By Jeff Griesch
Nebraska Athletic Communications
MiCole Cayton is a happy but hungry Husker.
The graduate transfer from Stockton, Calif., has spent the last three seasons trying to work her way back to the court full time after suffering an ACL tear late in the first game of her sophomore season at California in November of 2017.
Now, nearly five years since she originally committed to becoming a Husker, Cayton is finally at Nebraska – a place she calls "home."
"I am beyond happy. I have always called this place my second home, and I knew this place was very special ever since I was 17 and committed to play here," Cayton said. "When my mom, dad and younger sister moved me here a few weeks ago, it was the first time my mom and sister had come to Lincoln. They never understood why I loved this place so much, but by the time it was time for them to leave, they refused because they had loved everything about this place. That was a real sentimental moment for me."
Although Cayton is happy to finally be living in a place she is already calling home, she knows nothing is guaranteed when it comes to health on the basketball court. But it is her intimate knowledge of the struggle and hardships that have come along with her college career that have made her so hungry to be a Husker.
"I am approaching this season as a fresh start, back home where I started," Cayton said. "I have always called this place my home, so I feel like I am picking up where I left off, except that it is definitely a fresh start. I am so happy to be back in this environment with all of these Husker fans."
Cayton originally signed with Nebraska out of high school as part of a top-15 national recruiting class in November 2015.
However, her plans changed following Nebraska's 2015-16 season that concluded with a coaching change.
Amidst the uncertainty, Cayton chose to stay closer to her family and compete for Cal. She was an All-Pac-12 Freshman honorable-mention choice in 2016-17 after starting 13 games, including the last 12 of the season for the Bears. She scored a career-high 18 points to start that 12-game stretch with a win over No. 13 UCLA, and ended the 12-game span with two starts in the 2017 NCAA Tournament.
After a strong summer of 2017, Cayton opened her sophomore season with 13 points, including a career-best three three-pointers in a win over always-tough Saint Mary's (Nov. 10). But she suffered a torn right ACL with 1:47 left in the win over the Gaels and missed the rest of the 2017-18 season.
As a redshirt sophomore in 2018-19, Cayton returned to the court to play games against Pacific, Tulane and San Diego in November before undergoing surgery to repair cartilage in her right knee, ending another season in Berkeley.
At times, the emotional toll was tough on Cayton. She continued to fight to find the motivation to continue to work and believe she could overcome the physical challenges she faced with her knee injuries.
"I experienced what it felt like to be alone in a process all by yourself. I experienced what it felt like to be lonely and sad," Cayton said. "Regardless of those feelings, I couldn't just sit back and feel sorry for myself. Instead, I maintained a positive mindset through it all and kept pushing myself to get better every day. I attended rehab every day of the week, and I was very determined and positive that I was going to get back on the court very soon."
More physical adversity defined her fourth season at Cal. She did not play in 2019-20, undergoing another surgery to replace cartilage in her right knee. The Bears also underwent a coaching change before her final season in Berkeley, with Charmin Smith taking over for Lindsay Gottlieb, who accepted an assistant coaching position with NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.
"It was very hard for me the past three years physically, mentally and emotionally, but God only gives his battles to his toughest soldiers and I am beyond glad he picked me," Cayton said. "There were still a lot of things I needed to develop within myself and I really needed to mature, so while I wasn't playing basketball I was learning how to become more of a team player from the sidelines. I was learning more about my teammates, trying my best to take on a leadership role, and be a positive senior role model for them on and off the court. I am blessed that God placed me in this situation because it has only helped me to prove to myself that I can handle anything."
Cayton is also confident that her time on the sideline learning the nuances of the game while working to help her teammates has made her a more intelligent basketball player.
"I was able to learn how different my teammates are on the court and that not everyone was me, so I took different approaches toward everyone on the team in the way I voiced things to them," Cayton said. "I was able to be in coaches' shoes and demonstrate to my team what I was seeing as they were playing. It helped me to become a way smarter basketball player. I am really looking forward to doing the same thing here at Nebraska and sharing my knowledge and experience with my new teammates."
While Cayton's abilities as a leader and teammate have grown through her experiences working to overcome injuries, it is clear she has the hunger, the heart, and the resiliency to be a leader for the Huskers on the court.
"My ACL is as good as new and it has had three years to get stronger. According to MRIs it seems to be no problem at all," Cayton said. "The loss of cartilage had to be restored and those two surgeries have been done. I will bring a lot of experience, leadership and vocal talk to help this team succeed this year. I think I will also bring my quickness, my ability to get to the rim and my ability to play defense and to shoot from the perimeter."
Nebraska Coach Amy Williams said Cayton's energy and experience could help her make an impact for the Huskers.
"MiCole has an infectious competitive spirit and drive to be her very best," Williams said. "Her high energy and passion along with her experience as a collegiate athlete make her a great fit for our program."
Cayton's spirit, energy and passion for the game started with a life-long admiration of former NBA star Kevin Garnett, who was a 15-time All-Star and 12-time member of the NBA All-Defensive Team from 1995 to 2016.
"Kevin Garnett is the reason I play basketball," Cayton said. "His desire, hunger and drive just makes me super-excited and gets me all hyped up to keep going and never quit."
Garnett, who spent 21 years in the NBA and is regarded as one of the greatest power forwards in league history, wore No. 21 as a star for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The same number that Cayton chose to wear at St. Mary's High School in Stockton and at California. As a Husker, Cayton will be wearing No. 5 - the number Garnett wore while leading the Boston Celtics to the 2008 NBA title.
"My favorite player of all time is Kevin Garnett, because of his infectious energy, ability to lead, and the amount of heart he plays with. His passion, desire, and hunger for the game symbolize all of the reasons why I refused to give up after three years of injuries."
While Garnett serves as Cayton's inspiration, her tireless work ethic and commitment to finishing challenging tasks has been derived from people much closer to home.
The daughter of a teacher (Michael) and a nurse practitioner (Karen), Cayton focused on her academics while working tirelessly on her rehab from injury. She earned her bachelor's degree in legal studies from Cal this spring.
She sees herself becoming an attorney specializing in education in the future. However, she has decided to pursue a master's degree in agricultural sciences at Nebraska while she continues what she hopes will be a two or three-year career on the court.
"Our family knows a lot about hard work and dedication," Cayton said. "They will never let me give up on my dreams no matter what, and that also shapes me into the person I am today."
While her parents and three sisters (Kayla, Michelle and Anissia) have helped mold her as a person, Cayton's faith has strengthened her resilience during challenging times.
"I am the type of person that holds God really close to my heart, and I know he has a plan for me three years later," Cayton said. "Every day he has been guiding me in the right direction and so far everything has been very successful. I can't wait to see what the man above has in store for me. It's all his plan and his timing. I have grown in so many different ways, I am more mature, and I feel like I know what my purpose is. Now it's time to put it all to action."