Sato's Journey To San Antonio

[Kori Ellis]

Sato's Journey To San Antonio
By Patrick Davis
FullSportPress.com

http://www.fullsportpress.com/artman...icle_121.shtml

It was draft night in the NBA and the night was winding down as the second round was coming to a close. Several players around the country we're worried about their draft status but one man didn't seem bothered by any of it. Romain Sato patiently waited for his name to be called knowing that if basketball didn't pan out for him he always had his degrees in French and international business.

Finally, his name was called. The San Antonio Spurs selected him with only eight picks left in the draft. Throughout the year, Sato had been projected as a late first round or early second round pick but slipped all the way down to the 52nd selection. Sato had been given yet another opportunity and he planned to use it, just like all the opportunities he was lucky enough to receive in the past.

Sato's first basketball experience came when he was fourteen, later than almost all NBA guard prospects in recent history. He had always been a soccer player like most of the kids in his native city of Bangui in the Central African Republic, but once he started with basketball he knew it was for him. A group called Friends of Africa helped Sato find a way to come to America in a foreign exchange program, yet no one knew about his ability on the court yet.

Sato landed in Dayton, Ohio and met Tom and Tiffany Thompson, his new legal guardians. What no one had mentioned to the Thompsons is that Sato spoke five languages, none of them English. Sato worked around the clock to learn English and anything else he could. Sato attended Dayton Christian High School and that’s where people would first start to notice his basketball ability.

Sato averaged 26.4 points, 15.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists in his one season of high school basketball as a senior in Ohio. His performance caught the eye of several scouts. Sato was offered many scholarships, but decided to go to Xavier who had wanted him since they saw him play in AAU games. Going to college at Xavier was an excellent opportunity for him, not only for his basketball game, but also so he could extend his learning. For Sato, education was always more important than anything done on a sports field.

Sato's college life was not that of a normal basketball star on campus. He never seemed to rest. He was either studying, practicing basketball or spreading his love for God. The most impressive thing the coaches saw out of Sato was his great at ude. Xavier coaches we're shocked the first time they yelled at Sato and he responded with a thank you.

"I think that's the way we grew up," Sato said. "If somebody wants to make you go the right way, you have to thank people. I say thank you, and I don't want to do that again."

Eventually he learned the customs in America and wasn't so quick to thank everyone yelling at him. His hard work paid off in a hurry as he named to the A-10 All-Rookie team his freshman year. He came back strong his sop re year, being named to the A-10 All -Defense team -- something he would repeat the next two years. His junior year was truly a breakout season. He scored 34 points against Rhode Island and then followed it up his next game by scoring a career-high 35 against La Salle, becoming only the second player in Xavier history to have back-to-back games over 30 points.

Sato's senior year was no letdown, as he took his team all the way to the elite eight for the first time Xavier history. He also posted seven double-doubles that season to add on to his thirteen he had in his first three years. Sato made his mark in the Xavier record book finishing third in points (2,005) and eighth in rebounds (892). He also took some records of his own, starting a school-high 130 games and setting the school record for three-point field goals made at 307.

"He's legit," University of Louisville coach Rick Pitino stated. "The thing about him is he's their best offensive player, their best defensive player and their best rebounder. For his position, he's as tough to match up with as anybody we've played.”

Sato's game has been hard to analyze since he has been improving at an astronomical rate since landing in the United States. Listed at 6-foot-5 he is slightly undersized to play the shooting guard position, but with an unfathomable 7-foot wingspan he makes up for his height. Sato has a great basketball body, huge hands and a 38-inch vertical leap to go along with his long arms.

One thing Sato has picked up very fast is defense. He was one of the premier defenders in college and with unique physical attributes, he can cause problems for opposing players. Sato is also an outstanding rebounding guard, an area in which he has always excelled.

The Xavier grad does have a few weaknesses on the offensive end. He has trouble learning offensive schemes sometimes and has a tendency to look lost on the court. His mid-range game and driving ability are somewhat lacking as well. But Sato isn't at a complete loss on the offensive end. He has an NBA three-point shot and should continue to improve his accuracy as he adjusts. In preseason with the Spurs, Sato also showed an impressive knack for getting to the line. In 91 minutes of action, he went to the line 20 times.

Sato will undoubtedly spend a large amount of this season sitting on injured reserve while he learns the Spurs’ system and works on his offensive shortcomings. However if Sato gets the chance due to injury or poor play, don’t be surprised if he impresses. On a Spurs team so focused on defense, Sato should fit right in. Even if he never sees the floor, you can bet he’ll be behind the scenes giving it his all in practice.

Sato has only been in the United States for a little less than six years and already his fame and knowledge have grown beyond his wildest expectations. From a young man in Africa trying to make the best of his life to a rookie in the NBA, Sato has already come a long way. Does he plan on giving up now?

“No, thank you.”

[RobinsontoDuncan]

he now speaks six languages as well as holding a double major all the while being one of the best basketball players in the counrty (he was drafted) think they broke the mold with him?

I liked this kid from the first thing i heard about him, he's athletic and smart as well as a great rebounder, sounds like Malik Rose to me (he's undersized and everything) i heard he is more my height (6'2") without the pads in his shoes but can you picture a guy that's 6'2" with a 7' wingspan, jesus thats gotta be a sight.