An Amazing Journey Coming to a Close

When Tonny Trocha-Morelos takes the court for one final time at Reed Arena on Saturday, he'll be playing in his 128th game for Texas A&M.
 
It will be his Senior Day.
 
But that's not what will make the day special.
 
His mother, Betty, will be a few days in to her first-ever trip to the United States—and will watch her son play collegiately in person for the first time ever.
 
Before Tonny made a brief two-day visit home over the summer, it had been two years since they'd been together.
 
And before the game Saturday, she'll get to walk him on to the court in front of a near-capacity crowd—there to honor him and the rest of his teammates.

Happy birthday to the love of my life. The best mom ever. ????. I thanks God for giving another year. Love you a lot mom. Enjoy your day ??

A post shared by Tonny J Trocha-Morelos ???????? (@tonny10dt) on Dec 23, 2017 at 8:42pm PST

 
"That's something I cannot explain to you," Trocha-Morelos says, smiling. "I don't know how I'm going to react. My hope is not to cry. It will be hard not to, having such an amazing environment, including my family, the 12^th Man, everybody…I cannot tell you what's going to happen. But I can just tell you it will be a happy moment."
 
It's been an amazing journey for the friendly, outgoing and caring 23-year-old.
 
The youngest of four brothers, Trocha-Morelos left his native Cartagena, Colombia at the age of 12 for the country's capital, Bogota. As his game on the court improved, colleges began to take notice—especially after he averaged a double-double for Colombia's under-18 team in a FIBA tournament in 2012.
 
As the recruiting battles heated up, Trocha-Morelos moved to the United States in early 2012, living with his best friend in Houston. It was the first time he'd been to the country. Just seven months later, he'd make his first trek to Aggieland.
 
"The first time I visited A&M, I can tell you with detail," Trocha-Morelos recalls. "It was a football game, Johnny's first year, against LSU. You can imagine the environment. It was my first time seeing a lot of people cheering for a sport. I said after that game (that) this was the school God had planned for me to go to."
 
He signed with Texas A&M and then second-year coach Billy Kennedy a month later, but was denied admission due to his struggles with the English language.
 
A lot of hard work and about 17 months later, he signed again with the Aggies. This time he got in.
 
Trocha-Morelos made his debut on November 23, 2014 in a win over New Mexico at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. He would play in 28 more games that season, averaging 1.5 points.
 
As a sophomore, he'd play in 37 games (starting 11)—averaging 7 points and 4.2 boards. But more importantly, he helped bring the program its first conference championship in 30 years and was vital in the memorable  run to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
 
Then over these last two seasons, he improved again—scoring 7.5 points per game and grabbing 4.8 rebounds.
 
"Ever since I've been here, he's added to his game," teammate Admon Gilder said. "When he first came in, he wasn't the strongest guy—now he's one of the ones that can lift the most in the weight room. He's an incredible shooter. He adds a lot to our team."
 
Trocha-Morelos will see his senior season come to a close almost assuredly in the NCAA Tournament—something in which he takes a lot of pride.
 
"I remember someone telling me before I got to A&M, 'Don't worry about how you start. Worry about how you finish. Leave the program in a better position than when you got here.' And that has been on my mind this whole time. From being part of the Sweet 16 team, I want to do that for myself but also for the freshmen and sophomores—build that legacy so they have the same feeling I had back then and they keep pursuing that dream. It means a lot to me to leave this program with another NCAA Tournament appearance."
 
But first things first.
 
Trocha-Morelos gets one final go in front of a group he's grown quite fond of—the 12^th Man.
 
"My last game at home will be great," Trocha-Morelos said. "I can say that I honestly receive special treatment from the 12^th Man. It has made it easier for me to be in the U.S. by myself. People here have treated me like I'm part of the family."
 
His teammates will be soaking Tonny's senior day moment as well.
 
"He'll have the entire building (cheering) for him, and his whole family there—he might even bring his dog that he loves so deeply," Gilder said. "Knowing he's got people behind him, he'll play his heart out. I hope the entire arena and all the student section gives him the recognition he deserves."
 
In a few months—May 10 to be exact—he will again take center stage at Reed Arena.
 
But this time, in a cap and gown, receiving his degree in university studies and business.
 
"No question (I'm proud of him)," head coach Billy Kennedy said. "There's probably no kid on this campus who went through what he did to try and get into A&M—and he did it in the right fashion and over the long haul. He had to go through a bunch of things to get everything right academically. He's probably been consistently our best student over the last four years. And he's finishing with a real strong degree."
 
The bond between Kennedy and Trocha-Morelos is one that won't go away once his career at A&M is over. There's no question about that.
 
"Coach Kennedy…I don't know how many pages I can write you about him, how great he is. How blessed it's been for me these four years. Not giving up on me, not giving my scholarship away, waiting on me…that just means a lot. Having a person that truly believed in myself more than I did at that point."
 
Trocha-Morelos then went through and listed off the entire staff—even former coaches—talking about what they've meant to him.
 
It's just the kind of guy he is.
 
"He's always been a selfless guy," Kennedy said. "He's been about the team first. He's probably one of the better true 'teammate' guys we've had in our program in a long time. He cares about other people."
 
"He's a caring guy," Gilder said. "He's always looking to help everyone out, even when he's down or not feeling good. Tonny's a great guy—and I'm really proud just to say I know him."
 
What a journey for a kid from Cartagena, who made the bold move to leave home at the age of 12. Who came to the United States to pursue a dream despite barely knowing the language.
 
"I don't regret the wait that I had to go through to be where I am right now," Trocha-Morelos said. "In these four years, I've had the opportunity to meet great people, see and play basketball at another level."
 
And who will, along with his mom this weekend, carve another memorable moment into his Texas A&M story.
 
"I always had this picture of my mom walking with me, being able to come for my senior night, and it's actually happening."
 
"That dream came true."