Whether Melbourne or Miami - Dejan Vasiljevic shoots into March Madness
Whether you come from the other side of the world or a local high school, a new player in US college basketball has to both bide his time but also fight for his place.
Melbourne guard Dejan "DJ" Vasiljevic has done this as well as could be expected in his freshman (first) season with University of Miami Hurricanes and his reward will be getting to play in the NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness.
World stage: Dejan Vasiljevic says he has adjusted to life in Miami.Credit:Getty Images
The Hurricanes begin their tournament against perennial contender Michigan State Spartans on Saturday at 12.25pm AEDT.
Vasiljevic had his troubles adjusting to Miami in his first couple of months.
The 19-year-old had lived away from home at the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence in Canberra, formerly known the AIS basketball program, but moving overseas proved harder than expected.
He Facetimes with his family back in Melbourne regularly and has leaned on his teammates as he adjusted to life in Miami.
"The first two months were the hardest for me but I had all my teammates show me the ropes and now it feels like it's my own city – I'm enjoying it, that's the main thing," Vasiljevic said.
Miami's cultural mix is much different to Melbourne or Canberra while on court the feisty, fearless shooter had to earn his shots in a team filled with talented guards like Devon Reed, Bruce Brown and Ja'Quan Newton who all play big minutes with Vasiljevic coming off the bench in support.
Under coach Jim Larranaga the team plays a fast style where the best performers get most of the ball and anyone who can't hold their own defensively doesn't get on court.
Miami play in the ACC conference against powers like Duke, North Carolina, Syracuse and Louisville.
"I used the non-conference play to get used to guarding smaller, quicker, more athletic guys and getting used to how they all played," Vasiljevic said.
"Then we got to ACC play and you have to have the mindset that anyone you are guarding could be in the NBA Draft, they are all that good.
"You have to come in ready to defend, coach told me if I wanted minutes I had to defend and I had to play well and I've done that in my minutes."
As a proven performer for Australia's under-17 and under-19 sides, Vasiljevic has walked on the world stage and made big shots with his Australian under-17 side making the gold medal game against USA where he averaged 13 points per game.
He knew he had to earn his minutes but he didn't let himself forget he had played on the elite stage before coming to college.
"I tell people just because I'm from a different country doesn't mean I haven't got any experience," Vasiljevic said.
"I've played on the world stage, I've represented my country at the highest level so that experience helps me at this level."
Vasiljevic's offensive game has started to show late in the season despite few opportunities, an undermanned Miami side beat Virginia Tech in February after Vasiljevic's late three-pointer while he scored 13 points in the Hurricanes' win over Syracuse in the ACC Tournament at Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York earlier this month.
NCAA Tournament games can become a showcase for shooters of Vasiljevic's quality and the Melbourne raised guard is ready to stand up should his moment arrive.
"I can shoot the ball and I know my teammates will find me but with the way most teams defend we need to spread the floor," Vasiljevic said.
"So we need guys like Reed, Brown or Newton to get into the paint so I help create that space – some games I might only get one or two shots, others I might get eight or nine. It depends how they are playing us but I'm ready no matter what."
While the basketball goes up a level in March, the school work continues too and Vasiljevic said he was still learning how to make the most of his study time.
"Nothing against the AIS but the schoolwork there was nothing compared to what it's like in college with going on the road and still having to go to class," Vasiljevic said.
"One weekend we played Clemson on a Saturday, left for Virginia on Sunday, played on Monday then didn't get back until 3am or 4am that morning then I had two tests starting at 9am Tuesday morning.
"Being able to sleep and study on the plane is something I've had to work on."
The NCAA Tournament is being shown on ESPN.