 "Photo: Ian Grey/MCLA Athletics Dept. Photographer")
 "Photo: Ian Grey/MCLA Athletics Dept. Photographer")
Dave Bisesi tried out for baseball when he was twelve. The coach decided to stick him out into right field knowing that Dave had not had much baseball experience. Halfway into the game, he had seen no action and no ball hit his way. With his mind wandering in the grass and a hand full of dirt, a ball was hit his way and flew right over his head. Still not knowing the ball had landed in the grass behind him, Dave looked up to see his teammates running and yelling at him to get the ball. At this point in his young life, he decided he should continue with basketball and leave baseball in the past.
"Yeah I definitely didn't make that team," Bisesi exclaims. "I knew I should stick with basketball."
When he was young, Bisesi was influenced by his father, Charles, to play basketball. His father holds the record for most points in a game with 63 at St. Lucy's High School. His father also played one season for the New York Knicks a year before Bisesi was born. As he has a lot to live up to, he succeeds in keeping up with his father throughout his basketball career.
In his freshman year of high school at Bishop Sudden, Bisesi showed prominence and his team made it to the final four of the state tournament in Glens Falls. After graduating, Bisesi went to SUNY Potsdam for two years and then decided to transfer to MCLA.
"I came here to have fun my last two years of college basketball," Bisesi said, "and I wanted to try and turn the program around here and show the lower classmen how to work hard on the court."
His hard work would pay off and he would be named captain of the Trailblazers, but not before learning what it took to be one.
"I learned that it takes hard work as a captain. I always looked up and respected my fellow captains leading up to this year, but when you're at the top of the ladder and everyone comes to you and looks up to you for everything, it puts you in a spot where you have to make quick decisions and try not to let anyone down. More, I know I have respect from my team to choose me as their captain."
Bisesi did work hard on the court and accomplished something many basketball players here could not: scoring a thousand points in his career. On Thursday, January 17 in a home game against Southern Vermont, Bisesi took the ball in for a lay-up, and for his 1,001th point.
"When I hit my 1,000th point, it was such a relief," Bisesi said with a smile. "I was around fifty points and everyone was like 'You're so close, you're so close,' and it got me nervous. I knew I was going to get it. All that hard work paid off and I got the reward of scoring a thousand points, not something someone does everyday."
Two memories that stick out to Bisesi in his career here at MCLA is last year's five overtime thriller against SUNY Maritime, when Bisesi broke MCLA's single-game scoring record with 47 points, beating Phil Bledsoe's record of 41. The other memory was his first double-double against Bridgewater where he scored 36 points and had ten rebounds. It was also the first time the team had beaten Bridgewater in seven years.
Bisesi is seen as a fierce competitor and looked at as a threat by the opposing team. Before a game, Bisesi often looks towards God for guidance.
"The night before the game, I always look up to God and pray for my team's success, and pray that nobody gets hurt," Bisesi said. "During the national anthem, I look up at the flag and do the sign of the cross and say a prayer for my grandmother, two grandfathers, and my brother up in heaven. I play every game for them."
As Bisesi continues to enjoy his final days as an MCLA basketball player, thoughts of his career in basketball have led him to the chance of a lifetime. On June 9, he will be trying out to play overseas. If a professional basketball career does not work out, Bisesi would like to further his basketball career by taking up coaching in the sport he loves so much.
"I want to further excel in basketball and begin coaching," Bisesi explained. "I should be on the coaching staff for the Blazers next season."
For any incoming freshmen, it can be scary to play college basketball. It takes hard work and commitment to play at this level.
"My advice to college freshmen would be to get off to a quick start on the court. If you can beat out a senior, go for it. Take the extra time in the gym to develop skills, because college basketball is a higher level of play."
Basketball has been in Bisesi's life ever since he was a child. It is what makes him happy. It is what propels him to want more. It has taught him many new things in basketball and in life. It all started as a learning experience and formed him into the leader he has become today.
"Basketball is in my blood and something that will stay with me forever."
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