STONY BROOK, N.Y. — "When he started talking, I got goosebumps."
 
Redshirt junior Andrew Garcia remembers the day that he was awarded with the Comeback Athlete of the Year at the annual Stony Brook Athletics "Wolfie" Awards. It was a major milestone in a journey three years in the making.
 
"That whole day was crazy," he recalled. "I bought a shirt 20 minutes beforehand. I had no shoes. I was not ready."
 
One could argue he wasn't ready for the journey he started on as a senior in high school. From then until now, the reigning America East Sixth Man of the Year has had three surgeries and just one full season of competition.
 
Three is also the number of head coaches he has been in contact with since he committed to play for the Seawolves. Originally recruited by now-Rutgers head coach Steve Pikiell, he made his collegiate debut under now-Ohio head coach Jeff Boals. Now, he's making a name for himself under Geno Ford.
 
"It's not common for a college player to have that happen to him," Garcia said. "Even though the coach has changed three times, I feel like all of them came through the same way and all have the same expectations and values."
 
Those values have been displayed throughout the season as Ford has harped numerous times on the team's chemistry and how much the guys like each other. Garcia has a hard time disagreeing.
 
"I feel like the chemistry we have improves every game and you can see it on the court," he said. "We have the right type of mindset and we are confident and hungry for a championship and to make our team known."
 
Now, as the longest-tenured Seawolf, it's his turn to lead a team that has had many great ones before him.
 
"From a game-by-game standpoint, I need to be sharper and more consistent," Garcia said. "I never feel satisfied because there is always room for improvement."
 
He has played his best basketball as of late, as he noted. The Bergenfield, N.J., native has recorded two double-doubles in his last five games and was two rebounds shy of a third last Sunday in the team's win against Norfolk State.
 
The forward now leads his squad into league play, taking on Maine and defending-champion Vermont in the first two America East games.
 
"We have to treat every game as a championship game," he said. "There are too many times where we've been down and have to come back. We can't play the catch up game."
 
The goal is to win a title and get the Seawolves back to the promised land for the second time in the school's Division I history. For someone like Garcia, do not tell him it can't be done. He's been proving people wrong for a while.