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INDIANAPOLIS — Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov may be a freshman, but Michigan head coach Dusty May makes it clear that he thinks of the 6-foot-7, 230-pounder as anything but a college basketball newcomer, although he technically is.
Kharchenkov, 19, is in the starting quintet for Tommy Lloyd's Wildcats (36-2), who will square off against Michigan (35-3) in the NCAA Final Four on April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Kharchenkov, who was born in Russia but moved to Germany with his family as a toddler, is one of three freshmen in the starting lineup, the other two being Brayden Burries and Perry High School product Koa Peat, both of whom have generated more notoriety than Kharchenkov.
May's reference to Kharchenkov had to do with his previous experience, having played for FC Bayern Munich of the EuroLeague, a program with which he played for the first time at just 16.
"First of all, if you've played in the Euroleague, you are not a freshman, so let's cut Kharchenkov off that list," May said. "When we were at Florida we used to talk about how there are certain prerequisites to be able to play as a freshman at a Power Five level and one of those prerequisites was playing USA Basketball (which Peat and Burries have) because of the amount of intensity that it takes to compete during the trials, during the practices and also the games and also the sacrifice it takes because you're playing with 11 of the best players in our country and you have to sacrifice so much just to play."
Kharchenkov agrees. That experience has indeed prepared him for high-level college basketball as a freshman.
"I'm a freshman class-wise, but I don't feel like a freshman basketball-wise," he said. "Playing in Europe really helped me learn to be more mature, helped my growth, and really taught me how to play a role, understanding my role and what it means to win on a professional level."
Kharchenkov has started all 38 games. He is averaging 10.5 points and 4.3 rebounds. He had 18 points in the 79-64 win over Purdue in the Elite Eight on March 28 in San Jose, and is averaging 14 points over the four tournament games.
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd sees a player who has blossomed over the course of the season and fit seamlessly into the rotation.
"Ivan has been great from day one, but I think what's been cool is his role has expanded over the course of the season to where he's become one of our better playmakers and passers, and he has a knack in these games to create scoring opportunities of his own in critical moments," Lloyd said. "He's been great defensively all year. He has a winning mentality and a winning approach to the game. It's been really cool to watch him have consistent success, but then even be able to take it to another level as we got down the stretch of the season."
Kharchenkov's father, Alexander, played 22 years of professional basketball in Russia. The family moved to Germany, where he began coaching. Ivan Kharchenkov's parents are still in Germany, and the nine-hour time difference sometimes makes it difficult to talk, especially when the season is in progress, but he does seek feedback from his dad.
His parents have made the trip to the United States a few times and are expected in Indianapolis for the Final Four. His father has always insisted on him developing a versatile game.
Kharchenkov definitely sees the game becoming a more global game now, particularly with the game the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies played in Berlin in January, a first for the NBA in that country. Growing up, he didn't have a particular role model in the NBA because it wasn't yet big there. His favorite player is Steph Curry, but he likes to pick up different things from different players so he can be more well-rounded in his skillset.
"My Pops always wanted me to play one through four position-wise, offensively and defensively, be able to handle the ball, be able to shoot it, and he also wanted me to be able to guard and defend. I tried to pick the best player in each category," he said.
Kharchenkov is not the only international player in the starting lineup. Joining the three freshmen and senior point Jaden Bradley, is 7-foot-2 Motiejus Krivas, a native of Lithuania.
Lloyd said the presence of the foreign players has made the game better. He recruited them heavily when he was an assistant at Gonzaga, before assuming his current job in Arizona. He has continued to lean on that trend in his time in Tucson. He added that many previously stayed professional in Europe rather than coming to this country for college because they could make more money. Now, that isn't necessarily the case.
"One of the detriments to international recruiting back in the day was if a kid wanted to get paid, the European clubs could pay them legally, and obviously, we couldn't," Lloyd said. "Now that that hurdle has been taken away, you're seeing more and more good players from Europe that are willing to come over.
"I think we will see in the next year or two we'll get back to that deal, and I hope it stays part of the game. It's a global game, and there's a lot of good players over there, and I think it'll help make the college basketball product stronger than ever."
Kharchenkov is also an "energy" guy. As the team was surging past Purdue late in the second half, Anthony Dell'Orso drained a 3-pointer for a five-point lead. Kharchenkov lifted his arms to the partisan Wildcat crowd.
He evoked the same response when cutting down the net, moments after the win. He admits liking that role.
"I don't have to hide any emotions," he said. "I can let it all out. That makes it easy for me. I don't have to overthink anything. I love to entertain the viewers. In Germany, the culture it isn't as big. It's more like an event. Here it can be more emotional. I like that."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: UA Wildcats' freshman Ivan Kharchenkov is anything but inexperienced
Continue reading...
