University Southern California Trojans
USC Basketball Goes Greek
February 24, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2000 -
by Erin Szymanski, Sports Information Student Assistant
Most incoming freshmen are a little apprehensive about leaving behind their family and friends when they pack their bags for college. Konstantinos Charissis, however, wasn't just leaving his family and friends when he made the decision to attend USC -- he was leaving behind his native country and moving to a place that he had first visited only a few months before.
"Of course, leaving my family was very hard," said Charissis, a 6-11 freshman center who is a native of Athens, Greece. "It would be hard for anybody. "But everyone has to find their own way, and I found my way."
Luckily for the Trojan basketball team, that way led Charissis to the hardwoods of University Park. Several schools from around the United States had shown interest in Charissis, but a call from USC coach Henry Bibby convinced him that being a Trojan was the right choice.
"I talked to Coach Bibby on the phone, and after I visited USC I felt that it was the right place for me to come," said Charissis, whose visit also marked the first time he had ever been to the United States.
Though Charissis is still glad that he chose USC, he admits that it is quite unlike his native country.
"Everything here is so different," said Charissis. "It is hard for me to find my kind of food and to practice my kinds of customs. For instance, over the Christmas break, it was really hard for me to find my kind of church -- Greek Orthodox. In Greece, there is a church like this on every street."
The language barrier was also a problem at first for Charissis, especially when his teammates would use slang words.
"I couldn't understand a thing my teammates were saying the first month in the locker room," Charissis said. "I kept asking them to repeat it over and over and over."
Despite the differences in language, however, Charissis thinks of his teammates as his family, though some of their habits seem a little funny to him.
"My roommate (freshman center Luke Minor) always wants to watch movies," said Charissis. "When I lived in Greece, I used to see about three or four movies a year. Here I watch about five a week. We see two at the cinema and then come home and watch three more. It is crazy."
As for the game of basketball, that's something that hasn't changed that much for Charissis. The year before he came to USC, Charissis was a reserve center averaging three points and three rebounds in limited action for the Papagou-Athens club. Prior to that, Charissis spent three years playing for Psihico, a team from a smaller division. Still a baby in basketball years, Charissis has a soft shooting touch and runs the floor well despite his large frame.
This season, though, Charissis' main chore has been to provide defense and rebounding at the center position for USC. Though he averages just one point and one rebound in six minutes per game, his presence allows starters Brian Scalabrine and David Bluthenthal to take an occasional breather. Due to the injuries to Sam Clancy and Jarvis Turner, Charissis has even had the opportunity to start five games, something that he didn't really plan on doing as a freshman. However, Charissis isn't intimidated by his sudden elevation to part-time starter.
"No matter what happens, I just want to do my job," Charissis said. "Now if that means going out in the first 10 minutes and contributing or doing whatever Coach Bibby tells me to do, then that is what I do. But I do have to watch out for those fouls." With Charissis receiving more playing time, his main goal has been to try to stay focused and to help his teammates stay focused. That means approaching each game the same, no matter whom the opponent might be, including UCLA.
"A lot of the guys consider the UCLA game to be the big game," Charissis said. "But for me, every game is a big game. Maybe if we played in Greece, than I guess that that would be the big game for me."
When Charissis focuses on his future, things aren't as clear.
"After I'm done at USC, I want to try to find a basketball job in the States," Carissis said. "I am also interested in computers, but if that doesn't work out, then my parents said that I have to go back to Greece." For the present, however, Charissis is content at USC. He still keeps in touch with his parents by talking to them on the phone at least once a week. And as far as practicing his religion, that's not a problem either.
"I pray at least five times before every game," said Charissis.
A penitent post player to be sure, but Charissis isn't praying to go home just yet.
"I'm glad that I came to USC to play basketball," Charissis said. "I tell my friends who play basketball back in Greece, the tall and short ones, that they should consider coming here, to the United States, to play basketball. It has just been a great experience for me.
"I think I chose the right way."
