Delaware Sports Blitz Interview: Delaware Tech’s Syed Myles

Photo: Delaware Technical Community College

Delaware Technical Community College student-athletes interviews are back! Every Thursday, Delaware Sports Blitz will feature interviews with the student-athletes from the Community College.

The student-athlete we are featuring this week comes from Delaware Tech’s men’s basketball team, which is Syed Myles.

Myles talks about everything from the highlights of his athletic career and why he chose to play at Delaware Tech.

Check it out below!

Related:

Delaware Sports Blitz Interview: Delaware Tech’s Kaitlyn Cavallucci

How did you start playing sports?
“I started playing sports at a young age, my parents both played, and all of my brothers played, so it was just something easy to get into.”

What adjustments did you have to make from the jump of high school to college, regarding the sport you play?

“The adjustment I had to make was just getting used to the style of play. The game is faster, and everyone is bigger and faster, so I have to be zoned in and ready to do what it takes.”

How do you keep yourself in game shape in the off-season for your sport?
“I take my conditioning seriously because I feel that is the most important part, and I never want to be taken out because I was “tired.” I go for runs a lot and try to play basketball at a park or gym as often as possible.”

What is the best part of playing your particular position?
“The best part of playing my position is I can control the pace of the game when I need to. I can speed us up or slow us down, depending on what the coach says.”

What has a former or current coach taught you, that you still use today on or off the playing field?
“Something my former high school coach Freeman Williams always taught me was to play for each other and for the team. If the team has success, then individual success will follow.”

What is a typical day for you when the season is in full force?
“I wake up and grab some breakfast, do some homework, and then I’ll get ready for practice. Next, I’ll drive to practice or game (depending on the day) and pick up any teammates if I need to. After, I’ll head home, maybe grab food on the way back, do some more homework if I need to, watch a movie, and then go to bed.”

What do you feel is your greatest strength?
“I feel my greatest strength is shooting. I’ve been shooting the ball at a high level so far and want to keep it up.”

What do you feel you are weakest at and what do you work on to improve it?
“I feel I am the weakest at dribbling, and I can work on that by doing drills at practice and on my own time. Also, not trying to do too much during the game and keeping it simple.”

Describe some of the highlights of your athletic career.
“Highlights of my athletic career include going on a playoff run during my senior year of basketball. At the beginning of the season, everyone counted us out because most of the starting five left. But we were ready and made a deep playoff push. Another highlight, during my junior year, I ran track just to stay in shape and for fun, and I ended up qualifying for states in the 800-meter.”

What is the best part of playing on a team?

“The best part of being on the team is the connections you make with other players or coaches and the bonds you create that will last forever.”

How do you stay motivated during the highs and lows of a season?
“I stay motivated during the highs and lows of a season because I was always taught to never get too high after a win and never get too low after a loss. It is just a great way to keep your mind in it because your mind is the most important part.”

What has been the biggest challenge you have faced and how did you overcome it?
“The biggest challenge I faced was COVID-19 and how it messed up everything sports-wise. I didn’t have a senior track season and was interested in running in college, and it also made picking a college for basketball difficult because I couldn’t visit. Most sports were canceled, but I just kept my head up and stayed positive, and just did the best for myself.”

In what ways, does playing a sport, help you with your studies?
“It helps because it takes my mind off of school for a little bit while I’m playing and gives me a little break, so I’m not just doing work. It also gives me the motivation to do the best I can.”

How would you like to be remembered by your teammates and coaches?
“I would like to be remembered as a player who always gave their 100% and always showed up when the lights were bright, but also as a teammate who was there for everyone both on and off the court. ”

Why did you choose to play at Delaware Tech?

“I chose Delaware Tech because the first situation I went to did not work out, and I wasn’t playing at all. Once (teammate Izaiah Credle) reached out to me and helped me join, I came to a couple of workouts, and right away, I could just feel it, and I knew I wanted to play here.”