Prior to the last home games of the season, Oregon State’s four seniors — Roberto Nelson, Devon Collier, Angus Brandt and walk-on Daniel Jones — took the podium at Tuesday’s press conference.

For nearly 30 minutes, the seniors on the men’s basketball team reflected on their careers. The presser was as entertaining as it was insightful.

The Barometer will run a story on Jones, a little-known walk-on, later this week, as well as profiles on Collier and Nelson in future weeks. But there were a few leftover nuggets worth sharing.

Nelson and Collier’s academic growth

Nelson and Collier both struggled academically in high school.

Robinson said the fact that both players are set to leave OSU with degrees is as fulfilling as watching them succeed on the court.

“The fact that that kid (Nelson) is going to have a degree from Oregon State is almost as shocking as the fact that we’re sitting here with an opportunity to be .500,” Robinson said.

Nelson, who Robinson said “was never in the class he was supposed to be in” when the OSU coaches would visit Nelson at Santa Barbara High School, will graduate with a degree in new media communications at the end of the term.

Nelson said he had twice as many doubters as supporters, adding that many thought he’d end up in junior college.

“Going back to (Santa Barbara), seeing some of the elementary and high school kids, they look up to me, I’m providing an example,” Nelson said. “I’m just hoping I can be one of those guys where they can look at and say, ‘Hey, Roberto went to college and got his degree and played (basketball).”

Collier faced similar doubters.

“I’ve had a lot of people doubting me my whole life,” Collier said. “It started in middle school, people saying I wouldn’t make it in high school. Then in high school, people saying I wouldn’t make it in college. I came a long way and I’m proud of my success.”

“Devon was one who didn’t really respect the academic process in high school, and he’s learned to do that here,” Robinson added. “He’s another one who, regardless of what happens to him, basketball-wise, after his career here, I will be much more impressed with the fact that he’ll have an Oregon State degree.”

Post-basketball aspirations

Nelson wants to go into the film industry — specifically, producing films. He also said he’d like to work with the Beavers Without Borders program, and would be interested in expanding it to include other Pac-12 schools.

Brandt wants to become a physical therapist, and said he hopes to go to graduate school once his playing days are over.

Jones plans on joining the family business of farming back in Hamilton City, Calif.

Collier?

“My goal after basketball is being an actor,” he said. “Get my own reality show.”

The answer drew some laughs as Collier went on to explain that he’s set to star in a “horror” film Nelson is producing for a class.

“He can do a lot of different things,” Nelson said of Collier’s acting ability. “He might have a little Denzel (Washington) in him, a little Will Smith.”

Collier’s headband

Did you notice that Collier wore a black headband during the Beavers’ games in Los Angeles?

There’s a story behind that.

He said he borrowed that specific headband from then-teammate Ahmad Starks two years ago, but misplaced it. For reasons he didn’t explain, he didn’t go out and purchase another headband — instead, he spent two years looking for the headband he had lost.

Then last week it turned up in a corner of a video room, sandwiched between books.

“I was like, ‘This is my headband,'” Collier said. “I put it on and it was over from there.”

With the headband on, Collier scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds on the two-game road swing.

“The journey of finding the headband,” Nelson said with a laugh. “He used to wear them a lot, then he lost it. Him getting it back, it was good. He’s playing well with it. Don’t lose it.”

Grady Garrett, sports reporter

On Twitter @gradygarrett

sports@dailybarometer.com