He had his chances to walk away. There were six games left in his junior season when Justin Fry suffered a knee injury that required surgery, but he missed just five contests and returned in time to make a huge impact in UMBC’s run to the 2009 America East championship game, scoring 19 points in the Retrievers’ quarterfinals upset victory over Boston University.

As soon as Chris De La Rosa arrived on campus at UMBC in the fall of 2008, the comparisons began. Like the Retrievers’ incumbent point guard, Jay Greene, De La Rosa was undersized, though at 5-foot-10, he had a few inches on Greene. Both were capable scorers and even better passers.

Whether he is in the classroom or on the basketball court, UMBC junior guard Brian Hodges is determined to make the most of his time. Hodges has been in the starting lineup just three times this season for the Retrievers, who over the past two years have discovered quite the sixth man in their rotation. This season, Hodges leads the team with a 16.2-point average despite playing just 24.9 minutes per game. (for more, read the complete story)

Men’s basketball team manager Armando Cadogan, a.k.a. Panama, does it all. When he's not in school or helping out with the team, Panama appears on the HBO series The Wire, designs clothing, has his own record label and is a musician.

He may keep getting knocked down, but UMBC junior forward Mike Housman will not stay down. Read more about UMBC's junior forward who is leading the America East Conference in field goal percentage.