By TORI ADDISON
Staff Writer
Senior teammates Dominykas Milka and Kareem Thomas have a lot more in common than just their love for basketball. In fact, the two have a history that predates their time at Saint Rose. Not only did they play high school ball together from freshman to senior year, but they also continued to wear the same jersey after they graduated from high school. After continuing their career as teammates at Saint Rose, they will graduate together once again, but this time as Golden Knights.
Milka and Thomas were around the same age when they first picked up a basketball, but they did not meet each other until much later. “Dominykas and I were not friends before high school only because he was not in the United States yet. We met at basketball camp the summer before high school,” remembers Thomas whose biggest inspiration has been his love for the game. Milka came to the United States in 2006 upon which he remarks, “My biggest inspiration are my parents because they have sacrificed a lot for me by coming to United States and giving me this chance to play basketball in college.”
Soon enough, high school graduation was rapidly approaching and the focus jumped towards the recruiting process. Milka recalls, “Throughout our career at Christ the King we both received lots of interest from different schools. Kareem and I came to visit Saint Rose together for our official visit. We had great time and Coach Beaury recruiting us together had a big influence on my final decision to come to Saint Rose.” Although other colleges were interested in them individually, Milka and Thomas decided that Saint Rose would be the perfect fit.
Starting a fresh career at the college level seems not only exciting, but also intimidating. “Knowing Kareem from high school definitely helped me to adjust much faster to college basketball and the college experience,” says Milka. As far as competing together, Thomas describes the experience of playing as high school teammates as compared to college teammates as nothing new, “Not only did we play on the same high school team, but we both played for the same AAU team (Metro Hawks). We were roommates on every trip out of the state so being his roommate for four years was nothing new. We just got to know each other a lot better.”
Perhaps the greatest benefit of playing for the same collegiate team was to be able to be there for each other through both the good and bad as Thomas notes, “It is great, because he was there throughout all my accomplishments and I didn’t have to send him a text to let him know. I watched him grow as a person and a basketball player.” The two shared many great moments as college teammates, but they both agree that their best memory from playing at Saint Rose is that of the team’s journey to the NCAA tournament their freshman year.
As for the future, Milka and Thomas are looking towards different goals, but still have their minds set on pursuing their basketball careers, even if apart. “I am going to try to pursue my career in basketball and see how far it can take me. If that does not work out I am going to continue my Master’s in accounting at the College of Saint Rose,” Thomas says.
As for Milka, “I would like to finish my Master’s this summer. After that I will try to play pro basketball overseas in Europe. If that doesn’t work out I will be looking for a job.” Although new experiences are approaching upon their graduation from Saint Rose, their past as teammates both through high school and college is one that will never be forgotten.
