Foreign players are having an impact in Division One

September 24, 2009

PROVIDENCE JOURNAL
By KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

Papa Lo begins his first year at Bryant in 2009-10 after transferring from UMass. www.dspics.com

When it was time to start recruiting for his brand-new, Division One basketball program, Bryant University coach Tim O'Shea made it clear he'd look anywhere for players.

With his first full class of recruits, O'Shea and his staff were true to their word. The Bulldogs will line up for their second D-1 season in less than two months with players from Senegal, Russia and Australia. Better yet, all three stand at least 6-foot-8.

"We thought that being new to Division One we had to look at unconventional ways to get good players, especially players with size," said O'Shea. "My staff has literally recruited around the world in the last 12 months."

Papa Lo, a 6-9 native of Senegal, sat out last season as a transfer from the University of Massachusetts. He's recovered from knee surgery and is ready for practice to start next month. Claybrin McMath is a 6-8 Australian who has impressed O'Shea with his athleticism. Vladyslav Kondratyev is another 6-8 forward from Ukraine who spent the last two year at the Rock School in Gainesville, Fla.

"With Vlad and Clay, there's no way we could have gotten those two guys if they were playing at prep schools in New England where they'd get more exposure," said O'Shea. "Both of them will help us a lot as freshmen."

Read more of Kevin McNamara's article in the Providence Journal.