Completed Event: Men's Basketball at UNLV on February 7, 2026 , Loss , 78, to, 80
M Basketball
at UNLV
L 78-80
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Coro: Spanish ex-Lope, GCU reunite amid 'shock'
8/18/2017 9:53:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Adrian Carrion joins team in Barcelona
BARCELONA – The Grand Canyon men's basketball family tree has branched out across the world but the roots remain in the relationships.
Just four months after he graduated, former Lopes guard Adrian Carrion got to be reunited with his best friends and American family when this year's team came to his homeland this week for its Spain tour. Carrion, a Seville native, made suggestions when GCU planned the trip and has joined the team's travels to help translate and guide it through Barcelona and Marbella.
The reunion has proven just as valuable to Carrion, whose country is enduring the tragedy of Thursday's terrorist attack in Barcelona.
"It's very sad to see what happened to my country," said Carrion, who learned of the 13 fatalities at Las Ramblas upon seeing 10 missed calls and 70 unread text messages after a brief break from his phone. "A lot of innocent people. I'm still in shock about what has gone on here.
"It's something you see happen in other places. You don't realize the impact that it has on people until you live it in your country with your people. That's when you realize how awful it is. It is one of the worst things that can happen – now to a nation like Spain."
Carrion joined the team Tuesday to a slew of hugs in the Barcelona hotel lobby. Senior Keonta Vernon had FaceTimed with Carrion regularly in anticipation of the team's trip but junior Matt Jackson believes the tour excited Carrion more than his former teammates.
Even incoming freshmen Roberts Blumbergs and Alessandro Lever knew him well after Carrion was part of their campus visits and an international resource to call in their transitions.
"These are some of my best friends," Carrion said. "The coaches became like parents for the last three years."
Carrion became a GCU men's basketball success story without starring in the program. The walk-on, 5-foot-11 guard was a favorite to GCU Arena fans for his rare game appearances and to teammates for his personality and work ethic as a scout team player.
He came to Phoenix without knowing English, immediately became a straight-A student and left as a member of the Western Athletic Conference Honors Court for student-athletes with academic distinction.
"He was loved around campus," Jackson said. "Being a walk-on is hard. They do everything we do and don't get to play. Credit to him for helping the team get better and not thinking about himself. That's what the fans like to see, an all-about-the-team guy."
In April, Carrion graduated from GCU after three years of study for a degree in business management. He moved to the Canary Islands, where his parents relocated, and served an internship with a wine company. He now is an intern for a sports event company.
This week, Carrion is part of the team again. He looks like staff, watching practices and games courtside with a Lopes basketball shirt and advice. It gives a sense of normalcy to Carrion and the team.
Watching Lopes head coach Dan Majerle also did that for him.
"Coach Majerle hasn't changed much," Carrion said with a smile. "It's weird to see him from here now."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Just four months after he graduated, former Lopes guard Adrian Carrion got to be reunited with his best friends and American family when this year's team came to his homeland this week for its Spain tour. Carrion, a Seville native, made suggestions when GCU planned the trip and has joined the team's travels to help translate and guide it through Barcelona and Marbella.
The reunion has proven just as valuable to Carrion, whose country is enduring the tragedy of Thursday's terrorist attack in Barcelona.
"It's very sad to see what happened to my country," said Carrion, who learned of the 13 fatalities at Las Ramblas upon seeing 10 missed calls and 70 unread text messages after a brief break from his phone. "A lot of innocent people. I'm still in shock about what has gone on here.
"It's something you see happen in other places. You don't realize the impact that it has on people until you live it in your country with your people. That's when you realize how awful it is. It is one of the worst things that can happen – now to a nation like Spain."
Carrion joined the team Tuesday to a slew of hugs in the Barcelona hotel lobby. Senior Keonta Vernon had FaceTimed with Carrion regularly in anticipation of the team's trip but junior Matt Jackson believes the tour excited Carrion more than his former teammates.
Even incoming freshmen Roberts Blumbergs and Alessandro Lever knew him well after Carrion was part of their campus visits and an international resource to call in their transitions.
"These are some of my best friends," Carrion said. "The coaches became like parents for the last three years."
Carrion became a GCU men's basketball success story without starring in the program. The walk-on, 5-foot-11 guard was a favorite to GCU Arena fans for his rare game appearances and to teammates for his personality and work ethic as a scout team player.
He came to Phoenix without knowing English, immediately became a straight-A student and left as a member of the Western Athletic Conference Honors Court for student-athletes with academic distinction.
"He was loved around campus," Jackson said. "Being a walk-on is hard. They do everything we do and don't get to play. Credit to him for helping the team get better and not thinking about himself. That's what the fans like to see, an all-about-the-team guy."
In April, Carrion graduated from GCU after three years of study for a degree in business management. He moved to the Canary Islands, where his parents relocated, and served an internship with a wine company. He now is an intern for a sports event company.
This week, Carrion is part of the team again. He looks like staff, watching practices and games courtside with a Lopes basketball shirt and advice. It gives a sense of normalcy to Carrion and the team.
Watching Lopes head coach Dan Majerle also did that for him.
"Coach Majerle hasn't changed much," Carrion said with a smile. "It's weird to see him from here now."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballGCU Men's Basketball vs. Fresno State - Postgame Radio with Bryce Drew
Wednesday, March 11
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Fresno State - Postgame Radio with Brian Moore Jr.
Wednesday, March 11
What's Ahead for the Mountain West Tournament?
Monday, March 09
GCU Men's Basketball vs. Fresno State - Postgame with Dusty Stromer, Brian Moore Jr.
Sunday, March 08