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ASU hoopster chasing the American Dream
At 6' 7", Etsho Illunga seems to be your typical basketball player. It's not the case. Illunga came to the US from the Congo in Africa to escape the hardships. That's where the long journey to Augusta started.
Reporter: Kevin FaigleEmail Address: kevin.faigle@wrdw.com |
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March 9, 2007
AUGUSTA, Ga.---When Augusta State takes to the court tomorrow night in the NCAA tournament, they'll do so with one guy who's literally chasing the American Dream.
At 6' 7", Etsho Illunga seems to be your typical basketball player. It's not the case. Illunga came to the US from the Congo in Africa to escape the hardships. That's where the long journey to Augusta started.
"What I said in the back of my head, sometimes you go through tough times to figure out what life is about," Etsho said.
After losing his dad, Etsho packed his bags, leaving his mom behind, and flew to New York. They told him he'd have to go to Houston for his immigration papers. Not knowing a soul and relying on the generosity of others, Ethso quickly learned plenty.
"Being in Houston and waiting for my immigration process to be done, I think I learned a lot of things. I built my confidence. From Houston, I flew back to New York and I was ready to expect anything."
His college basketball career started at a junior college in Illinois. That's where Jags coach Dip Metress discovered him and was impressed from the get-go.
"He's definitely not your normal case by any means," Coach Metress said. "Everybody who meets him on campus says the same thing. They mispronounce his name, and they say that's a wonderful kid, he's so manner able and so pleasant to deal with."
Soon after, he was in Augusta, where Metress has all but adopted him as a son.
"This is kind of his home," Metress said. "When you're in that unique case when your family is basically on the equator, as we joke about, he just doesn't have the resources to go home. America is his home. He's trying to get his citizenship."
A finance major who's fluent in five languages, Etsho wants to work on Wall Street. How many ball players do you know with those types of aspirations? He's also working on becoming a US citizen.
"As you know, since September 11, the process kind of takes a long time than it use to be. But so far everything is clear and I'll get it hopefully," Etsho said.
Football
Westside: Chris Hunter- Albany St
Lincoln Co: Marquis Parks- SC St.
Lincoln Co: AG Middlebrooks- Ga. Mil.Coll.
Lakeside: Khadi Tshishiku-Harvard
Lakeside: Ricky McMurtrey -East Cent. Ok.
Lakeisde: Chris Hartfield- East Cent. Ok
Allen-Fairfax: Bashaud Breeland- Clemson
Allen-Fairfax: Jerrell Priester-Kentucky
Silver Bluff: Kyle Mackey- Newberry
Demarcus Lawrence- Butler CC
Glenn Hills: Terrell Fitts-SC St.
North Augusta: Brandon Bright-Newberry
North Augusta: Dillion Temples-Newberry
North Augusta: Cam Alston-Howard
North Augusta: Charles Coleman-The Citadel
North Augusta: Montel Hughes -Presbyterian
North Augusta: LJ Perry- The Citadel
North Augusta: Matt Hazel-Coastal Carolina
Jefferson Co: Barry Bostic-Georgia Tech
Hephizbah: Gary Robinson-Furman
Hephzibah: Quame Collins-Hutchinson CC
Hephzibah: Bobby Liggins -West Georgia
Hephzibah: Chris Owens-Ga. Mil. Col.
ARC: Evan Dansby- Tusculum
ARC: MarQuon Medlock-Tusculum
ARC: DJ Brooks-Tusculum
ARC:Jerrel Anderson-Tusculum
ARC:Jarrad Quarles- SC St.
Burke Co: Terrell Brigham- So. Alabama
Grovetown: Seth Hill-The Citadel
Greenbrier: Trevor Jones-Tusculum
Men's Soccer
Grovetown: Gabe Warner-Southern Tech
Aquinas:Ethan Lapan- Georgia Southern
Greenbrier: Stephen Maxwell- Gardner Webb
Greenbrier: Hunter Norton -Georgia Southern
Greenbrier: Tyler Sanders- Palm Beach Atl. U.
Women's Soccer
Lakeside: Stephanie Allen- Presbyterian
Greenbrier: Riley Marschalk- Nichoolls St
Greenbrier: Brittaney Borror- Georgia College & St
Greenbrier: Kelsey Waechter- So. Florida
Baseball
South Aiken: Nathan Kuhns -Coastal Carolina
Greenbrier: Shawn McCain- Western Carolina
Greenbrier: Chad Farmer- Appalachian State
Greenbrier: Sam Daniel -USC Aiken
Greenbrier: Ben Morgan -Ga. Southern
Lakeside: Jeffrey Stoner- Francis Marion
Lakeside: Zach Hayden -Middle Georgia
Lakeside: Clayton Miller -Armstrong Atlantic
Harlem: Steve Beasley -USC Aiken
Harlem: Jay Aplin -Shorter College
Lakeside: Andy Pringle- Reinhardt College
Lakeside: Will Hogan- Andrew College
Softball
Curtis Baptist: Nicole Young -Brewton Parker College
Greenbrier: Kaila Hunt- Alabama
Greenbrier: Ashlyn Masters- Florida St.
North Augusta: Aubrey Lamar- Kentucky
Golf
South Aiken: Chandler Brazeal -Wofford
ARC: William Sigg- Presbyterian
Lakeside: Kelby Burton-Kennesaw St.
Women's Basketball
Warren Co: Candice Warthen- Arizona
Hephzibah: Aarika Judge- Cent. Fla.
Westside: Aishya Wofford- Ga. Southern
Men's Basketball
Burke Co: Martaveous Smith- Winthrop
Laney: Larry Doby -Ga. State
Volleyball
North Augusta: Anna Vizvary-Pfeiffer
Aiken: Kiki Hennessey -Lander
Tennis
Westminster: Rebecca Shine -Louisville
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