Murray State University Athletics
Virgin Islands National Team Experience Invaluable For Aska
8/1/2011 5:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Murray State senior men's basketball student-athlete Ivan Aska is back on campus this week after playing most of July for the Virgin Islands National Team in the Caribbean Basketball Confederation Championship in Nassau, Bahamas.
Aska's team had a definite Murray State influence as the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. native, teamed up with former Racer Cuthbert Victor (2000-04) and former head coach Tevester Anderson (1998-03) who served as assistant coach.
The Virgin Islands started pool play with an 84-73 win over Antigua (July 24). They also defeated Guyana 111-51 (July 26), before beating Jamaica 86-61 (July 27) and British Virgin Islands 79-73 (July 28). The Virgin Islands won the championship (July 29) with a 91-89 victory over Bahamas completing a 5-0 tournament.
Aska, who started all five games, returned to MSU this week for practice as the Racers prepare for its exhibition tour of Toronto, Ontario this weekend.
“It was a good experience, knowing that this was another level of basketball,” Aska said. “Being able to learn new things and travel was good. I feel like learning from the guys I played with and the competition will help me going into my senior season. I wish I could've gone over there earlier, but things happen for a reason. I played against Patrick Ewing's son and other guys that have NBA experience and that was fun.”
Aska was third on the team with 14.3 points per game while hauling in a team-leading 8.3 rebounds per game. He played an average of 23.3 minutes per game and shot 40 percent from the field and 95 percent from the free throw line.
Racers' Head Coach Steve Prohm was pleased to get Aska back before leaving for Canada Thursday.
“Ivan getting to play with Cuthbert and Coach Anderson and all of the great players on his team and those other opponents was a great experience,” Prohm said. “The biggest thing is the experience he brings to our team, it's something that will help us as we move forward into our season.”
Aska had the chance to see many family members who still live in the Virgin Islands, as he was on the island for the first time since he was seven years old.
“It was great to see my family, my mom was born in the Virgin Islands,” Aska said. “It was great to be able to spend some time with my loved ones.”
