TicketsCINCINNATI -- Viktor Lakhin and Sage Tolentino both play center for the University of Cincinnati's basketball team, but the two big men come from different parts of the world.
Lakhin, a 6-foot-11 redshirt junior, hails from Anapa, a town in Russia with a population of just over 100,000 people. In contrast, Tolentino, a 7-foot-1 redshirt sophomore, is from Kaneohe, a town in Hawaii with a population of almost 35,000 people.
They are representatives of a diverse UC basketball team with players from Lithuania, Senegal and across several United States regions.
Hawaii and Russia each have a different style of basketball. Both Bearcat centers mentioned physicality as a significant difference in the basketball played here compared with where they grew up.
The type of basketball Tolentino said he was playing in Hawaii wasn't going to best prepare him for college hoops. Due to that, the big man decided it would be best for him to move to Hamilton, Ohio to prepare himself for the collegiate level.
"Definitely the physicality," he said of the differences in play. "The competition in Hawaii – I wouldn't say it was easy, but when I moved here [to Hamilton, Ohio] it was more difficult than Hawaii. I grew a lot more as a player here [in Ohio], due to playing bigger guys and higher competition."
Lakhin said U.S. players take the physical aspect of the game more seriously at an early age.
"Over there [in Russia] it's more plays, like X's and O's," he said. "There is more passing and shooting. It's not as physical, not as focused on the one-on-one game and transition. It's more about trying to get a better shot, instead of a run-and-gun game."
Learning the new systems and style of play in the U.S. wasn't hard for Lakhin because he had played for many coaches in Russia.
"Obviously, the style [of basketball] is different, but it was easy to pick up because I already experienced a bunch of different ways to play," Lakhin said. "I played for the [Russian] national team, and I played for three coaches on my previous team. I have had a lot of coaches before going here. I already experienced a lot, so I've learned how to be flexible."
Tolentino and Lakhin both moved across the world with a common goal: To make it to the NBA.
"No one from Hawaii has made it to the NBA, and not a lot of people [from Hawaii] even make it to Division I [basketball] either," Tolentino said. "So, I try to push myself and make my family proud."
The style of basketball Lakhin was playing in Russia wasn't the best route for him to pursue his NBA dream, he said.
"My dream is to play in the NBA, and the NCAA produces the most amount of NBA players," he said. "The NBA is more physical. So, I wanted to learn the physicality of the game before I can hopefully get into the NBA."
Tolentino enjoys the diversity in the Bearcats locker room.
"Coming here to play basketball is awesome, and learning about everyone's countries is pretty cool too," he said. "Everyone's from a different state or country, but we all still vibe the same. We've all gotten to know each other and are all good friends."
Recruiting athletes from various states and countries, each with their own distinctive basketball backgrounds and strengths is crucial to the success of a basketball team. If a coach uses each player's talents correctly, the players won't just form a good team, but an elite one.
"Bringing people from different cultures that play different styles of basketball is good for the team," Lakhin said about the Bearcats' roster. "Simas [Lukosius] plays his own way that not many Americans do, I play my own way and Sage plays his own way."
"Obviously, we have to play under a common structure," he continued. "But also having originality will help you have those shining moments. Like when Simas does a behind-the-back (pass); he's not taught to play that way – he's always been playing that way."
Lakhin and Tolentino share a main goal for the upcoming season.
"I definitely want to make the NCAA Tournament and win the Big 12 championship," Tolentino said.
In addition to the team making it to the NCAA Tournament, Lakhin has high personal goals.
"My goal for our team is to make it to March Madness," Lakhin said. "A lot of people from our team haven't made the tournament, including me… I also want to be All-Conference. Whatever it takes for me to get there: points, rebounds, assists. But I'm not going to be chasing 15 points per game."
Lakhin, Tolentino and the rest of the Bearcats will look to make a strong impression in their inaugural season in the Big 12, the nation's top conference.
Lakhin, a 6-foot-11 redshirt junior, hails from Anapa, a town in Russia with a population of just over 100,000 people. In contrast, Tolentino, a 7-foot-1 redshirt sophomore, is from Kaneohe, a town in Hawaii with a population of almost 35,000 people.
They are representatives of a diverse UC basketball team with players from Lithuania, Senegal and across several United States regions.
Hawaii and Russia each have a different style of basketball. Both Bearcat centers mentioned physicality as a significant difference in the basketball played here compared with where they grew up.
The type of basketball Tolentino said he was playing in Hawaii wasn't going to best prepare him for college hoops. Due to that, the big man decided it would be best for him to move to Hamilton, Ohio to prepare himself for the collegiate level.
"Definitely the physicality," he said of the differences in play. "The competition in Hawaii – I wouldn't say it was easy, but when I moved here [to Hamilton, Ohio] it was more difficult than Hawaii. I grew a lot more as a player here [in Ohio], due to playing bigger guys and higher competition."
Lakhin said U.S. players take the physical aspect of the game more seriously at an early age.
"Over there [in Russia] it's more plays, like X's and O's," he said. "There is more passing and shooting. It's not as physical, not as focused on the one-on-one game and transition. It's more about trying to get a better shot, instead of a run-and-gun game."
Learning the new systems and style of play in the U.S. wasn't hard for Lakhin because he had played for many coaches in Russia.
"Obviously, the style [of basketball] is different, but it was easy to pick up because I already experienced a bunch of different ways to play," Lakhin said. "I played for the [Russian] national team, and I played for three coaches on my previous team. I have had a lot of coaches before going here. I already experienced a lot, so I've learned how to be flexible."
Tolentino and Lakhin both moved across the world with a common goal: To make it to the NBA.
"No one from Hawaii has made it to the NBA, and not a lot of people [from Hawaii] even make it to Division I [basketball] either," Tolentino said. "So, I try to push myself and make my family proud."
The style of basketball Lakhin was playing in Russia wasn't the best route for him to pursue his NBA dream, he said.
"My dream is to play in the NBA, and the NCAA produces the most amount of NBA players," he said. "The NBA is more physical. So, I wanted to learn the physicality of the game before I can hopefully get into the NBA."
Tolentino enjoys the diversity in the Bearcats locker room.
"Coming here to play basketball is awesome, and learning about everyone's countries is pretty cool too," he said. "Everyone's from a different state or country, but we all still vibe the same. We've all gotten to know each other and are all good friends."
Recruiting athletes from various states and countries, each with their own distinctive basketball backgrounds and strengths is crucial to the success of a basketball team. If a coach uses each player's talents correctly, the players won't just form a good team, but an elite one.
"Bringing people from different cultures that play different styles of basketball is good for the team," Lakhin said about the Bearcats' roster. "Simas [Lukosius] plays his own way that not many Americans do, I play my own way and Sage plays his own way."
"Obviously, we have to play under a common structure," he continued. "But also having originality will help you have those shining moments. Like when Simas does a behind-the-back (pass); he's not taught to play that way – he's always been playing that way."
Lakhin and Tolentino share a main goal for the upcoming season.
"I definitely want to make the NCAA Tournament and win the Big 12 championship," Tolentino said.
In addition to the team making it to the NCAA Tournament, Lakhin has high personal goals.
"My goal for our team is to make it to March Madness," Lakhin said. "A lot of people from our team haven't made the tournament, including me… I also want to be All-Conference. Whatever it takes for me to get there: points, rebounds, assists. But I'm not going to be chasing 15 points per game."
Lakhin, Tolentino and the rest of the Bearcats will look to make a strong impression in their inaugural season in the Big 12, the nation's top conference.