Meet Freshman Ricky Shemanski

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ICELAND, GERMANY, LATVIA...BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH BASKETBALL

When I was a young basketball camper, a coach once told me that basketball could take you places you never would have dreamed. 30 years later, I remembered this as I got off the plane in Reykjavic, Iceland to visit former Panther great Jakob Sigurdarson (pictured above) and his family. Jakob is doing very well playing professionally in Sweden and looks like he is in the best shape of his life. What a beautiful place Iceland is! And it happened to be really hot that day...70 degrees!

After visiting another lifelong icelandic friend Brynjar Karl who developed Sideline Sports (http://www.sidelinesports.com/) I was off the Berlin to run a two day camp for some of the 14-16 year old players in the city. The camp went well as we not only taught basketball, but shared some of the guiding principles and Christian values that we use in our main task of developing our student athletes here at Birmingham Southern! The kids worked hard and responded well to a different style of coaching! Berling is great city...As a history major, I was in awe as I biked around what is left of the Berlin Wall and many of the WWII memorials. I met some quality folks who are devoting their lives to serving the people of this great city.

After 3 days in Berlin, my next stop was Riga, Latvia. My intention was to conduct another camp for younger kids (pictured above), but the plan was stalled as a nasty stomach virus broke out at the dorm. After much prayer and consideration, we made the trip to Kuldiga and spent 4 days sweating, training, talking and teaching the game of basketball. I met some lifelong friends in Kristine and Ivo Zonne whose son Davis is the top point guard in Latvia as a 14 year old. It was great to see the beauty of Riga through their experiences growing up in the former Soviet Union.

In all, this was a wonderful experience as basketball once again has opened doors for faith, fellowship and friendship to be shared around the world. I look forward to seeing these young boys from the camps develop as student athletes and one day be leaders and productive in their communities. During the 10 hour flight from Frankfurt to Atlanta, I couldn't help but reflect on how blessed our coaching staff is to get a chance to coach our young men here at BSC. I look forward to the coming season and hope basketball will open doors for them that it has for me all these years....

Coach Cole

Head Men's Basketball Coach

Former Panther Wheeler Flemming Stars in BSC short Film

Wheeler Flemming was the star of the new city life film for BSC. 
Check him out by clicking HERE  and laugh freely.  I know I did.

After much deliberation the BSC staff has officially named the Team Camp 2010 Dunk Champion! Check out a couple of his dunks!

Our Tradition Remains

As the 2010-2011 school year and season fast approaches, we here at BSC have a chance to pause and reflect on what a great blessing it is for us to carry on the tradition of excellence that has been the standard here for 25 years and far beyond. Often times people ask me what makes BSC such a special place to coach, play, or even watch a game.  The first thing I tell them is to walk into our beautiful coliseum, and just take a minute to look up at the brick wall adorned with championship banners.  BSC has been blessed, the championship banners are plentiful.  Including our share of the conference title last season, the Panthers have been a part of 19 conference championships in the last 27 years, the Panthers have hoisted 2 National Championship banners, have had 2 National Player of the Year Candidates, and 2 National Coach of the Year Candidates. That is a true tradition to be proud of.
I think  more than any trophy or banner that has been held, we can be most proud of the people that BSC Basketball has helped to mold.  The true success lies in the product of men who now positively shape our society.
I challenge all of you who carry on the banner of BSC Basketball to carry it with pride and a sense of responsibility to keep it a standard of excellence in the sports world.

The 2010 Basketball Graduates: Aaron Parr, Dominic Whicher, Roger Williams, Nathan West

Panthers announce the 2010 Freshman Class

The BSC Panthers are thrilled to welcolme the addition of five players for the 2010-2011 roster! Click here to learn more about each of these exciting players!