Top selection a thrill for Fil
Years from now, Fil Vujadinovic might be the answer to a difficult sports trivia question.
Last month, the 24-year-old Burlington native became the first overall selection in the U SPORTS portion of the inaugural Canadian Elite Basketball League draft.
The 6-foot-7, 205-pound forward takes a lot of pride in having that historic hoops distinction.
“Of course,” he said. “Going into my first year (at Ryerson), I would never have imagined even making it into a draft this early in my career. To be the first overall pick is a blessing.”
It was a special moment for the business management graduate.
“It’s all the hard work you put into it day in and day out that people don’t see,” he said. “You have to make sacrifices and not hang with your friends, girlfriend and even family sometimes.
“For all that to pay off and be recognized as a good player is super special.”
Like anyone in any field, affirmation is nice.
“To have a coach make you the first pick out of all the U SPORTS players is definitely great.”
Vujadinovic wrote his final exam last Friday and began working out with the River Lions in advance of the official opening of training camp Sunday.
“The exams went alright. You get used to it, especially being at Ryerson with the coaches we had and the expectations they had for you as a student/athlete.
“I was already in that mode to become a pro.”
Going right from exams to his first pro training camp helped him to not overthink the experience.
“You don’t have any down time,” he said. “You are done, you are on to the next thing and that is my lifestyle.”
His first day as a pro was a memorable experience.
“The first day was nerve wracking, of course, but I knew some of the guys so it made it a little bit easier,” he said. “Seeing some guys that you know of and you know what they’ve done is definitely nerve wracking, but once you meet the guys and start competing it just becomes fun.”
Fun is one way to describe what the River Lions are showing in their first days of training camp. The action is intense and players are getting after each other in a big way.
“This is another level and I love it,” Vujadinovic said. “Ryerson was good but we definitely did not go this hard for two straight hours and compete at this level.”
He feels he has fit in well with his teammates.
“I am the kind of guy who moulds himself to whatever the team needs,” he said. “Me being a four here, I am a rebounder, shooter and passer”
He has one goal for the season.
“I want to win everything,” he said.
That’s something Vujadinovic made a habit of at Ryerson, He won two Ontario University Athletics gold medals and two silvers and won a medal every year at the national university championships, including two silvers and three bronze medals.
“I got lucky with Ryerson coming when I did because they were on the rise and I was thankful that I was able to help them get five medals in my time there.”
River Lions head coach/GM Victor Raso likes what he has seen from the forward.
“Fil has been good,” he said. “He was a little nervous at first, but he is starting to figure it out and starting to shoot the ball better.”
There’s a lot to like about the player
“Fil is 6-foot-7, athletic and big and he can really bang with the guys at this level,” Raso said. “It’s not like he needs to get any stronger.”
Vujadinovic just needs to get used to the pro systems and he is doing a good job of adjusting to it already.
