After one of the most unforgettable seasons in the Stony Brook men’s basketball team’s recent history, newcomer guard Joe Octave has big shoes to fill — a challenge he has been prepared for his whole life.

A native of Gardena, Calif., Octave hails from a side of the country that Seawolves players are not often from. For the longest time, Octave solely knew West Coast basketball, which centers around finesse and skill; it is a style that has greatly shaped the player he has become.

When Octave began his basketball journey at five years old, his inspiration was his father Ro Octave, who also played college basketball at Biola University and Long Beach State. However, injuries derailed his career. He then transitioned to playing with his son, which spawned a tradition amongst them that involved putting up shots early on Saturday mornings.

“He didn’t get to have the college career he wanted,” Octave said. “I’m just trying to play for him.”

Octave was a multi-sport athlete growing up, and he joked that football and soccer were endeavors to improve his footwork. As time went on, it became clear that his future was on the hardwood floor, as his dreams began to materialize in high school.

“Give credit to my parents for finding a school,” Octave said. “For me, it was a great position because it wasn’t the winningest school in the South Bay where I’m from, and I helped push the profile of the program. Scored a lot of points, won a lot of games, made a lot of memories.”

Mary Star of the Sea High School in Los Angeles is not particularly known for its athletics program. However, Octave brought the school to prominence through his standout high school career. His averages of 24.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game over his four years culminated in Octave recording a program record 2,768 points and 791 rebounds. Additionally, he also set Mary Star of the Sea’s all-time assists (233) and steals (193) records.

His eye-catching statistics resulted in a fair share of accolades too. Octave is a three-time All-State and All-Area selection, earned All-Santa Fe League honors all four years, is a two-time Santa Fe League Most Valuable Player and a McDonald’s All-American Game nominee.

During his high school days, Octave also played for NBA player Russell Westbrook’s “Why Not?” Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team, which gave him a taste of the highest level of competition achievable for a high schooler. He faced current professionals constantly, including Jaime Jaquez Jr., Josh Christopher and Cassius Stanley — all of whom have NBA experience.

“It was a great experience,” said Octave. “I played high-level competition every single day when I was playing NBA players in practice and Power Five guys every single weekend.”

Although his AAU stint showed Octane how far he had come, it also served as a representation of how far he still was from his dream of playing Division I basketball. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it left Octane with the time to refine his game to the level it needed to be at.

“I really buckled down,” Octave said. “I was getting a lot more shots up on my own, working out multiple times a day. When the pandemic happened, that was the end of my prep year and I was like, ‘It’s time.’”

In the summer before his junior year, Octane had received his first offers. First, a call from San Jose State, followed by Montana, then other letters began to pile on. While his recruitment slowed down before his senior season, a perfect match appeared: Air Force. Octave committed to the school just a day after his visit.

Octane’s time with the Falcons was transformative. A combination of being mentored by A.J. Walker — one of the best guards in the program’s history — and being coached by head coach Joe Scott resulted in Octane taking strides on and off the court.

“This whole basketball thing is just about being a better person,” Octave said. “They helped me become a better person at the end of the day.”

As a true freshman, Octave was given playing opportunities. He entered the court in 16 games and averaged 3.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. However, the realization of the ins-and-outs of college basketball resulted in Octave reaching one of the lowest points of his career, which included him contemplating walking away from basketball altogether. 

“College basketball is different,” Octave said. “It’s a different game. It’s honestly a business.”

In those tough moments, he reflected on the passion his younger self had for the sport. The shots he would put up in his backyard after AAU games and the countless joyous practices he had came to mind, as Octave’s love for basketball was reignited. 

“My faith and my family got me through it,” Octave said. “Whenever I’m struggling now, I just look back on those moments and know I’m not doing it for myself. I’m doing it for other people and I try to pass it on to the younger guys and be the best I can be for them.”

One of those family members that Octave turned to was his father. As someone who faced his own hardships during his collegiate career, his father helped his son turn his career around. Octave became a mainstay in Air Force’s rotation in the latter half of the 2020-21 campaign and built off the momentum in his sophomore year.

Octave began his second collegiate season with a bang, as he helped the Falcons win the Sunshine Slam tournament and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

Octave’s numbers went up across the board in the 2021-22 year. As a starter, he posted 8.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. That season also featured a notable improvement in Octane’s three-point shooting, as he shot 37.0% (17-for-46) from beyond the arch compared to 21.4% (3-for-14) as a rookie.

Furthermore, he made a name for himself in the team’s lone Mountain West Championship contest — a loss to Utah State. Octave delivered 21 points and 10 rebounds in what would be his final game with Air Force.

While appreciative of his time as a Falcon, Octave’s dream of playing basketball professionally continued to grow, prompting him to look for a move to a bigger program. He entered the transfer portal and received attention from several prominent schools such as Rice, Pepperdine and South Dakota. However, Octave had his heart set on Holy Cross.

In his two years with the Crusaders, Octave reached new heights, as he registered 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game on a .432/.317/.698 shooting line. In his senior season, he had the sixth-most points per game (14.6) and the 10th-most rebounds per contest (6.0) in the Patriot League, which helped him garner 2023-24 Third-Team All Patriot League honors.

With a single year left of eligibility, Octave entered the portal again to see what was out there. He received offers ranging from Power Five to low-major schools and nearly decided to return to Holy Cross. However, a sneaky connection to Stony Brook was the determining factor.

“The coach who got me to Air Force had known Coach [Geno Ford] for 40-plus years,” Octave said. “So, when I heard that, I got on the phone with Coach Ford and came up and visited him and I fell in love with the place.”

Now with four years of collegiate experience under his belt, Octave’s priorities not only lied on the impact he had on the court to winning but also what his role was on his teammates, both on and off the hardwood.

“I try to tell the coaches that I’m really just here to help push the culture forward,” Octave said. “I feel like it starts with culture and we’ve got the coaches who did a great job recruiting great guys.”

Due to the Seawolves’ roster being composed of largely new faces, Octave’s role will likely fluctuate throughout the season. However, one given is his presence on the top of opponents’ scouting reports.

“I just want to be the best player possible to help us win,” Octave said. “That’s the goal.”

Octave will make his Stony Brook debut on Nov. 4, when the team plays the No. 18 Marquette Golden Eagles.