Vikings Score Serbian Superstars

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Created on Thursday, 11 February 2016 18:10

Written by Dylan Clark

LYNDON- Lyndon Institute has been known for its long-standing tradition of having great foreign exchange students in their athletic programs. For the Vikings boys' varsity basketball team, the tradition remains strong.

The Vikings have been surging on the hardwood this season; in 20 games, they've picked up 14 wins, which is good enough to put them in second place in the Vermont Principals Association division two standings. Much of the Vikings success this season can be attributed to two Serbian players: Luka Grubic and Nikola Veljic.

While they may be 4,000 miles from their homeland, not everything is a new experience. The chance to come to Lyndon meant the chance for Grubic and Veljic to finally play together, after previously playing against each other Serbia.

"We were playing two years in a row, so one year we were playing in the final four for the state championship, and they beat us and won at that time," said Veljic. "The year after that we were playing for the final four for the playoffs and we beat them, so it's kind of even now."

For both Grubic and Veljic, coming to the Institute allowed the both of them to play their first and only season of high school basketball together. Both are graduating in June. According to Veljic, the game of hoops is much different in the states.

"Here there are so many charging fouls, but in Serbia we just don't have that many charging fouls," said Veljic. He also says the American version of basketball is 'soft' compared to playing back home. However, for his teammate, playing the game at Lyndon Institute is enjoyable.

"It's really fun," Grubic said. "I can say that home games are fun especially. When you see all the people sitting in the bleachers, it really gets you on to play better."

Although both are an integral part of the team, Grubic says the team as a whole meshes well.

"I'm really happy with our progress from the beginning of the year until now," Grubic says. "We've really developed a lot as a group but also as individuals."

All in all, the Vikings have one common goal. Win a state title.

Serbian Hoops from NewsLINC on Vimeo.