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
Photo by: Slaven Gujic
Senior spotlight: Cheick Sy-Savane
2/27/2018 4:17:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Cheick Sy-Savane came to Grand Canyon for the student experience and could have wound up among the Havocs at basketball games.
Instead, Sy-Savane became a Havocs favorite for the walk-on guard's occasional late-game entrances.
Sy-Savane is among four GCU seniors who will suit up for their final home game Saturday at GCU Arena. It is also the final week of regular-season practices at GCU Basketball Practice Facility, where he earned the coaches' favor and made his greatest contributions.
"Cheick is a tremendous scorer," Lopes head coach Dan Majerle said. "Whoever we're playing, we tell Cheick he's their best player (on the scout team). He gets our guys ready for that game because he can really score. All those guys don't get any credit but they work just as hard as the other guys with none of the fanfare. I appreciate what Cheick does. He comes in every day, never complains and give us his all."
Sy-Savane grew up in Harlem and earned All-America second team honors in National Junior College Athletic Association Division III. He averaged 27.5 points in 2015-16 at Suffolk County Community College in Selden, N.Y., but came to GCU to be solely a student on the recommendation of his high school basketball coach, whose father taught at GCU.
"This has completed the college experience, especially when you go into something having no expectations and everything that you didn't know that you wanted is fulfilled," Sy-Savane said.
Sy-Savane was invited to join the team after going to a midseason walk-on tryout, which GCU held because of a rash of injuries. Within a week, Majerle put Sy-Savane into a game.
"I had no idea what the plays were," Sy-Savane said. "I didn't know what was going on. It was a random play and I didn't follow the play. I saw the rim and had a clear vision of the rim so I shot it (and made the 3-pointer). I looked back at Majerle and was like, 'That's who I am. That's what's going to happen.' I just thank him for giving me the opportunity."
Sy-Savane made five appearances this season and connected on three of four 3-point shots. But for Saturday's home finale and the WAC Tournament, he said he is more excited to see how seniors Joshua Braun and Keonta Vernon close their longtime GCU careers.
"As corny as it sounds, I love these guys," Sy-Savane said. "They're irreplaceable. The thing I'm going to miss most is my teammates. Thank God these guys picked me up."
Each day this week, a senior men's basketball player will be spotlighted to lead up to the final home game Saturday against Cal State Bakersfield.
Instead, Sy-Savane became a Havocs favorite for the walk-on guard's occasional late-game entrances.
Sy-Savane is among four GCU seniors who will suit up for their final home game Saturday at GCU Arena. It is also the final week of regular-season practices at GCU Basketball Practice Facility, where he earned the coaches' favor and made his greatest contributions.
"Cheick is a tremendous scorer," Lopes head coach Dan Majerle said. "Whoever we're playing, we tell Cheick he's their best player (on the scout team). He gets our guys ready for that game because he can really score. All those guys don't get any credit but they work just as hard as the other guys with none of the fanfare. I appreciate what Cheick does. He comes in every day, never complains and give us his all."
Sy-Savane grew up in Harlem and earned All-America second team honors in National Junior College Athletic Association Division III. He averaged 27.5 points in 2015-16 at Suffolk County Community College in Selden, N.Y., but came to GCU to be solely a student on the recommendation of his high school basketball coach, whose father taught at GCU.
"This has completed the college experience, especially when you go into something having no expectations and everything that you didn't know that you wanted is fulfilled," Sy-Savane said.
Sy-Savane was invited to join the team after going to a midseason walk-on tryout, which GCU held because of a rash of injuries. Within a week, Majerle put Sy-Savane into a game.
"I had no idea what the plays were," Sy-Savane said. "I didn't know what was going on. It was a random play and I didn't follow the play. I saw the rim and had a clear vision of the rim so I shot it (and made the 3-pointer). I looked back at Majerle and was like, 'That's who I am. That's what's going to happen.' I just thank him for giving me the opportunity."
Sy-Savane made five appearances this season and connected on three of four 3-point shots. But for Saturday's home finale and the WAC Tournament, he said he is more excited to see how seniors Joshua Braun and Keonta Vernon close their longtime GCU careers.
"As corny as it sounds, I love these guys," Sy-Savane said. "They're irreplaceable. The thing I'm going to miss most is my teammates. Thank God these guys picked me up."
Each day this week, a senior men's basketball player will be spotlighted to lead up to the final home game Saturday against Cal State Bakersfield.
Players Mentioned
GCU 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