When Munis Tutu arrived at Carleton last summer, he didn’t talk much.
“When I first came to Carleton, I wasn’t as comfortable with my teammates, not as talkative and stuff,” the point guard said. “Once I did get comfortable with them, a different side of me came out.”
After finishing his first season as a Raven, Tutu has grown into a leader and a more vocal personality both on and off the court.
“Basketball-wise, my biggest challenge is growing into a leader because throughout my years growing up . . . I wasn’t a vocal kid and people have tried to get that out of me—my coaches—but I would just never give in,” he recalled.
Being around what he calls a “championship culture” changed that.
“Since coming here and having personal talks with coach Dave and coach Rob [Smart], being vocal and being a leader as a point guard is something that’s really important playing at the next level,” the Windsor native said.
Tutu always had dreams of playing at the next level—whether it be the NBA or Europe—and had the potential to do so.
He was ranked among North Pole Hoops’ top five Canadian players in his high school class. Tutu committed to Loyola Marymount University and played there for two years before transferring to Carleton.
“I wanted to stay [division one] but the schools that reached out to me, I didn’t want to end up in a similar situation like I was at Loyola Marymount,” he said.
Tutu, who says Carleton is division one quality, didn’t think he’d end up with the Ravens but he has.
“It wasn’t in my vision for this to be the route that I would get there, but this is honestly, I’d say, the best decision for me to end up in one of those situations,” he said. “I know playing at Carleton is going to help my game on and off the court.”
It has made him a better leader and more selfless.
“If you’re into yourself, that’s where your teammates won’t like you and you can’t become a leader if you just care about yourself,” he explained. He knows—he says he’s been that person before.
“Growing up, I was always worried about myself and worried about what’s next,” he said. “Here, I’m all bought in, I’m all about my teammates, all about my coaches and wanting to win.”
So, what was the reason for the change?
“I just don’t think I had people in my corner like that, so I was always thinking about myself because I didn’t think I had the help necessary to help me—whether it was on or off the court,” he said on his previous attitude.
He has bought in now, as he said it’s also about holding teammates accountable.
“Being a leader, you’re all bought in all the way. You’re not bought in 50 per cent—you’re in 100 per cent,” he said.
“Your teammates have to be able to trust you and you got to have real relationships with your teammates. Tell them what they don’t want to hear but at the same time, they take that criticism and want to get better,” he added.
He’s taken the long road. Tutu was born in Cairo, Egypt to Sudanese parents, moved to Windsor at nine months old, and went to La Lumière prep school in LaPorte, Ind., then Loyola Marymount.
“I think about my journey every day when I got to get through hard times because throughout my whole life, I’ve gotten through adversity and I’ve been to different places in terms of leaving my family, going to play basketball and all that,” he said.
Tutu calls himself a “physical, aggressive” player on the court but also someone who cared for his friends growing up.
“That’s a big reason why I’m a team player and I think my teammates would vouch for me as one of the most caring guys on the team,” he said.
Tutu also calls himself “a family person.” His family, especially his mom, are largely part of what motivates him every day.
“Just wanting to reach my full potential,” he said. “I know I have talent that God gave me and I just want to make the most of that. I know if I do, I can take care of my family and my people around me one day.”
He’s on a path to do so, winning a silver medal with Canada at the Commonwealth Games last April and being recently named tournament MVP at this year’s House-Laughton Tournament.
Tutu remains optimistic: “Even if stuff didn’t go the way I wanted at Loyola Marymount, there can always be a light at the end of the tunnel and for me, that was Carleton.”
Photo by Valerie Wutti
