STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Nairimar Vargas-Reyes and India Pagan teamed together on the Puerto Rico national team at the 2017 FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Italy.

The duo now is reuniting at Stony Brook.

Pagan, of course, helped lead the Seawolves to their first America East regular-season and postseason titles in 2019-20 while earning first-team all-conference honors.

Vargas-Reyes, a 6-foot forward, was accumulating accolades at the junior-college level the past two seasons. She earned all-conference honors both years at Florida SouthWestern State as the Buccaneers won back-to-back Suncoast Conference titles.

She arrives at Stony Brook as a junior for the upcoming season.

"I've watched some recent film of her and noticed her outside game has improved a lot in the past two years," Pagan said. "She's shooting more threes and has a pull-up game along with her attacking-the-basket mentality and her athleticism. She is a big rebounder and an all-around player. I'm very excited."

During the summer of 2017 in Italy, on the eve of Pagan arriving at Stony Brook as a freshman, Puerto Rico faced Spain, Russia and Egypt. Pagan averaged 10.1 points and 28.1 minutes per game, while Vargas-Reyes averaged 2.6 points in 17.4 minutes per game. 

 "We somewhat lost touch after that tournament," Pagan said. "But now we communicate very often. It will be good to have another Spanish speaker on the team — although the girls have learned a lot of Spanish throughout the years from me. … They try."

Said Vargas-Reyes: "I was always watching her posts about specific Stony Brook games and events. I was very interested in Stony Brook, so I started communicating more with her. We just became closer and closer, and now we have the opportunity to play for the same college.

"I'm so excited to play with her because, literally, I'm going to feel comfortable speaking with her in Spanish during practice. I feel that we're going to connect really well on the court because we both know how to do our thing. I really like how she sets a ball screen and moves under the basket. That's what we always did during the tournament."

Vargas-Reyes also represented Puerto Rico at the 2018 FIBA U18 World Championships in Mexico City. There, she tallied 20 points in a double-double against El Salvador in her best international game to date.

"Being able to play for the Puerto Rico national team is a unique and wonderful experience," Vargas-Reyes said. "Literally you have a lot of people around you who love you, and that motivates you throughout the way — especially family and friends. That's how we played better as a team. I would always be excited to represent my island and take advantage of every opportunity they give me." 

Vargas-Reyes hails from Camuy, P.R. She returned to the island at 11 years old after spending much or her early childhood in New Jersey.

Upon returning, she played during her high school years for Adianez, the top team in Puerto Rico. The club went 35-0 in 2018 while winning the island championship. Vargas-Reyes was a two-time Buzzer Beater finals MVP.

Stony Brook's coaches began recruiting Vargas-Reyes during her sophomore year of junior college. So Vargas-Reyes and Pagan reconnected to talk about the merits of Stony Brook.

"I love how they all connect with each other and the type of relationships they have," Vargas-Reyes said. "They stick together the entire time. I just love how the coaching staff treats their players. That's something that I really loved since Day 1."

Said Pagan: "I'm so happy to have another Puerto Rican on the team. It's somewhat like having a piece of the island next to me, to be honest. — as corny as that sounds. Hearing her speak Spanish feels like I'm in Puerto Rico. I believe she is the third Puerto Rican to be on Stony Brook women's basketball (joining Pagan and Giolibeth Perez). There is a ton of talent on the island, and many Puerto Ricans living in the United States as well. It's a great opportunity and opens doors for the next generation of female athletes to play at a higher level, such as in Division I at Stony Brook."