Senior Damien Call left a huge mark on the Utica University basketball team and is finishing his collegiate career with memories that will last a lifetime. 

Call, a Rome native who graduated from Rome Free Academy in 2020, will graduate in May with a master’s degree in business administration and plans on joining the business sector shortly after. 

The forward position player dominated on the court and played hard during his years at Utica. His game day routine was something he took seriously, and along with academics and hanging with his teammates, succeeding with basketball and reaching his goals were always his top priorities.

“A typical game day routine for me is wake up, eat some breakfast and listen to some music for some good energy,” he said. “Do a light shoot around with the team about 4-5 hours before tip off and then end my routine with some stretching before the game.”

Call reached the 1,000-point milestone in a free throw against Russell Sage College on Senior Night, leading the team to a 70-61 victory. During that Feb. 8 game he scored 18 points and made 10 rebounds, nine of them being defensive. 

 “Hitting 1,000 points in college was an amazing feeling and it felt even better to be able to do it in front of my family,” he said. “To be able to accomplish the 1,000 point mark in both high school and college is a great feeling.”

Call said his parents are his biggest influences.

”(They’re) always there for me and guiding me in the right direction and I couldn’t be the person I am today without them, endless support from them and my family and I always strive to be as great as them,” he said.  

Neruda Perdomo, a former teammate of Call’s, said Call is one of the best teammates he played with because of his talent and humbleness.

 “Playing with Call was a great experience,” Perdomo said. “He’s a down to earth guy that goes out his way for others to make sure they’re good. He’s a role model on and off the court.”

Call said the advice he would give someone is “do what you do better, better.”

“(That) helped the team throughout the season really lock in and focus on the game plan each game to allow us to win the conference championship,” Call said.