STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Excitement and nerves overcame 19-year-old Aminata Zie as she arrived in New York City in August 2019. Sight unseen, she had traveled to the Empire State to enroll at Stony Brook University and play basketball.

It marked the third country she has called home in her young life.

"I was so impressed," Zie recalled. "Everything moved so fast."

Born in Western Africa, Zie spent only the first year or two of her life there before she and her family relocated to the city of La Courneuve, outside of Paris.

Zie, now a sophomore business major, first was introduced to basketball at age 13, when she tried out for and later joined the women's basketball team at La'Cournevue Basketball Club in France.

"I always wanted to dance, or be on a dance team, but my parents didn't want me to. So they thought basketball would be good for me," Zie said. "From the first time I started playing I just fell in love with it."
 
It isn't easy to relocate to a country alone at a young age to attend a university never previously visited, but Zie indicated that she has adjusted since arriving last summer.

Her older sister, Kadidia, lives in the Bronx with her children, which has helped the transition.
 
"My mom chose Stony Brook for me because it was close enough to my sister. I like the city and everything, so it was a good choice," Zie said. "I just love the atmosphere. The campus is nice. And I love how it's close to the city so I can feel close to my sister."

The move to another country certainly presented a myriad of obstacles. An immersion in English, an unfamiliar environment and a switch to a different education system were all new things to which Zie had to adjust.

Yet one adjustment tied to the move was particularly pronounced: basketball playing styles.

"Basketball here is a lot more running," Zie said with a chuckle. "Everything here is a lot faster and has a much quicker pace than in France. In France it's a lot more about slowing down and setting up plays — just trying to make it more of a team collective."

A post player, the 6-foot-1 Zie sees herself as more of a forward than a center. Coming off shoulder surgery last academic year, from which she has fully recovered, Zie was redshirted her first season with the Seawolves.
 
Now, as the Stony Brook women's basketball team has resumed workouts with an eye toward 2020-21 games beginning in late November, Zie is hopeful she can contribute on the court this upcoming season.

"The coaches have really helped me understand the game more," Zie said. "All my life I was playing in a certain kind of system in France. So I am still adapting to this one. But the coaches have been a big help with that so far."