Mike Orfini

{{Short description|American college basketball player and U.S. Navy SEAL}}

Mike Orfini is an American former college basketball player and U.S. Navy SEAL. A 6-foot-5 guard/forward, he played for the Stony Brook Seawolves from 2001 to 2005, where he was the first player in program history to be named America East Rookie of the Week {{cite web |title=Mike Orfini Named America East Men's Basketball Rookie Of The Week |website=StonyBrookAthletics.com |date=December 10, 2001 |url=https://stonybrookathletics.com/news/2001/12/10/Mike_Orfini_Named_America_East_Men_s_Basketball_Rookie_Of_The_Week |access-date=July 3, 2025}} and later served as team captain.{{cite web |title=Mike Orfini - 2001-02 Men's Basketball Roster |url=https://stonybrookathletics.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/mike-orfini/7174 |website=StonyBrookAthletics.com |access-date=July 4, 2025}} After pursuing professional basketball opportunities,{{cite web |title=Mike Orfini Player Profile |website=RealGM |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Mike-Orfini/Summary/17933 |access-date=July 3, 2025}} Orfini joined the United States Navy and has served as a SEAL since 2006.{{cite news |title=Men for Others Dinner 2025 – keynote speaker Commander Mike Orfini |website=Jesuit High School (Tampa) |date=April 7, 2025 |url=https://www.jesuittampa.org/about/migrated-news/~board/migrated-news/post/men-for-others-dinner-2025 |access-date=July 3, 2025}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Mike Orfini

| position = Guard / Forward

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 5

| weight_lb = 195

| nationality = American

| birth_place = Vienna, Virginia

| high_school = Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.)

| college = Stony Brook (2001–2005)

| draft_year = 2005

| highlights =

D.C. All-Met Basketball Team (2000)
America East Rookie of the Week (2001)
Stony Brook team captain (2004–05)

}}

{{Infobox military person

| name = Mike Orfini

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Navy

| serviceyears = 2006–present

| rank = Commander

| unit = SEAL Team 10, SEAL Team 8

| battles = Classified operations

| awards =

| base_of_operations = MacDill Air Force Base

| laterwork = Public speaker

}}

Early life and education

Orfini grew up in Vienna, Virginia, and attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., where he was a standout player.{{cite web |title=2014 Gonzaga D.C. Classic Tournament Program |url=http://files.gonzagadcclassic.org/2014DCClassicProgram.pdf |website=Gonzaga D.C. Classic |date=December 2014 |access-date=July 4, 2025}} He went on to play for Stony Brook University beginning in the 2001–02 season. As a freshman, he was named America East Rookie of the Week in December 2001.

College career

Orfini played four seasons for the Seawolves, appearing in 111 games. In December 2001, he became the first Stony Brook player to be named America East Rookie of the Week, averaging 13 points and 6 rebounds over two games, including an upset over Cleveland State. He served as team captain his senior year. He finished his collegiate career with averages of 4.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.{{cite web |title=Mike Orfini College Stats |website=Sports-Reference.com |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/mike-orfini-1.html |access-date=July 3, 2025}}

=College career statistics=

{{NBA player statistics legend

| GP = Games played

| PTS = Points

| REB = Rebounds

| AST = Assists

| FG% = Field goal percentage

| 3P% = 3-point field goal percentage

| FT% = Free throw percentage

| Class = Year in school (FR = Freshman, etc.)

| Pos = Position

| Bold = Career high

}}

Season	Team	Class	Position	GP	PTS	REB	AST	FG%	3P%	FT%
class="wikitable sortable"
2001–02	Stony Brook	Freshman	Guard/Forward	28	157	87	25	.329	.289	.643
2002–03	Stony Brook	Sophomore	Guard/Forward	26	130	81	21	.429	.400	.744
2003–04	Stony Brook	Junior	Guard/Forward	28	98	115	17	.391	.222	.543
2004–05	Stony Brook	Senior	Guard/Forward	29	81	160	26	.326	.250	.579
Career				111	466	443	89	.383	.289	.639

Orfini's collegiate performance is documented via Sports-Reference.com.

Professional prospects

Orfini went undrafted in the 2005 NBA draft and explored opportunities through camps and team tryouts as a free agent. Although he was listed by Eurobasket, there is no record of him playing professionally overseas.{{cite web |title=Mike Orfini, Basketball Player, News, Stats |website=Eurobasket |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Mike-Orfini/41726 |access-date=July 3, 2025}}

Military service & public speaking

Orfini enlisted in the United States Navy in 2006 and has served as a Navy SEAL. As of 2025, he holds the rank of Commander and is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, with service time at both SEAL Team 10 and SEAL Team 8. In April 2025, he served as the keynote speaker at Jesuit High School of Tampa's “Men for Others” Dinner. A graduate of Gonzaga College High School, he closed the event with an impactful address, linking his SEAL code — {{quote|to protect each other against our country’s enemies}} — to the Jesuit motto of being “Men for Others.”

Awards and honors

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%; background:#f9f9f9; border:1px solid #ccc; text-align:center;"

! style="background:#d0e0ff;" | Year !! style="background:#d0e0ff;" | Honor !! style="background:#d0e0ff;" | Organization !! style="background:#d0e0ff;" | Ref.

