A solitary figure, backpack slung over one shoulder, walked toward the court of the Richmond Coliseum after a quiet word with his coach.

Reduced to a spectator after a serious knee injury two weeks ago, Trian Iliadis spent his final CAA Tournament encouraging his teammates from the bench, offering what support he could. It wasn’t how he wanted to end his ODU career, but in the moments after the game, Iliadis reflected on four life-changing years as a Monarch.

“It’s been an experience I’m never going to forget,” Iliadis said. “To come halfway around the world and play games, win championships, the teammates I’ve had, some of the best guys I’ve ever been around, the coaches — it’s something that I’m going to remember the rest of my life.”

Monarch fans will remember Iliadis as a long-distance shooter, a good teammate, a smart player and an even-smarter student. He’ll remember them as another family in his time playing basketball halfway around the globe.

“When I got here, the first game, I realized I’m in a special place,” he said. “I just want to say thank you to the fans for accepting me. I didn’t know as a foreigner how I’d be accepted, and they loved me as soon as I got here. I couldn’t ask for anything more. And my teammates and coaches, they’re my brothers. They’ll be friends the rest of my life.”

Iliadis said his knee is recovering well from last Wednesday’s surgery, and he hopes to be back on the court soon, forever a Monarch.