Tevin Skeete was late to volleyball. Growing up in Georgetown, Guyana, a small country located on South America's North Atlantic coast, Skeete didn't pick up volleyball until he came to the United States and got acquainted with the sport at the suggestion of his basketball coach to keeping in shape for the season.
 
Skeete was a raw and athletic talent, using his 6-foot, 6-inch frame to his advantage. He quickly improved during his two years before landing on the State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team. Skeete continued to grow, seeing his minutes increase season by season for the Hawks, and eventually found his way into the starting lineup in 2019 as a junior where he helped SUNY New Paltz to the program's second national championship. Looking back on the experience, Skeete never imagined he'd ever hoist a national title and be where he is today. 
 
"Coming from Guyana, being a kid that was picked last for sports and things like that, just had the height, didn't really have the talent, I had to put in a lot of hard work to get to where I am," Skeete said. "To be a national champion right now, starting on that team, being a contributor to that, it's surreal. It's a testament to what hard work and dedication gets you. You can't make this stuff up. Who would have thought a kid who never touched a volleyball until he was in 11th grade — I think I was 17 at the time — coming to a school that already had a national championship and then making some sort of impact to help bring another one home and being one of those main guys, every time I think about it I'm like, 'no way man.'"
 
As a kid, Skeete spent a lot of time with his family, aunts, cousins and grandma all living under one roof. It was what made growing up for Skeete fun, and when reminiscing on that time, he realized how much his mother sacrificed for him. He attributes who he is, and all he has accomplished to his mom, Annette, who has yet to watch her son play in person.
 
"My dad he was there for the most part, but mostly the responsibility of raising me and stuff was placed mostly on my mom. Everything I have now, everything I have accomplished is a tribute towards that. I feel like I would have never made it here if it wasn't for my experience as a kid. I would say it was a great experience. I learned a lot and it made me a tougher person and the person I am today," Skeete said. "I watched my mom struggle. Like I said, my dad was there but he had his own stuff going on, but my mom — there were certain days where I didn't know we couldn't afford to eat. I got to eat, but she didn't. She never told me this is our situation. I just figured it out and saw the way my mom was living and then she had my sister. When my sister came along things got a little bit tougher and she had to take care the both of us.  
"My mom has never seen me play an actual volleyball game," he continued. "She's never been able to get that experience. I could call her up and tell her about all the accomplishments I've had, but she's never been able to experience that stuff first hand. It's sad when I think about it, because everything she has done she should at least be able to enjoy everything I have accomplished up to this point first hand. Life doesn't always go how you want it to go, but I'm just grinding and doing it for her."
 
Skeete was 17-years old when he came to the U.S., enrolling at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens. He still has a close relationship with his teachers and guidance counselor who helped him along the way. He relishes in the memories he spent at Benjamin Cardozo, still going back to visit when he has the opportunity.
 
"I go back to my high school seeing how everything is with them," Skeete said. "They message me, checking to see how I'm doing. Every single accomplishment I have gotten, they have been extremely proud of me. They all had a hand in getting me to this point. Everything I have accomplished, academics, athletics, these are people who are responsible for it… my grandma, my mom, my aunts, those are the people who made it possible for me to come to the United States and be able to have this experience and meet all these people. They did above and beyond for me. My family and the faculty of Benjamin Cardozo to get me here."
 
Basketball, not volleyball, was Skeete's main sport when he first attended Benjamin Cardozo. Spotted by the assistant basketball coach, Skeete was invited for a tryout that consisted of just him and the coaching staff who saw Skeete's athleticism and potential. Skeete made the team, but didn't see much of the floor that season, maybe playing a collective 20 minutes the entire year. To stay in shape for basketball, his coaches suggested he play volleyball in the offseason in the hopes of improving his vertical as well. He had never even seen a volleyball before, let alone played, but it was a life-altering decision for Skeete.
 
Benjamin Cardozo volleyball coach Daniel Scarola took the time to mentor Skeete, helping him develop his game and make the transition from basketball to volleyball, which ultimately, changed the trajectory of Skeete's life.  
"I never played the sport a day in my life before." Skeete said. "I had a goal and I had a mission to succeed no matter the cost. Even if it meant me doing something that I didn't originally intend to do, it was necessary and I definitely fell in love with the sport, and now I'm here."
 
