Egyptian big kid seeks Minnesota success

SHEFFIELD (Julio Chitunda's African Message) – The door is now open for Egyptian Assem Ahmed Marei to make the step up from being a prospect to an established player.

His high-level performance at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship in Latvia raised fans’ and scouts’ eyebrows, especially on the other side of the Atlantic at Minnesota State University where he has been practicing since arriving in the town of Mankato earlier this month.
 
Although no decision has been taken on his eligibility to play this season for the NCAA Division II team, there are many reasons to believe that he is going to be successful in the US.

For now, this 2.09m (6ft 10in) power forward just wants start playing and show that the Minnesota State Mavericks made the right choice in recruiting him, as he told me.

Does it sound arrogant? No, I don’t think so. It is determination.

In fact, no doubts should be raised about Assem’s potential.

Born in Cairo in June 1992, he learned the beauty of basketball at home, as his father, Ahmed Marei - a former Egypt international-turned engineer and basketball coach - taught him the first tricks of the game.

Assem, as he prefers to be called, confirmed his ability to play the game at successful Egyptian club Zamalek. He then helped Egypt win the U18 African title in 2010 in Rwanda and last year made his appearance on the world stage in Latvia before deciding that his dream of stardom did not end there.

His stats and his personality speak louder than anything else.
 
He is well aware that hard work and motivation to improve should be his utmost priority.
 
After exchanging a few e-mails with Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Bill Bayno, Assem was referred to Minnesota State University head coach Matthew Margenthaler.

The 19-year-old Egyptian “talented big-kid, by US standards” as Margenthaler called him led his country at the FIBA U19 World Championship with averages of 18.5 points and 12.2 rebounds. He dominated the boards throughout the tournament.
 
He ranked second in rebounding behind tournament MVP and top-scorer Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas. Assem also finished as the tournament's third leading scorer behind Croatian Boris Barac.

In a game against new world champions Lithuania, he had game highs of 23 points and 19 rebounds. Eleven of those boards were on the offensive end. He dominated the painted area at both ends of the court.

Assem left the court with the feeling of an accomplished mission despite the 78-59 defeat.

Two days earlier, when everything indicated that Egypt was going to make it to the Quarter-Finals as they led by 10 against Croatia, Assem fouled out with five minutes to play. Things got bleak for Egypt as Croatia made the most of his absence and came from behind for an 83-81 win.

Egypt finished with just one win, but the Pharaohs’ refusal to lose was so impressive, that opponents certainly were made to remember Assem, Omar Mohamed and the rest of the team’s determination.

A month later, after his memorable display in Latvia, Assem showed no signs of tiredness as he represented his country at the Afrobasket 2011 in Madagascar.

As the youngest player on the senior squad, he played a total of 45 minutes over five games, averaging 2.6 points and 4.0 rebounds.

 Shifting from the North African weather to chilly Minnesota is not a problem for Assem.

“I came for a better education [in business] and to improve my basketball skills and possibly make it to the NBA,” he said.

“I had a lot of offers in Latvia and I decided to come to Minnesota State University because of their academic, sport program and interest in me. I am adapting well.”
 
The prospect of helping Egypt restore their international prestige is something Assem has on his mind.

The country last won an African title back in 1983 and three consecutive bronze medals came in 1999, 2001 and 2003. A podium place has eluded them for the past four editions of the Afrobasket.
 
“I want to give my contribution to my country whenever it is necessary, and, like my father, play in an Olympic tournament some day,” Assem continued.
 
Pat Monaghan, an assistant coach at Minnesota State University, shared his impressions of Assem.

“We expect him to make a big impact because of his ability around the basket," he said.

“He is practicing with us, and he is adapting well."

If family genes are passed on in sports, then surely Assem will represent Egypt at the Olympics sometime in his career just like his father did at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Julio Chitunda
FIBA

FIBA’s columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

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