Tonny Trocha Morelos
Coach
My Story
In Colombia is where my love for basketball began. At a young age, I moved to the capital city of Bogotá to pursue my dream of becoming an elite athlete. By the age of 15, I had the honor of representing my country at the U15 and U17 levels, making my first international appearance.
That same year, I received an invitation to train with Juventud de Badalona in Spain, where I competed with both my age group and the senior team. While Spain was an incredible experience, my ultimate dream was to play basketball in the United States.
At 17, I once again represented Colombia, this time as team captain, leading my squad to a third-place finish and a spot in the U18 World Cup Qualifiers. Although we didn’t advance, my performance opened new doors, including an invitation to the Adidas Nations Camp in Los Angeles. There, I played for the Latin American team, finishing first in the camp for blocked shots and helping my team secure big wins against some of the top international athletes. I was also invited to the Reebok Showcase in Philadelphia, where I earned a spot in the All-Star Game.
In 2013, I was part of a highly competitive recruiting class, receiving offers from prestigious programs such as Texas A&M, Kentucky, Arizona, Providence, UCLA, Georgetown, and others. The process wasn’t easy... learning English and passing standardized tests as a foreign student was a major challenge. Even during this time, I knew it was part of the journey.
I decided to attend Texas A&M University, where I played all four years. During my time there, I helped the team win the SEC Conference Championship in 2016 and made two trips to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2016 and 2018. While earning a Bachelor of Science in University Studies (Business) and a minor in Sport Management and Leadership in the Class of 2018.
In 2019, my basketball career was put on hold due to a shoulder injury that sidelined me for an entire year. Just as I began returning to the court and starting my professional career, the pandemic struck, pausing everything once again. But my determination and discipline didn’t allow me to quit.
I eventually earned the opportunity to represent my country at a senior national team level, which opened doors to compete in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Colombia. Thanks to basketball, I’ve been able to play across Asia, Europe, and South America. Making lifelong friends, creating unforgettable memories, and winning championships along the way.
Through it all, basketball has taught me some of the most important lessons in life: discipline is the foundation of success, consistency and dedication can take you to the next level in sports and in life, and adversity is not a wall to stop you, but a test to push through. I’ve learned that sacrifice is often the price of achieving your dreams, and that everyone’s journey looks different. For some, success comes quickly, for others it can take years. But one thing is certain—you’ll never know where your journey can take you unless you’re willing to start.