Today starts the season for St. John’s and 271 teams more in NCAA Division 1. Eurohopes talked with Federico Mussini (’96), Yankuba Sima (’96), Amar Alibegovic (’95) and Ron Mvouika (’91) the European players of this renovated basketball team of St. John’s about the upcoming season.
“I expect to have a good team and win as much games as possible and play the March Madness tournament” says Yankuba Sima with conviction. The other European freshman, Federico Mussini, thinks the same: “I think we can have a good season, we work really hard every day and we have really talented players too. I can’t wait to start to play”. Amar Alibegovic has a more careful opinion: “As a team this will be a building year for us, we will try to win as many games as possible getting better as a team. This season will be important for us to build our future. Personally, I think I have to be a team player bringing energy every day in practice and during games. I spent all summer working hard to improve my game and my body, now I want to translate my efforts in games situations”. Sima also have personal goals: “Personally I expect to become a really better player, improving my aggressiveness, toughness and quickness in the paint and be able to be more efficient” says the Spaniard. Finally what we have to expect from St. John’s is what Ron Mvouika says: “Definitely a fun season with a lot of up and down but we will be fine at the end”.
From European point of view two of the biggest recruits of 2016 class were Mussini and Sima. Why they chose be part of the Red Storm? Mussini is clear: “The biggest reason for me to come here was the opportunity to have an important role right from the freshman year and to be coached by Chris Mullin. I think I’m going to improve a lot with him because there is no better example to learn from that one of the best players of all time. Then, New York City always attracts a lot”. Sima is on the same page: “The biggest reason to choose St. John's I guess it was the opportunity to play for a coach like Chris Mullin and in the city of New York. Also, I think here I will have the opportunity to have such a bigger role than I would have in another university. It is an honor to play for an historical program like St. John's”. The combo between the Italian and the Spaniard promises to be spectacular: “Federico and I are really good friends. And on the court we connect so well. He is a really good player and I think we can do big things in the next four years together” assures Sima.
One of the keys to success is the adjustment that European players must do when they want to play college. Everybody took his own way: “The prep school year that I took at Florida before I came to play college helped me a lot because the style of play in Europe is way different from here and it helped me to adapt more to the American style of play so I could get ready to play college level. Because it would be a huge step from playing youth leagues in Europe to jump to high major college basketball” says Sima. Otherwise, Mussini says that “for me there are not so many differences between the game here and overseas. If I have to say one, I’m going to say the 30 seconds shot clock. It makes the game a little bit slower sometime and I have to adjust to it”. Bosnian sophomore Alibegovic talks from his own experience: “As a freshman I learned a lot every day during my first year here in Queens. All the seniors were amazing during last season and they really helped me to adapt to the college life. The most important lesson is to never give up and keep working towards accomplishing my dreams”. French graduate Mvouika knows it well and gives them an advice: “To let the game come to them and not try to adjust right away to the pace and speed of College games. They have to control what they can control and the rest will comes. As the season goes, they will feel more comfortable game after game”.
St. John’s changed a lot during the post-season, only three players came back from last season and the coaching staff is practically new with Chris Mullin commanding the ship. Alibegovic is one of those players, what he thinks about the new additions? “I knew Federico because we play against each other a lot during our seasons in Italy. He’s a very mature point guard, deadly shooter, who will help the team from a playmaking standpoint. Yankuba is tough and he’s working very hard every day in practice, I’m really impressed of his work ethic. Ron is the leader of our young St. John’s team, he’s bringing energy in every moment of our day, on and off the court. We are very fortunate to have them with us”. Mussini sees benefits being surrounded by Europeans: “Yes, it is important because sometimes there are differences in the game and having them on the team is very helpful. When we are on the court together we move and think in the same way and it makes me feel more comfortable on the court”.
To finish, how they imagine the future after their college career? “In four years, I don't know where I will be but I hope one day I can play in the NBA because it is my dream since I was a child” says Sima. Mussini also sees far the future: “In 4 years I don’t know where I will be. I will just work hard to be the best player I can”. However Mvouika has no doubts about his future: “Play professional basketball somewhere”. Alibegovic represents the mentality of the young team of St. John’s: “I want to work hard here and improve day after day. I have an incredible opportunity to play for this team and for New York City. I want to win something with St. John’s and then I will focus my attention on the future”.
