Srdan Vujanovic says that his main strength as a basketball player is that he always finds a way. “Maybe you can jump higher than me and maybe you’re faster than me, but I’ll find a way.” It’s not a boast. It’s a commitment.
Vujanovic used that same talent to land at Neumann in August. After his sophomore year in high school in Novi Sad, Serbia, he decided to come to the United States to finish his education and pursue his athletic passion. Five years later, with stops in Maryland, New Jersey, and Minnesota under his belt, he is playing for an NCAA school. He found a way.
As Vujanovic traveled the serpentine path to Neumann, he faced some challenges. After finishing high school at West Nottingham Academy in Maryland, a school where he formed a tight bond with many fellow international students, he applied to Neumann but decided to enroll in a prep school in New Jersey where there were few faces from overseas.
“It was a character-building experience,” the Communication and Digital Media major recalls. “I had to prove myself there, on and off the court.”
A year later, a coach from Minnesota North College Rainy River Campus recruited Vujanovic to play in International Falls, MN, where he faced a very different kind of challenge. The town is known as the “Icebox of the Nation,” the coldest town in the U.S. Vujanovic remembers temperatures falling to minus 40 degrees and snowstorms that would last for a week.
He survived the weather at the community college for two years and re-applied to Neumann.
“I had a full-circle moment. Some NAIA schools were also interested, but I felt that this was the best fit by far.”
Jim Rullo, men’s basketball coach, agrees: “We are excited to welcome Srdan to our university community and basketball program. As a staff, we feel he will be able to contribute and make our team much more versatile with his skill set.”
A 6’2” guard, Vujanovic easily made the transition from eastern Europe to the States because he had immersed himself in the sport from an early age.
“I was always involved with American culture, especially Black culture. My idols were players from the United States – NBA stars like Kyrie Irving, Jamal Crawford, Chris Paul, and Allen Iverson. The music and culture of basketball resonated with me, so I knew what to expect.”
After two months here, he gives Neumann a thumbs up. “I like the vibe of the campus and like my major a lot.”
He is also excited for the season, which starts on November 7. The first home game is scheduled for November 14 at 7 p.m. against Goucher College.
“I really like my teammates. The team won its conference last year, and I would like to run it back. I’d like to have some jewelry,” he grins.
After graduation, Vujanovic plans to explore his options – playing pro basketball in Europe or pursuing a good career opportunity in the States. He is unabashed, however, in his love for his native land. He has tasted life in America, “but Serbia is home for me.”