URI Transfer Already a leader for Hofstra Basketball

Even before he plays his first basketball game for Hofstra, transfer Stevie Mejia has already been tasked with a leadership role.

Mejia was named a tri-captain by Hofstra head coach Mo Cassara and the junior point guard is excited to lead his new team after a successful two year stint with URI from 2008-2010. In his last season in Kingston, the 5-foot-9, 175-pound Mejia was eighth in the nation in assist to turnover ratio while leading the Rams to the National Invitational Tournament semifinals.

“It’s a good feeling coming in [with a new team] and being named a captain,” said Mejia, who tallied 127 assists his last season with URI in 2008/09.

“He has a great personality and a lot of leadership qualities on and off the court,” said Cassara, who is in his second year leading the Hofstra program.

Mejia said a major factor in the decision to play at Hofstra for his final two years of college basketball eligibility is Cassara, the program’s second-year head coach who recruited the Hyde Park, Mass. native when he was an assistant coach at Boston College. Hofstra, located on Long Island just 25 miles from Manhattan, competes in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), a conference that sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament last year.

Mejia will be returning to his former college basketball home on Thanksgiving weekend when Hofstra competes in the TicketCity Legends Classic being held at the Ryan Center. The Pride will face URI on Nov. 23 and have games the next two days against Cleveland State and Boston University.

“It’s going to be very exciting just to see the many faces that I know,” said Mejia, who helped lead URI to a 47-21 record in his two years with the Rams.

Mejia said his main goal for this season is to help lead Hofstra to a CAA title so the program can reach its first NCAA Tournament since 2001. Hofstra held its first official practice this past Friday and kicks off the 2011/12 season against Long Island University on Nov. 11.