Two years ago, Shelton Mickell was a young guard buried on the depth chart of a Division-I college basketball program.

At Central Connecticut State University, Mickell found himself fighting for playing time behind two other freshmen.

“I thought I was going to have a big opportunity to play major minutes, possibly start,” Mickell said. “But when I got there I found myself playing behind two freshmen and that made me think of the place a little differently, like maybe it wasn’t the place for me.”

He left Central Ct. State and contacted Pace assistant coach Nat Harris, whom he knew through a mutual friend. Pace offered him a scholarship after a workout.

When Mickell came to Pace, he knew right away the impact he could have on the team. During his first season in 2014-15, things were new and it took time for the team to gain chemistry.

“I felt like I had to step up at the guard spot and we had a lot of young players so I had to make the young players understand my experience and what I could bring to the team,” Mickell said. “But we were so young and so new that it was hard to put it all together in one year.”

Mickell saw growth as a leader as he began to speak out and take control of the team.

“I came from Central [Connecticut State], where I was playing the backseat and I didn’t really have a leadership role,” said Mickell, who’s one of three team captains. “Coming here, taking that leadership role and being one of the guys with Division-I experience, that was really the change.”

Mickell had a tremendous impact in his first season. He led the team in steals (76) and was second on the team in points (453), field goal percentage (.396), and assists (760).

The Connecticut native began to impact the younger players on the team and show them that the little things matter.

“Little things like huddling up at the free-throw line and showing the young guys that the little things have so much value to the game,” Mickell said.

Incremental moves were made during the 2015 offseason. Matt Healing was named head coach and the team added six new recruits.

“We had a new coach, a new system, new defensive principles, and a new coaching staff,” Mickell said. “Mentally we had to prepare ourselves; we had new players coming in and we had to figure out what we wanted to be as a team.”

This year the men’s basketball team has had a series of close matchups to start off the season. However, Mickell expressed that it is all part of the journey and that the team had to learn how to win tough games.

“We had a lot of tight games and we had to learn how to win; hitting free throws, staying together and being poised, not having mental lapses,” the six foot-two-inch guard said.

For Mickell the sky is the limit. He has scored 169 points since January 9, including a 35-point game against Franklin Pierce University, and won Setter of the Week on January 24.

Mickell hopes to play and accomplish more beyond the collegiate level.

“I’m definitely trying to go overseas,” Mickell said. “That’s my main goal right now and making sure I have the best season possible. I want to finish out with a proud season for myself and for the team and hopefully make some money over the water playing this game.”

However, his only focus now is to help the men’s team win.

“We want to make the playoffs; we want to do well,” Mickell said. “If I’m doing well and the team is doing well it goes hand-in-hand.”