When Lakeland basketball coach Bob Brugger met Travis Seka, he knew instantly that Seka was full of potential.
“I met Travis at open gym in the spring of his sophomore year,” explained Brugger.
Brugger and Seka played a little one-on-one and Brugger eventually convinced Seka to try out for the team.
“He has great handles, lightning quick, great defender….very, very good leader,” is how Brugger described Seka – who is now a senior point guard on the team.
But life wasn’t always so bright for Seka. Back in 2014, he came home from school one day to confront the reality that his whole world was about to be turned upside down.
“My dad wasn’t there, which was really surprising because it was his day off,” recalled Seka.
Seka’s father was being held by immigration. Months later he was deported back to the Ivory Coast.
After Seka’s father left, Seka admits he began to skip class and spend time doing things he shouldn’t. He said his mother got fed up with this behavior very quickly.
She called a family friend and made a plan to get Seka out of the The Bronx and into school in Michigan.
“It was really quiet. So different I saw a lot of green, no concrete, no one walking around on the street,” said Seka.
The move to Michigan ended up being a great one for Seka, but there was something missing. His family had never had a chance to see him play as a Lakeland Eagle, so his teammates hatched a plan to change that.
“We say family all the time in our huddles, but we had a chance to show it. One of our other seniors had the idea to fly in Travis’ mom for senior night,” said Brugger.
“I’m surprised no one told me. A lot of teammates of mine have big mouths so I surprised no one let it slip out,” said Seka, laughing.
They kept their lips sealed and pulled off the surprise of a lifetime.
At his last home game of the season — with his mother and sister watching him for the very first time — Seka had a triple-double.
“I talked to them after the game, and they thought I played great. They loved everyone on the team. My mom is really happy she made the move for me and I’m really happy too”
Seka says it was sad to say goodbye but his mother will return for his high school graduation.
Graduation means a lot more to Seka than it does to the average high school senior. When he graduates, he’ll have a chance to file paper work to bring his dad back from the Ivory Coast. He’s only eligible to do this if he has his diploma, so he says it’s provided extra motivation.
