Michael Forrest, the respected senior guard for Florida Atlantic University, wasn’t available for Tuesday’s post-practice interviews with the rest of his Final Four-bound teammates.
Due to an unfathomable set of circumstances, Forrest, a 6-foot-1, 174-pound mechanical engineering major, only attended the first 30 minutes of Tuesday’s two-hour practice.
He had to leave because, get this, he had to attend class.
Who does that?
Who misses a Final Four practice to attend class?
And what kind of coach allows that to happen?
“We told Mike and his parents from Day One,” FAU coach Dusty May said, “if he wants to be an engineer we’re going to support him as long as he puts in the work and does everything.”
As you can tell, Forrest, the South Florida Sun Sentinel 9A-7A Player of the Year in 2018 as a senior at Pompano Beach Blanche Ely High School, isn’t your typical Final Four college basketball player.
Forrest, who has been dubbed “Mr. FAU,” is special.
He’s the school’s all-time leader in 3-pointers (305) and the fourth-leading scorer (1,617 points).
Forrest is also a big reason FAU (35-3) is headed to Houston for Saturday’s 6 p.m. Final Four semifinal matchup against San Diego State (31-6), a No. 5 seed, at NRG Stadium.
Connecticut, a No. 4 seed, plays the University of Miami, a No. 5 seed, in the other semifinal at 8:49 p.m. Both games will be televised on CBS. The winners play Monday night for the national championship.
But keep an eye on Forrest.
“He’s the foundation,” FAU sophomore guard Alijah Martin said of his teammate. “He came with coach. He set standards as well. He guides us. He’s a leader. And he’s also somebody you want to be like.”
Forrest, the only senior on the FAU squad, calmly sank four free throws in the final 18 seconds last weekend at Madison Square Garden to deliver a thrilling 79-76 victory over Kansas State and give the Owls their first Final Four appearance.
“When I first got fouled I was kind of glad they fouled me,” he said. “I knew I could knock it down because I know all the work I put into free throws.”
Forrest also played a big role in the Owls’ 62-55 Sweet 16 victory over Tennessee. He hit eight consecutive points — two 3-pointers and a layup — during a decisive 18-2 second-half run that helped lift the Owls to their first Elite Eight appearance.
When Forrest walked into the joyous FAU lockerroom after the game the team was chanting “Mike-y! Mike-y! Mike-y!”
But Forrest stopped the raucous festivities.
He then thanked his teammates for sticking with him during his two scoreless games to open the NCAA Tournament.
“I had to let the guys know, yeah, I was in a better headspace,” he said. “But it was really because of them. They just kept being positive and feeding me energy so I wasn’t thinking too much or being down on myself.”
Forrest, a fifth-year senior, was May’s first signee in 2018, May’s first year at FAU.
He’s held many roles since then.
As a freshman, Forrest was FAU’s starting point guard. As a sophomore, he was the starting shooting guard. As a junior, he was the team’s sixth man, and as a senior, he was the starting shooting guard. This year, he’s either the sixth, seventh or eighth man, depending on the flow of the game.
May raved about Forrest.
“He’s been a phenomenal teammate for every single day for five years,” May said. “And for him to sacrifice and give what he has over five years is impressive because he’s been a great ambassador for this program and someone that, as a staff, we can point to every single day and say, ‘It looks like that. That’s what the preparation looks like.’ "
Forrest is averaging 8.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 40.6% from the field, including 34.2% on 3-pointers, and 75.5% on free throws.
The 8.4 points per game and 21 minutes per game are the lowest of his career, even fewer than the 8.3 points and 28.4 minutes per game he averaged as a true freshman in the 2018-19 season.
Nevertheless, it’s been an amazing journey.
Forrest had college offers from Navy, Barry University, Jacksonville, American, Hofstra and James Madison.
But he chose FAU and couldn’t be happier.
This year, Forrest had a season-best 20 points in FAU’s early-season landmark 76-74 victory over the Florida Gators on Nov. 14 in Gainesville.
Forrest had 19 points against Texas-San Antonio on Feb. 24, going 7 for 12 from the field, including 3 of 6 on 3-pointers.
On and on it went all season. Forrest was consistently consistent, providing energy and leadership, and setting an example for the rest of the team.
If Forrest misses practice to attend class, he’ll watch film of the practice to see what he missed.
In Tuesday’s case, he missed the last 90 minutes of practice to attend an engineering design class. To hear him tell it, yes, he had to be there.
“I had to do a presentation for class,” said Forrest, who graduates in May. “It was a big part of my grade, so I had to show up.”
Forrest understands FAU is two victories from doing the improbable, winning the national title. But he hasn’t allowed himself to look that far ahead.
May, on the other hand, has glimpsed the future.
“It’s going to crush me when the season ends, hopefully it’s Tuesday, and we have our first workout in whatever, a week or two, and Mike Forrest isn’t in that gym with these guys,” May said.
“It’s going to be a sad, sad day.”
