Potapenko of Kyiv goes 12th in NBA draft (07/07/96)

Potapenko of Kyiv goes 12th in NBA draft

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - One day Vitaliy Potapenko of Kyiv, whom the Associated Press calls the "Ukraine Train," could be the first legitimate Ukrainian superstar to play in the National Basketball Association. He took another step in that direction on June 26 when he was drafted 12th by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1996 college draft.

The 6-foot-10-inch center from Kyiv is only the second Ukrainian to play in the NBA. Alexander Volkov played for the Atlanta Hawks for two years a few years back. But Mr. Potapenko almost didn't make it to the U.S. to display his talents, according to the Dayton Daily News.

Two years ago Wright State University basketball coach Ralph Underhill had already met the Kyiv giant through his European contacts and had offered him a scholarship. However, the coach of Mr. Potapenko's Kyiv club team was having nothing of it. He took and kept Mr. Potapenko's passport and even stood watch at the airport to keep his young talent from leaving the country.

But Mr. Potapenko obtained a duplicate passport and was whisked secretly out of the country and arrived to star at Wright State in Dayton, Ohio, in August 1994.

During the 1995-1996 season the man the fans came to call "V", and who was a two time All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference first-team all-star selection, averaged 20.7 points and 7.4 rebounds a game for his Wright State team, and ranked 11th in the nation in field goal percentage. In his short two-year career at Wright State he totaled 1,113 points and 386 rebounds.

His meager rebounding average motivated him to lose 25 pounds to increase his agility and jumping ability. In six weeks he went from around 300 pounds to a svelte 270, a loss which in the end probably gained him the high pick and a ton of money.

"He went from a second-round draft pick into the first round," said New Jersey Nets scout Ray Dieringer. "He looks really good. With that weight off, he has really improved." Mr. Dieringer told the Dayton Daily News that Mr. Potapenko has all the tools to make it big. "He's got size, strength, quickness and can play two positions - center and power forward."

According to the 1996-1997 NBA rookie pay scale Mr. Potapenko will probably earn around $900,000 his first year, and well over $1 million by his third. But the man who doesn't own a car yet, says his first priority will not be gold bracelets, diamond rings, Mercedes and mansions.

"I want to help my parents - they took care of me for 21 years - and Wright State - they took care of me for two years - and some young kids back in Ukraine," Mr. Potapenko explained.

"Other than that, I have no plans. I don't want to lose sight of what is important."

| Home Page |