When former men’s basketball player Sead Dizdarevic (C’07, G’13) saw the impact he and fellow Hoyas made on young athletes last summer at a sports camp in Montenegro, he knew he had to return to his home country to host another basketball program.

In early August, his Basketball Diplomacy program traveled to Kolasin, Montenegro, with a mission to coach, this time, high school students from Slovenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro -- countries that have seen their share of ethnic conflicts.

With help from the U.S State Department and embassies within the five participating countries, Dizdarevic organized a four-day camp designed to train 40 boys and girls in basketball and physical fitness and education. But the coaching also went beyond sports. An underlying theme promoted regional and interethnic cooperation and respect for diversity through sports.

“I was happy to go back and have kids from five different countries in attendance,” said Dizdarevic. “It was a pleasure seeing athletes from different backgrounds, who would not have otherwise met, work together.”

Former basketball players -- Amadou Killkenny-Diaw (C’06), Rhea Beal (MSB’07) and RaMell Ross, who played from 2000 to 2003 -- joined Dizdarevic along with a few athletic department administrators and coaching staff.

The coaches spoke to the high school students through translators about their education and what it takes to play college basketball in the United States.

“Being able to give back to my country is something I’m really proud of,” Dizdarevic said.

Just as the students took away lessons on the court from the Georgetown group, alumni and coaches also learned from their own experiences in Montenegro.

“It was a great experience,” said Ashley Davis, assistant coach for women’s basketball. “In a few days, the kids taught us about their culture while we improved their basketball skills. There were some really good players, and I’m definitely going back next year.”

-- Athletics Department

(August 20, 2009)