2000

D.C. All‑Met Basketball Team

The Washington Post (via DCBasketball.com)

{{cite web |title=D.C. All-Met / All-Metro Basketball Teams |website=DCBasketball.com |url=https://dcbasketball.com/all-met-all-metro.php |access-date=July 3, 2025}}

2001

America East Rookie of the Week

America East Conference

Media coverage

The Washington Post: Mike Orfini was highlighted in a December 16, 2000 article previewing the Gonzaga–DeMatha rivalry, which cited his frontcourt contributions as a key factor in Gonzaga’s game plan.{{cite news |title=Old Rivals Finally Have Another Get-Together |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 16, 2000 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2000/12/16/old-rivals-finally-have-another-get-together/7f5153ec-8e28-4bae-a4ee-c1d3baa81bcf/ |access-date=July 3, 2025}}
The Washington Post: Mike Orfini was featured prominently in a January 12, 2001 game report for scoring 17 points and collecting 10 rebounds in Gonzaga's upset victory over DeMatha; he was interviewed postgame about the rivalry and his performance.{{cite news |title=For Eagles, Nothing Rivals Beating Stags |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 12, 2001 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/01/12/for-eagles-nothing-rivals-beating-stags/da0769c9-c9f8-4c3c-9de6-3cb741a5dab8/ |access-date=July 3, 2025}}
The Washington Post: Mike Orfini was profiled as Gonzaga’s “unsung hero” in a February 22, 2001 season preview, which highlighted his 14.5 points per game average and key defensive assignments.{{cite news |last=Swezey |first=Christian |title=Boys—What Should Happen: De… |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 22, 2001 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2001/02/22/boys-what-should-happen-de/8d0f1c29-1983-40a7-8f1b-af74cfefecf9/ |access-date=July 9, 2025}}
The Washington Post: Mike Orfini was referenced in a February 25, 2001 look ahead at upcoming high school championship matchups, with analysts citing his defensive presence and leadership in Gonzaga’s frontcourt.{{cite news |title=Matchups for Titles Take Shape |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 25, 2001 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/02/25/matchups-for-titles-take-shape/4b585f6a-862c-4eee-bf71-aa17f8f79e97/ |access-date=July 9, 2025}}
The Washington Post: Mike Orfini earned tournament MVP honors with 25 points and seven rebounds in Gonzaga’s March 18, 2001 Alhambra Invitational title win, credited by coach and detailed in “Magruder, Suitland Reach the Top.”{{cite news |title=Magruder, Suitland Reach the Top |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 18, 2001 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/03/19/magruder-suitland-reach-the-top/bcbfc005-b4aa-492c-bcc6-84b55af08f7d/ |access-date=July 9, 2025}}
The Washington Post: Mike Orfini’s defensive matchup and pivotal performance in Gonzaga's game against Fairmont Heights were featured in an April 8, 2001 article, detailing his key contributions and game-time impact.{{cite news |title=Fairmont Heights’ Jolley Rises to the Occasion |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 8, 2001 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/04/08/fairmont-heights-jolley-rises-to-the-occasion/90092a98-2365-40fb-8025-a17679b3f904/ |access-date=July 9, 2025}}
The Washington Post: Mike Orfini was noted in a May 8, 2001 season wrap-up article, recognizing his leadership role and standout statistics during Gonzaga’s postseason run.{{cite news |title=Report |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 8, 2001 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/05/08/report/7308962b-f0a8-437d-9164-7313d8f1118b/ |access-date=July 9, 2025}}
New York Daily News: Mike Orfini was profiled in a December 1, 2004 feature titled “Hills Basket Puts Drive in Johnnies,” highlighting his post-college involvement as a coach and mentor, and detailing how his leadership helped shape the team’s development.{{cite news |title=Hills Basket Puts Drive in Johnnies |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=December 1, 2004 |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2004/12/01/hills-basket-puts-drive-in-johnnies/ |access-date=July 9, 2025}}
America East Conference: Mike Orfini was named America East Rookie of the Week in December 2001 by conference officials.
ESPN: Mike Orfini’s career and biographical profile is featured on ESPN’s official player database.{{cite web |title=Mike Orfini |website=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5624/mike-orfini |access-date=July 3, 2025}}
Jesuit High School: Mike Orfini was recognized in alumni coverage for his service as a U.S. Navy SEAL and off-court public speaking engagements.

Legacy

Mike Orfini is remembered as a symbol of discipline, resilience, and service. On the basketball court, he played a pivotal role during the foundational years of Stony Brook University’s transition to Division I, earning America East Rookie of the Week honors and serving as a steady presence across four seasons. Off the court, Orfini pursued one of the most demanding paths in public service by becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL, rising to the rank of commander.

Through public speaking engagements—including addresses at events like the Jesuit High School “Men for Others” dinner—Orfini has connected his experience in elite military units with the values instilled in him through Jesuit education. He often speaks about grit, brotherhood, and selflessness, embodying the SEAL creed to “protect each other against our country's enemies” while reflecting the Jesuit motto to be “Men for Others.”