Skeete fell in love with volleyball and knew immediately he wanted to continue playing collegiately. His college advisor suggested SUNY New Paltz as a good choice, having both the major he wanted (engineering) and an elite men's volleyball program, and took an unpaid day off to bring Skeete for an on-campus visit. 
 
Skeete was in awe of the level of volleyball, as the Hawks had just came off their first NCAA Division III Championship in 2016. He showed head coach Radu Petrus some film. The veteran coach saw the potential and brought Skeete into the program. 
 
"The first time I came was the first time I saw what real volleyball looked like… These dudes were twice my size, flying, bouncing balls and I was like, 'Wow. I don't know if I can do this,'" said Skeete, "But then when I talked to Radu and showed him some video and stuff he said, 'OK, we can work with you,' with his deep Eastern European accident.
 
"I figured if I was going to play Division III volleyball then I am going to play at the best Division III school there is. The guys were really welcoming when I first saw them and that's how that journey started."
  Skeete struggled in his first season as a Hawk and thought about ending his collegiate career early. However, after talking with SUNY New Paltz assistant coach Tony Bonilla, Skeete was reassured he'd get better as long as he continued putting the time in. Skeete was determined to see his minutes on the floor expand and worked hard over the summer to improve his game. He played in 25 of 26 matches his sophomore season, contributing 81 kills and ranked third on the team in blocks with 29 to set up a career year in 2019, which ended in a national championship.
 
"Freshman year was very, very tough, because like I said I came in and saw these guys — huge, playing volleyball like crazy. I didn't see much of the court that year… Before that second year, my coach Tony [Bonilla] said, 'things are going to get better, but you can't quit,' because I was ready to hang it up. I'm competitive and I came from a place where I was the main guy, people looked up to me," Skeete said. "If I looked at my game then and now, my game has improved exponentially. I would have never thought I would be able to play volleyball the way I am playing today. It's not where I want to be. I want to be a lot better, but compared to then to now — yeah man, I couldn't tell you this would happen at all."
 
During the 2019 campaign Skeete put up career numbers, playing in 104 sets and totaling 116 kills and 152.5 points on the season with a team-best 57 blocks. He had an even bigger role during the UVC and NCAA Tournament. In six matches he totaled 34 kills and 21 blocks, including having a nine-block performance in the UVC Championship to help SUNY New Paltz to a conference title and an automatic bid into the national tournament. Skeete then aided the Hawks with six kills and two blocks, hitting .300 in a 3-1 victory over UC Santa Cruz in the national title game.
 
"Winning that national championship was a highlight of my life," he said. "It highlighted my country. It highlighted where I'm from and helped put my little contribution on the map. That's something bigger than me. It means everything to me to be a part of that team and contribute."
 
Skeete credited his mom and family with everything he has accomplished, including becoming a national champion.
 
"My main source of motivation comes from my mom because I've seen how hard she has worked. The sacrifices she has made to put me in this position and give me a life that she never had," Skeete said. "It's just tough knowing everything my mom sacrificed and still is sacrificing now, because I am here and she's still in Guyana. My goal is to one day get her here and give her the life she never had, because she did that for me."
 
It has been two years since Skeete has gone back to his hometown in Guyana, and two years since he's seen his mom and family. He hopes to go back soon.
 
"The last time I went back was two years ago. I haven't been back since, but hoping to go soon…. For everything that I do here, I do it for her and I did it also for my younger sister. Those two are my biggest inspiration and motivation. And then my family here who has taken care of me, my grandma Annette Skeete, my aunts, auntie, my uncle, the faculty at Benjamin Cordozo — everyone that I have come across in my life has only ever wanted to see me do great things with it. They took time out of their schedule, took time out of their day, and I just want to say thank you. Because of you, a kid from Guyana that he wanted to make something of himself, didn't know how, was able to come here get a scholarship, practically go here for free and become a national champion. This is all because of you."

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