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LOGAN — Offseason workouts, team fishing expeditions and impromptu boating trips are filling in the dog days of summer for many individuals on Utah State's men's basketball team.
One player's July itinerary, however, includes something far more meaningful.
Junior guard Max Shulga is representing his home country of Ukraine in the FIBA U20 European Championships. The tournament, hosted in Montenegro, will feature top-tier talent from European clubs and NCAA Division I schools.
Ukraine opened its three-game pool play on Saturday at 6:15 a.m. MDT against the Czech Republic. It faces FIBA powerhouses Lithuania on Sunday at 10:45 a.m MDT and Spain on Monday at 6:15 a.m. MDT.
Representing ones country is always a unique opportunity, but amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the tournament means a bit more for Shulga.
"Even in these exhibition games that we've played, the friendly games, it still felt like it meant that much more to play them and put on the jersey and just compete, represent the country," Shulga said in an interview for Utah State Athletics. "There's nothing that can compare to it, especially in times like these."
Shulga, a Kyiv native, was a reliable guard off the bench in his sophomore season at Utah State, averaging 4.4 points per game and shooting 51.2% from the field. He was in the public spotlight when the Russian invasion began during the season.
During a game on Feb. 26, the Utah State student sections created a Ukrainian flag to show their support.
Cool moment by USU student body honoring Max Shulga from Ukraine pic.twitter.com/U5skhtfB7Y
— Scott Garrard (@ScottyGZone) February 27, 2022
In a video produced by the university on March 1, Shulga opened up about the war.
"I know there are relatives of other people dying out there, fighting for our country," he said. "I'm happy that my family is safe. But at the same time, I'm mad at everything that is going on and I can't do nothing; I'm just here. It's mixed emotions, but it is what it is."
Four months later, Shulga is back on European soil, getting to play a small role for his nation.
"That's the most I can do right now for my country," he said. "Represent in the European championships. And that's what I'm going to do."
Members of the roster currently living in Ukraine had to receive a 90-day permit from the government to leave the country and the team. The team has spent the past month in Italy and Romania, practicing for two hours a day in preparation for the tournament.
If Shulga's prior national team experience is any indication, he should play a key role in Ukraine's success. In the B Division of the U18 FIBA European Championships in 2019, he averaged 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and shot 61.9% from the field — a performance that helped him earn a scholarship with Utah State. This tournament will be tougher, as the Ukrainian U20 team is playing in the A Division.
"The thing I'm looking forward to the most is just playing against all the best players in Europe and competing with them," Shulga said.
All the action from Macedonia will be live streamed on FIBA's Youtube channnel.
