Today's student-athlete question and answer was with men's basketball junior guard Jared Fagan.  Fagan, a native of Morgantown, West Virginia, has appeared in four of the Lakers seven games so far this season and 14 for his Mercyhurst career.  He has totaled eight points and six rebounds in his time in Erie.  Before coming to Mercyhurst, Fagan attended and was a multi-sport athlete at Notre Dame High School participating in basketball and soccer.  In 2017, he helped his school capture the West Virginia A State Championship.

Mercyhurst focused questions:
What made you choose Mercyhurst?  I chose Mercyhurst because it is a beautiful campus and had a major that I wanted to pursue.  

What is your major and why did you choose it?  I am a Bioinformatics major.  I chose this because it combines a lot of my interests and give me a variety of real world opportunities.  

What is the best thing about being at Mercyhurst?  The best thing about being at Mercyhurst is spending time with teammates. 

Do you have any pre or post game rituals?  I enjoy listening to music pre-game.  

Where do you hope to stop for a post-game meal?  I want to go to Sheetz.

What is your favorite sports memory so far at Mercyhurst?  The Elite Eight run we made my freshman year.  

What is your team's focus this season?  We want to accomplish big things!  Plain and simple.

Does being an athlete help you in the classroom?  If so why?  Definitely, it helps with time management skills and makes you hold yourself accountable.  

Personal questions:
If you could be in any movie which role would you want to play and why?  I would want to play Darth Vader in Star Wars, I always thought he was so cool growing up.

Who is your favorite athlete (current or retired)?  My favorite athlete is current Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook. 

What are some of your favorite ways to spend time outside of your sport?  I enjoy spending time with my friends and family.

Do you have any pets?  Yes, I have a collie named Reilly.  

If you were able to see 20 years into the future what do you hope exists and why?  I hope we have a peaceful and eco-friendly world.  

What is something unique and interesting about you that we should know?  I cannot dance no matter how hard I try.

If you could go anywhere in the world for vacation where would it be and why?  I would like to go back to Ireland.  I have been there before and cannot wait to have a chance to go back.  

If you could swap lives with a celebrity for a week who would it be and why?  I would switch with Drake, just so I could live in his house for a week.

If you could play another sport what would it be and why?  I would play soccer, because I really like to watch it.

What is your favorite family tradition?  My favorite family tradition is our Secret Santa at Christmas which is always fun.  

If you could have one superpower what would it be and why?  I would want to be able to fly, so I could travel all around the world.

What was something you did not like as a child, but do now?  Sushi

What was your favorite game as a child?  Monopoly

Who is your biggest role model?  My biggest role models are my parents, because they have taught me everything that I know.  

What was your first experience with your sport?  My first experience with basketball is playing with my mom and dad on a little tikes hoop we had in the house.

Who are some of your favorite college or professional teams?  My favorite college team is the West Virginia University Mountaineers, while in the professional ranks it is the Oklahoma City Thunder and Arsenal Football Club.

If you could have any band or solo act perform a private concert for you who would it be and why?  I would want The 1975 to perform as they are my favorite band.  

What is your favorite sports memory so far at any level?  My favorite sports memory is winning my school's first state championship my junior year of high school.