POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – In a program run by John Dunne, nothing is given and everything is earned.
 
The head coach of the Marist University men's basketball program has instilled a culture of toughness, hard work, and selflessness. Players who become leaders gravitate toward it, not necessarily with a formal label.
 
Until now.
 
For the first time in his eight seasons as head coach at Marist, Dunne has officially named a captain: junior point guard Jadin Collins-Roberts.
 
"Leadership comes organically, but I did think it was important to put a label on what Jadin's leadership has meant to this program since day one as a freshman," Dunne said. "He's been second to none as far as his maturity, his high character, his mental toughness, and just his overall coachability. That goes a long way in this program."
 
Collins-Roberts' leadership and the rise of the Marist men's basketball team have gone hand in hand. The Red Foxes have won 18 and 20 games in his two seasons, and the total of 38 wins marks the program's best two-year stretch in 17 years. Marist's 20-win season last year was its fifth in its history. In his time at Marist, Collins-Roberts has started all 61 of the team's games.
 
High character plus team success equaled that the time was right to make an important distinction. On the morning of Friday, Oct. 17, Dunne called Collins-Roberts along with seniors Jaden Daughtry and Elijah Lewis into his office. During that meeting, Dunne informed Collins-Roberts of the decision to name him captain while also including Daughtry and Lewis in the program's leadership group. The entire team was then informed following that day's practice.
 
"It's an honor," Collins-Roberts said. "He's coached so many good players and good people that for me to be his first, it's an honor. It feels good that he recognizes the hard work I put in and the way I try to lead the team every day on the court, and off the court too."
 
Collins-Roberts' leadership has also been on display to a national audience. In 2024, he was selected to participate in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group (SAEG). The group consists of one student-athlete from each conference, and it serves as a subgroup to the Men's Basketball Oversight Committee.
 
"It's been a cool experience," Collins-Roberts said. "It's been different than anything I've been a part of. … You have to put time and thought into it. You get to know the ins and outs of rules and certain awards you get."
 
Leadership has always come naturally to Collins-Roberts, which has come just by being himself and setting an example. While the trajectory is pointing upward for the program's success on the court, Collins-Roberts has also made an impact on the Marist community for his work off the floor.
 
A Communication major, Collins-Roberts was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic Team last year, and he has been recognized on the conference's Academic Honor Roll each of the past two years. He is on track to earning his Bachelor's degree in three years. His collaboration with Marist's Fashion department has seen him take part in the Silver Needle Runway fashion show, and his clothing brand (So Be It) is available at Marist Mporium.
 
"He really is the prototypical student-athlete," Dunne said.