“I expect to have a good team and win as much games as possible and play the March Madness tournament” says Yankuba Sima with conviction. The other European freshman, Federico Mussini, thinks the same: “I think we can have a good season, we work really hard every day and we have really talented players too. I can’t wait to start to play”. Amar Alibegovic has a more careful opinion: “As a team this will be a building year for us, we will try to win as many games as possible getting better as a team. This season will be important for us to build our future. Personally, I think I have to be a team player bringing energy every day in practice and during games. I spent all summer working hard to improve my game and my body, now I want to translate my efforts in games situations”. Sima also have personal goals: “Personally I expect to become a really better player, improving my aggressiveness, toughness and quickness in the paint and be able to be more efficient” says the Spaniard. Finally what we have to expect from St. John’s is what Ron Mvouika says: “Definitely a fun season with a lot of up and down but we will be fine at the end”.
From European point of view two of the biggest recruits of 2016 class were Mussini and Sima. Why they chose be part of the Red Storm? Mussini is clear: “The biggest reason for me to come here was the opportunity to have an important role right from the freshman year and to be coached by Chris Mullin. I think I’m going to improve a lot with him because there is no better example to learn from that one of the best players of all time. Then, New York City always attracts a lot”. Sima is on the same page: “The biggest reason to choose St. John's I guess it was the opportunity to play for a coach like Chris Mullin and in the city of New York. Also, I think here I will have the opportunity to have such a bigger role than I would have in another university. It is an honor to play for an historical program like St. John's”. The combo between the Italian and the Spaniard promises to be spectacular: “Federico and I are really good friends. And on the court we connect so well. He is a really good player and I think we can do big things in the next four years together” assures Sima.
One of the keys to success is the adjustment that European players must do when they want to play college. Everybody took his own way: “The prep school year that I took at Florida before I came to play college helped me a lot because the style of play in Europe is way different from here and it helped me to adapt more to the American style of play so I could get ready to play college level. Because it would be a huge step from playing youth leagues in Europe to jump to high major college basketball” says Sima. Otherwise, Mussini says that “for me there are not so many differences between the game here and overseas. If I have to say one, I’m going to say the 30 seconds shot clock. It makes the game a little bit slower sometime and I have to adjust to it”. Bosnian sophomore Alibegovic talks from his own experience: “As a freshman I learned a lot every day during my first year here in Queens. All the seniors were amazing during last season and they really helped me to adapt to the college life. The most important lesson is to never give up and keep working towards accomplishing my dreams”. French graduate Mvouika knows it well and gives them an advice: “To let the game come to them and not try to adjust right away to the pace and speed of College games. They have to control what they can control and the rest will comes. As the season goes, they will feel more comfortable game after game”.
St. John’s changed a lot during the post-season, only three players came back from last season and the coaching staff is practically new with Chris Mullin commanding the ship. Alibegovic is one of those players, what he thinks about the new additions? “I knew Federico because we play against each other a lot during our seasons in Italy. He’s a very mature point guard, deadly shooter, who will help the team from a playmaking standpoint. Yankuba is tough and he’s working very hard every day in practice, I’m really impressed of his work ethic. Ron is the leader of our young St. John’s team, he’s bringing energy in every moment of our day, on and off the court. We are very fortunate to have them with us”. Mussini sees benefits being surrounded by Europeans: “Yes, it is important because sometimes there are differences in the game and having them on the team is very helpful. When we are on the court together we move and think in the same way and it makes me feel more comfortable on the court”.
To finish, how they imagine the future after their college career? “In four years, I don't know where I will be but I hope one day I can play in the NBA because it is my dream since I was a child” says Sima. Mussini also sees far the future: “In 4 years I don’t know where I will be. I will just work hard to be the best player I can”. However Mvouika has no doubts about his future: “Play professional basketball somewhere”. Alibegovic represents the mentality of the young team of St. John’s: “I want to work hard here and improve day after day. I have an incredible opportunity to play for this team and for New York City. I want to win something with St. John’s and then I will focus my attention on the future”.
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