Just Call Him Boban – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/22/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
November 22, 1998
Slobadan Savovic (Slo-BO-don SAW-vo-vitch) smiles as you try to repeat his name. It gets slaughtered by most American tongues, so instead of trying to repeat it, just call him “Boban.” That simple. Nothing too fancy, and in no need of a pronunciation guide. Yet, being the first Yugoslavian to be recruited by head coach Jim O’Brien, Savovic has had to get used to repeating his name, because of the peaked interest in this international recruit.
The media is intrigued by the 6-foot-5-inch basketball player. He practically rolls his eyes, as each and every reporter asks the same questions. “So how do you like the U.S? Do you miss your family?” Yet, Savovic sits patiently and with a shy smile answers each question. And after the interview is over, Boban goes back to what he loves-playing basketball.
That is all he has ever wanted to do. Well, not always. As a small boy growing up in Hercig Novi, a small town in the Yugoslavian republic of Montenegro, basketball was not always Savovic’s first love.
“I actually loved playing soccer as a child but then my brother started playing basketball for a club, so I joined it and I liked it too,” Savovic said.
Savovic enjoyed it so much that at age 14, he followed his brother to the nearby town of Belgrade where he attended school and played for the Yugoslavian Junior National team. Yet, after helping his team win the national championship at age 17, Savovic had to make a decision. If he stayed in Belgrade, he would have to play for a club. If he left his home and headed to the U.S., he could play in college and receive an education.
“It is quite different in my country, because there are no college teams. When you turn 18, you must sign a contract to play on a basketball club,” Savovic said. “I knew to be satisfied, I needed my education first.”
So Savovic moved even further from his parents and lived in the U.S., where he stayed with an uncle in Newark, N.J.
“It was hard for me, because it was a completely different culture and language,” Savovic said. “I knew some English, but I had to learn it quick and with my culture, we are all the same. Here, there are African-Americans, Hispanics, Japanese. It was all new to me, but very exciting.”
Though, it may have been a strange new land, Savovic did what he felt was best to fit in –studied hard and played basketball. Soon he was being watched closely by many of the top college coaches and one being Ohio State assistant coach Paul Biancardi.
Biancardi had received a tip that Savovic was playing in N.J., so he went to see him and liked what he saw.
“His whole offensive game as a player is great,” Biancardi said. “He shoots well and more than anything he truly knows how to play the game. I was glad I took the tip and ran with, because he is just a great kid, very outgoing and personable. Yet, with the building of the new Value City Arena and great coaching staff, Ohio State had a lot to offer Savovic. The deciding factor, however came down to his education.
“I came here, because my country does not offer many options to get an education,” Savovic said. “I came here, because I could play basketball and get an education I could be proud of. Your education is something no one can take away from you.” “He is very confident and goal-oriented in everything,” Biancardi said. “One of those goals is receiving his degree. That is what is nice. He has the desire to excel in basketball and at the same time he is conscientious about his school work.”
Savovic used his talent in basketball to make something for himself in the future, something many take for granted. Now he revels not only playing for the Buckeyes in the new arena but also attending college classes.
“It is all very incredible to me,” Savovic said. “I don’t know what else to say. I am very glad with my choice.”
And Ohio State coaches are happy too with Savovic’s decision. In his first game of the season, Savovic delivered eight points, one from the three-point range and three-for-four at the foul line.
“He didn’t play like a freshman,” Biancardi said. “There was no sign of nerves. He played like a mature player. We were happy and he is happy.”
Now what makes Savovic even more content is that Ohio State has recruited other Yugoslavians, Aleksandar Radojevic, a 7-foot-3-inch center, and Slobodan Ocokoljic, a 6-foot-8-inch forward, who both signed last week. Radojevic is a former boyhood friend of Savovic and even played against each other in high school.
“We have always competed against each other,” Savovic said. “My team actually beat his team in the national championship so now it will be nice to be on the same team.”
It also will be nice for “Boban” to finally have another name that will get slaughtered by the American tongue.
“That’s Rad-A-yev-itch and o-SOAK-o-litch,” Savovic said.
By Robin Jentes
Athletic Communications
