards becoming a dentist or orthodontist," he explained. Whatever path he chooses, his coaches know that he will be successful, given his dedication towards academics and the way he embraces his future after college. "It's extremely impressive how much Luis and his family care about academics and how he pushes himself academically and to be a leader," commented Tibbs. "Lu is the type of student-athlete who wants the most and best for himself after college, and being a part of a program that was going to help him become a better student and leader was a huge part of the process for him and for us. The more we got to know him the more we felt he fit the example of the type of kid we want in the program. He adds just as much to our community at CSI than he does on the basketball court."
Despite the rigors of remote learning, Armas is already making an impact, sporting an above 3.9 GPA after the fall semester. For him, it was step one in achieving what the team ultimately wants to do on the court when they are allowed into that arena as well.
"I believe I can play an essential role in the blossoming of our basketball program in the Division II era," he explained when asked what he thought his basketball role will be. "I'm looking forward to conquering the ECC, as well as anyone in the country alongside my teammates. We're a determined group and will always put our best effort forth."
That team-first doctrine is music to Tibbs' ears. He contends that Armas is one in a long line of new faces that believe in the power of cohesion and on building the program up in time to be a dynamic force within the conference, region, and country in due time. "Having kids who understand what we are trying to do here is one of the most important things we do when navigating who we want to bring in to our program," said Tibbs. "There is so much unknown and it's a new process to everyone, so you need kids who are up for that challenge, who can put their head down, work, and lead. We see those qualities in him. He's a student-athlete who whenever we call on him is going to be prepared, ready to go, and will figure it out with us. Having that element within our program is going to be a key to our success."
With COVID-19 playing the role of spoiler during what was supposed to be his debut season, Armas knows that the process of building CSI into a winner has stalled a bit, but it hasn't prevented him and his peers from laying a foundation for success behind the scenes. "Although we haven't been able to play, it's been great so far, we all get along very nicely together, and It's been enjoyable getting to know the team and the coaches," he said. "It's unfortunate that we haven't been able to get together as a team, but health comes first."
The lack of physical play has not distracted Armas, however. Sure, it may take a few practices to get into the swing of the CSI system, and to mature his body into a playing regimen, but for now, Armas is doing everything in his power so that he is ready to go when the team is allowed into the building for practice. "I'm more focused than ever," he stated. "I continue to work my hardest every day. I wake up early every morning and get on the court to work on new things while staying sharp, and then shortly after I lift as well so I can be more than prepared for the physicality of the game at the collegiate level. I largely credit my trainers for their availability throughout this pandemic, as well as my mentor Kyle Anderson."
That approach has his coaches thankful, and its a reason why when the coaches are asked about who will usher CSI into the NCAA Division II future with confidence, they mention Armas' name. That's reason enough for Armas to forge forward. His goals are clear and simple, and are in line with what the program wants to offer him as well. "I'm looking forward to becoming the best man and basketball player I can be," Armas explained. "I know I can fulfill these expectations here. I aspire to be one of the best basketball players that have ever stepped into The Tank, while being one of the best students throughout my career here."
A New Jersey native all of his life, Armas is the only child of Marlene and Luis, Sr., and although he is living in his hometown during the pandemic while studying remotely, he plans to move into Dolphin Cove in the fall of 2021.
It may take a little while longer than expected, but there is sure to be plenty of hype surrounding Men's Basketball for time to come, and Luis Armas is a big reason why. He made the choice to come to CSI, and the Dolphins will be better for it.
