For week two of our Student Athlete Behind the Screen Story Series we will take a detailed look into the game of NBA 2K21 (Xbox) and our featured Esports student athlete this week will be, Shabarii Noiis, the Spring 2021 NBA 2K21 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Champion. Noiis was born and raised in Staten Island, NY and just graduated this year with a Business Management Degree. He was also a manager for the CSI Men's Basketball team from 2018-2020 and aspires to be a head basketball coach. Noiis, transferred from the University of Tampa after one year to come to CSI. Back then, coach TJ Tibbs (now Interim Director of Athletics) asked if he would be a part of the team as a manager, knowing about his extensive basketball knowledge over the years. Noiis knew this would be a great opportunity to get his foot in the door in coaching.
 
After a couple of years as a go-to manager for Coach Tibbs, and after a successful Esports East Coast Conference Fall 2020 season, CSI Esports expanded their Esports portfolio and entered the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) in Spring 2021. One of the featured games was NBA 2K21 (Xbox). Noiis recalls, "…When I first saw the post, I saw Overwatch and thought about how many friends I have that play Overwatch and wished they were still in school to be a part of the team because they were that good". Noiis also plays Overwatch just not competitively on PC but understands the game more than most and loves watching his fellow Esports student athletes compete. Then Noiis, saw NBA 2K21 (Xbox) was also an option and thought that would be a fun experience because of his skill set and his experience playing since he was a kid so he decided to give it a go along with a member from the CSI Men's Basketball team Christopher Velasquez who played the game in the ECAC NBA 2K21 PS4 league. Noiis ended up going undefeated with a, 10-0, overall record in the ECAC NBA 2K21 Xbox league and became a champion. 
 
For those that may not understand the game of NBA 2K21, Noiis, described it perfectly stating, "When you think of a basketball simulated game you think of realism especially from a guy who watches the NBA a lot…It's a game that can get you out of character at times (because it still is simulated not real life). However, it can be very fun, it still is a game of basketball, a game runs and you get to play with players you see in real life, it could be your favorite player. (It) makes you feel like you are in the game (as a player), and you are the coach, general manager and more". The ECAC played each match in a best two out of three format with five-minute quarters and live roster updates from the NBA. Noiis recalls, the hardest adjustment was the first couple of weeks because he thought it would be more of a 5v5 with five students on each team/school controlling each starter on the floor, nonetheless, he adjusted to the gameplay of 1v1 as each player from a respective school would control an entire team with live roster updates.

When asked to describe how he would prepare for his next opponent, Noiis added, "(I) would look at standings and see who he is playing next to watch their streams, but (I) was one of the only ones to stream so he couldn't find most of his matchups stream history." However, that would not stop Noiis from preparing, like any other athlete would do, he found another way to make himself better. Noiis went on to say, "(I) would practice players jump shots and styles of play with different teams". During the season, he played as the Dallas Mavericks mostly and utilized seven-footer Kristaps Porzingis as his primary option alongside Luca Doncic as a decoy because he was more comfortable with KP's jump shot mechanics and size. He also played as the Philadelphia 76'ers who has seven-footer, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
 
The conversation than shifted to his thoughts on the stigmatism that Esports should not be considered a "true" sport, Noiis had much to say on the topic, including "it definitely should be considered a sport, guys still have to practice. Most people can't just get into a game and be a top tier player without having played it for a while first. As a coach, (I) can see both sides of it, cause the work each side has to put in is the same, maybe not as physical as a traditional sport, but it is just as demanding and (you) must put in the time and effort to be the greatest". When asked if he would consider himself an athlete, a gamer or both, he added "when it comes strictly to Esports I would consider myself a gamer. I think (the term) athlete has more to do with, athleticism but more physically demanding, (but) with gaming you have to have exceptional hand-eye coordination so a gamer can be an athlete because some of their hand-eye coordination is better than some athletes in their respective traditional sports…If you think of golfers some are not as athletically inclined but they mastered the mechanics and intricacies of the game itself and thus is the reason they are still athletes." Noiis believes the mental aspect of gaming is top tier, especially in professional and collegiate gaming. According to multiple college studies, long term Esports athletes have improved cognitive functions related to attention, flexibility, and speed. It can also strengthen the hippocampus, the region of the brain that is responsible for processing new information and learning.
 
Lastly, gaming aside, Noiis reflected on his time at CSI saying, "before coming to CSI, (I) was strictly a student who would play in intramurals as well (but) becoming a part of the Esports team made me even more involved and before that with managing the Men's Basketball team got me more involved with CSI (Athletics) culture." Noiis continued, "One of the greatest feelings was during the championship game having (then) Coach Tibbs text him right after winning and congratulating him and having that support from CSI Athletics staff, friends and fellow esports student athletes watching and rooting me on". Although he won't be returning to defend his title, Noiis will forever be a Dolphin and his name will be engraved in CSI Esports history. On Twitch, Noiis is known under the name "bigbariibrand" and there is no doubt that he will do big things in his future endeavors. I want to thank Noiis for his time during the interview and wish him the best, don't be a stranger!
 
Week three will feature the game of Valorant (PC) and ECC Fall 2020 Champion, Hadi Daoud, be sure to check it out!