Kharchenkov, 19, is in the starting quintet for Tommy Lloyd's Wildcats (36-2), who will square off against Michigan (35-3) in the NCAA Final Four on April 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Kharchenkov, who was born in Russia but moved to Germany with his family as a toddler, is one of three freshmen in the starting lineup, the other two being Brayden Burries and Perry High School product Koa Peat, both of whom have generated more notoriety than Kharchenkov.
May's reference to Kharchenkov had to do with his previous experience, having played for FC Bayern Munich of the EuroLeague, a program with which he played for the first time at just 16.
"First of all, if you've played in the Euroleague, you are not a freshman, so let's cut Kharchenkov off that list," May said. "When we were at Florida we used to talk about how there are certain prerequisites to be able to play as a freshman at a Power Five level and one of those prerequisites was playing USA Basketball (which Peat and Burries have) because of the amount of intensity that it takes to compete during the trials, during the practices and also the games and also the sacrifice it takes because you're playing with 11 of the best players in our country and you have to sacrifice so much just to play."
Kharchenkov agrees. That experience has indeed prepared him for high-level college basketball as a freshman.
"I'm a freshman class-wise, but I don't feel like a freshman basketball-wise," he said. "Playing in Europe really helped me learn to be more mature, helped my growth, and really taught me how to play a role, understanding my role and what it means to win on a professional level."
Kharchenkov has started all 38 games. He is averaging 10.5 points and 4.3 rebounds. He had 18 points in the 79-64 win over Purdue in the Elite Eight on March 28 in San Jose, and is averaging 14 points over the four tournament games.
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd sees a player who has blossomed over the course of the season and fit seamlessly into the rotation.
"Ivan has been great from day one, but I think what's been cool is his role has expanded over the course of the season to where he's become one of our better playmakers and passers, and he has a knack in these games to create scoring opportunities of his own in critical moments," Lloyd said. "He's been great defensively all year. He has a winning mentality and a winning approach to the game. It's been really cool to watch him have consistent success, but then even be able to take it to another level as we got down the stretch of the season."
Kharchenkov's father, Alexander, played 22 years of professional basketball in Russia. The family moved to Germany, where he began coaching. Ivan Kharchenkov's parents are still in Germany, and the nine-hour time difference sometimes makes it difficult to talk, especially when the season is in progress, but he does seek feedback from his dad.
His parents have made the trip to the United States a few times and are expected in Indianapolis for the Final Four. His father has always insisted on him developing a versatile game.
Kharchenkov definitely sees the game becoming a more global game now, particularly with the game the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies played in Berlin in January, a first for the NBA in that country. Growing up, he didn't have a particular role model in the NBA because it wasn't yet big there. His favorite player is Steph Curry, but he likes to pick up different things from different players so he can be more well-rounded in his skillset.
"My Pops always wanted me to play one through four position-wise, offensively and defensively, be able to handle the ball, be able to shoot it, and he also wanted me to be able to guard and defend. I tried to pick the best player in each category," he said.
Kharchenkov is not the only international player in the starting lineup. Joining the three freshmen and senior point Jaden Bradley, is 7-foot-2 Motiejus Krivas, a native of Lithuania.
Lloyd said the presence of the foreign players has made the game better. He recruited them heavily when he was an assistant at Gonzaga, before assuming his current job in Arizona. He has continued to lean on that trend in his time in Tucson. He added that many previously stayed professional in Europe rather than coming to this country for college because they could make more money. Now, that isn't necessarily the case.
"One of the detriments to international recruiting back in the day was if a kid wanted to get paid, the European clubs could pay them legally, and obviously, we couldn't," Lloyd said. "Now that that hurdle has been taken away, you're seeing more and more good players from Europe that are willing to come over.
"I think we will see in the next year or two we'll get back to that deal, and I hope it stays part of the game. It's a global game, and there's a lot of good players over there, and I think it'll help make the college basketball product stronger than ever."
Kharchenkov is also an "energy" guy. As the team was surging past Purdue late in the second half, Anthony Dell'Orso drained a 3-pointer for a five-point lead. Kharchenkov lifted his arms to the partisan Wildcat crowd.
He evoked the same response when cutting down the net, moments after the win. He admits liking that role.
"I don't have to hide any emotions," he said. "I can let it all out. That makes it easy for me. I don't have to overthink anything. I love to entertain the viewers. In Germany, the culture it isn't as big. It's more like an event. Here it can be more emotional. I like that."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: UA Wildcats' freshman Ivan Kharchenkov is anything but inexperienced
Continue reading...
