By Paula Ruiz
The CIS University Elite Basketball University Program offers student-athletes the opportunity to play abroad while continuing to meet all their academic requirements. To this end, CIS University maintains a direct partnership with ZentroBasket club, our basketball partner in Madrid, where student-athletes develop their skills on the court while pursuing their bachelor studies alongside professors on the CIS University campus.
Playing basketball in a different country is a unique and enriching experience, and CIS University helps student-athletes make the most of it. “Playing in Spain has been a very enjoyable experience and a very different environment from what we saw during the last four years in high school,” said Juan Divo, a freshman at CIS University.
This year, there are nine new members in the CIS University Basketball program. These student-athletes not only play together but also attend classes together. “Having a CIS University team is very beneficial because most of my teammates are also my classmates, so I build stronger connections and have better chemistry since we interact both on and off the court,” Juan Divo added.
Most of these athletes are from the United States, and adapting to a new culture and environment can be challenging. However, since they train and study together, the transition becomes much easier—others with similar backgrounds and experiences surround them.
“The CIS University Basketball team is really fun, the team is very motivated, and the teammates are great,” said Manuel Ruiz, a freshman in this year’s program. “While the level of competition in the U.S. is higher, I prefer the later practice times here in Spain because I have time to do homework and also to relax, something that was almost impossible back home.”
Not all players in the program are freshmen. Some are transfers from other universities, which gives them a unique perspective after having already competed at the college level. “Playing basketball in Spain is extremely different than in the U.S. In the U.S., there’s a lot more rhythm to the game. In Spain, they want to play fast all the time. It’s also more about reading and reacting here, whereas in the U.S. you have more structured plays and set options. Communication is harder here too, but that’s to be expected,” said Damascus Shields, a transfer student from the U.S.