Ben Tumas Thankful For Opportunity to Play College Basketball

When Ben Tumas began studying at the University of Tampa, he did not expect to don a Spartan basketball uniform three semesters later.

The 6-foot-5 senior from Brielle, N.J., entered college with his mind not necessarily focused on sports any more. After being offered scholarships to play for northern schools in both basketball and soccer, Tumas made the ultimate decision to turn them down. He thought that he did not want to be a student-athlete any longer - emphasis on the word thought.

After the entrepreneurship major chose to come to Tampa for its business school, and of course, its weather, Tumas soon realized that he missed the game. This led him to the outdoor courts at UT where he entered intramurals. Tumas' team even made it to the semi-finals his freshman year. The competitive basketball, though, didn't end there.

One day, while playing basketball on these same courts, Tumas got an idea from some Spartan athletes. Former UT basketball players Rashad Callaway, Rudy Jean, and Fred Woods, unbeknownst to Tumas, happened to be out there playing with him. With Tumas holding his own among some of Tampa's finest on the court, the players encouraged him to try out for the team.

Callaway said, "I saw him playing on the outdoor courts and thought to myself, 'This kid can play, he's solid.'" Callaway walked up to Tumas and told him the time of the open gym they held every day and asked him he'd like to come.

Tumas chose to take the opportunity the team had offered. Although his game was good, head coach Richard Schmidt hinted that his chances of actually making the team were slim, but he was still welcome to come to the Spartans' open gyms.

Tumas, not discouraged, accepted the coach's invitation to keep playing. His persistence proved successful on the day he learned he'd impressed Schmidt enough for a different invitation - one to be an official member of the University of Tampa men's basketball team.

Tumas saw action in 13 games during his first season as a Spartan but, unfortunately, was forced to sit out his entire second season because of an injury.

Callaway mentioned, "Although Ben hasn't gotten a lot of playing time over the course of his career, I've never once heard him complain and he always has a smile on his face rooting for his teammates in practice and games."

Between the draining practices, adjustment of time-management, and adverse injury, when Tumas was asked if he'd regretted his belated decision to play collegiately at UT, his response came without any hesitation.

"No, not at all. I'm glad to be playing here. It's just so much fun."

Written by Maya Todd