PRAIRIE VIEW - While he may not be the loudest player on the court, senior guard Antione Lister has an attention-grabbing game that will be hard to replace as he closes out his final season as a Panther.
 
The 'Mayor', as his teammates call him, transferred to Prairie View in 2018 after a stint at Blinn College. Since joining the program, Lister has been a not-so-secret weapon for the Panthers and is always there when they need a boost on the court.
 
He is currently averaging 7.1 points and is shooting 41 percent from the field, a step up from last season. His game, however, isn't only about scoring.
 
"I'm really an all-around player," Lister said. "I think I can do whatever coach calls on me to do. I can defend, score, rebound and assist. Whatever is called upon me in the game at that time, and whatever coach needs me to do, I can get it done."
 
Head Coach Byron Smith praised Lister for his efforts and demeanor on and off the court.
 
"Antione is definitely someone who's had a great impact in his two years," he said. "He helped us win a championship last year coming off the bench, and this year he's been a starter for the most part. He does everything we ask him to do and he's just an outstanding example in every sense of the word. He's everything that's right with college athletics. He's a great basketball player, student and leader. I'm glad I got an opportunity to coach him."
 
Through his style of play, you immediately see that Lister embodies what it means to be a selfless player. Since arriving, he's always made sure to put the team before himself and enjoy the limited time he has with his teammates.
 
"All my goals are team-oriented," Lister said. "Because I know if I put the team first then it'll also help out with my individual goals and what I want to achieve later on. I'm going to miss the time spent with my teammates, whether it was practices or any of the other fun times we've had. But I'll definitely miss the off the court stuff -- bus rides, the airports and the plane rides -- most."
 
Within the program, Lister is regarded as one of the team's more level-headed players. You won't always hear him, but opponents and teammates alike definitely feel his presence when he's on the floor.
 
Since his freshman year, Lister has had to mold himself into a player that could really compete at the collegiate level. The journey that has led to his success within the Prairie View A&M program, began with him changing his definition of hard work.
 
"I've considered myself a hard worker all my life," he said. "But I really took it to another level when I got here. I can say that I wasn't ready for this freshman year. I wasn't ready for this type of intensity coming out of high school. And looking back, I would tell myself to really strap it on and get ready for a long ride."
 
Since then, the theme of his time on the Hill has been a mix of patience, glory and effort.
 
When his time with the Panthers is finished, Lister wants to continue playing basketball for as long as possible. He believes he's put himself in a great position to do so, which can be backed by his resume, experience and productivity within the program.
 
Before winning the 2019 SWAC Championship and making his way to the first round of the NCAA tournament, Lister hadn't won or been recognized for anything as significant as that time. He also had to build and constantly work for a starting position on the team.
 
He uses his experiences to offer guidance to new players joining the Panthers in the future.
 
"I would tell a new player to stay patient and wait your turn," he said. "You're going to eventually shine. Your time will come if you stay patient and grind. Your grind isn't going to go unnoticed."
 
When asked what he hopes to leave behind, the 2020 SWAC Regular Season Champion said he wants this year's men's basketball team to be remembered as the grittiest and most diligent team at the national level.
 
"I want to leave behind a legacy of hard work. If any has anything to say about me or the Prairie View A&M men's basketball team, they would say we work hard. We outwork everybody in the country."