Former Seton Hall Guard Asiah Avent Reflects on Playing Career, and Transition into Coaching

Published: Tuesday, May 6, 2025

by Miguel Freire

In just two seasons at Seton Hall, former Pirates guard Asiah Avent will long be remembered for being a part of one of the greatest Pirates teams in recent history.  

From helping Seton Hall win their first BIG EAST regular-season title since 1993, to appearing in the AP Top 25 a total of 16 times in a single season, which is second most in program history, Avent lived through success that the Pirates had not seen since the early 1990s. As he recalls his time in South Orange, Seton Hall will always be a place he remembers for the lifelong memories, friendships, and lessons learned that still stick with him today.

“One thing that comes back to mind is all the great memories and friendships that I’ve built throughout the course of my two years being there,” Avent said in an interview with WSOU Sports. “I gained lifelong relationships with a lot of players I’m still in contact with.” 

Though Avent graduated from Seton Hall in 2020, he mentions Shavar Reynolds and Myles Cale as two former teammates he remains close with. Fittingly, both of those players also happened to play key roles in games that Avent recalls as some of his favorites during his career. 

“Probably beating Kentucky or Shavar Reynolds hitting the buzzer beater against St. John’s. That would definitely be one of the top memories,” Avent said. While Reynolds’ game-winner is permanently ingrained in the Seton Hall-St. John’s rivalry history, the overtime win against Kentucky at Madison Square Garden saw Cale hit a game-winning three-pointer to cap off one of the program’s most iconic victories.  

“Definitely in the Garden when we played Kentucky and beat them as well. That was a classic game right there,” he added. 

While Avent’s Seton Hall journey was filled with many memorable moments, it ended on a sour note, as the COVID-19 pandemic marked the final page of his collegiate career. When asked what he remembers about the lost 2019-20 season, Avent said it was an unfortunate way it all ended.  

“That brought a lot of sadness around New Jersey, also within the Seton Hall family,” Avent recalls. The Pirates were widely considered to be a top three seed in many bracketology projections, and were seen as a team that had all the necessary pieces to make a deep run. 

“For us to be considered a two seed or a three seed in March Madness, we had a likelihood of hopefully being in that limelight of playing in the championship game or at least be in the Elite Eight. I think we had a really good group to take us as far as we could.”  

What helped him overcome the uncertainties during this period is a phrase that Avent learned at Seton Hall and still stands by to this day. “Control the Controllables,” a saying that former assistant coach Tony Skinn frequently referenced. Skinn currently serves as the head coach at George Mason but was on the Pirates coaching staff during Avent’s tenure in South Orange.   

“Life is going to hit you with a lot of blows, whether it’s something good or something bad, and you just got to weather the storm and control the controllables,” Avent said.  

One thing that Avent could control was the decision he faced at a crossroads directly after graduation. He had a few offers to play professionally overseas, but something else was pulling him in a different direction. His decision was one that marked the start of his next chapter, the beginning of his coaching career, with his primary inspiration being the opportunity to coach his younger brother, Julius.  

Avent recalls looking at his brother when he was in the seventh grade, who stood about 6-foot-2 at the time. It was a wake-up call that made Avent realize he needed to help prepare Julius for his future basketball career. 

“For me I was like, this kid is only 13, 14 years old, he’s looking at my eyes, maybe I need to take a sacrifice to get him ready and prepare him,” Avent said.  

Currently, Avent is a teacher at Bergen Catholic High School while also serving as the lead assistant coach for their varsity team. Additionally, he is an assistant coach for the U17 PSA Cardinals AAU Program. Both roles involve coaching his younger brother, whom he has mentored nearly every day since returning home from college.  

“I would constantly bring him to parks and put him in positions to play with older people so he could learn the physicality of the game,” Avent said. “He does the right things, he goes to bed on time, he eats the right foods, he works out religiously. He’s just somebody that loves the game, he listens, and he’s always willing to get better.”  

For the Avent family, Seton Hall blood runs deep; their father, Anthony Avent Sr., played for the Hall from 1988-91 and was a key contributor to the 1989 Final Four team that reached the National Championship game. Julius is now being heavily recruited by Seton Hall’s current staff, and likes the compelling storyline of potentially becoming the third member of the Avent family to suit up in a Pirates uniform.  

“The staff has been great towards Julius, they’ve been showing up to a lot of open gyms, a lot of games, a lot of AAU events,” Asiah Avent said regarding his brother’s recruitment. “He likes the staff, he likes the program, he likes the story of my father being there and me being there.”  

For Asiah Avent, Seton Hall will forever be a special place, where legacy, brotherhood, and purpose all began.

Miguel Freire can be reached at 12mfreire@gmail.com. 

 

Posted in: sports,