Rising senior Jaran Sabus recently shared highlights from his trip to Brazil with the USA DIII Select Team. He was one of nine NCAA Division III players chosen for this trip.

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2018 USA D-3 Men's Basketball Team - Brazil Tour
Jason Beckman        Hope College
Kenny Bogus            Benedictine University
Ben Boots                  University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Isaac Brooks             Hamline University
Cam Fails                  Hanover College
Adam Fravert            University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Eric Grygo                Benedictine University
Jaran Sabus              Wartburg College
Ryan Stevens            Alma College
               
USA D-3 Men's Head Coach – Ben Thompson (Head Coach, SUNY Canton)
USA D-3 Men's Asst. Coach – Rick Thompson (Assistant Coach, SUNY Canton)
 
Nine questions with Sabus:

1. How did you get to know your USA teammates in such a short time to play cohesively? We got to know each other first in Orlando before our eight hour flight to San Paulo. We then had our first and only practice that morning when we got there. I got to know my teammates best by our long bus drives through Brazil. It took hours to get anywhere because the traffic is so bad and the population is so high. 
    
2. What was the competition like? The competition was very good for the most part. We played the professional club teams development players. It would be equivalent to the NBA D league players but in Brazil. 
    
3. What kind of gyms did you play in? They were pro club places in San Paulo and Rio.
    
4. What was your best/favorite game of those you played? Why? My favorite game was when we played the All Stars from the San Paulo area. They were the All Stars from the development league in the San Paulo area. This was my favorite because it was our closest game, and brought out the competitive personalities out in myself and my teammates. 
    
5. What all did you get to see (sightseeing?) We got to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer Statue, and had several free days on Copacabana beach in Rio De Janerio.
    
6. What has the highlight of the trip? Our team went 5-0 and becoming friends with my new teammates.
    
7. What is the greatest memory you'll take away from this experience? Playing alongside some of the best D3 players and seeing the Redeemer Statue. 
    
8. What was it like to represent your country? What did it feel like to play in the USA jersey? It was an amazing and unique experience. I was very proud to represent the USA and proud to represent all of the great athletes we have at Wartburg.  
    
9. Anything you'll take from this trip into the upcoming season? I'll take everything I learned from playing with this team and share it with my teammates so we can continue to improve.