Oct. 30, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - When senior center Kenrick Zondervan (Hoofddorp, Holland) arrived at UCF in 2005, he became the first international player to join the Knights directly out of high school under head coach Kirk Speraw. Three years later, UCF's roster has an international look.
Zondervan is one of four foreign-born players on this season's squad. Unlike Zondervan, the other three Knights all attended high school in the United States.
Sophomore forward/center Jean Michel Yotio (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) prepped in the Orlando area at Montverde Academy. This past summer, two international freshmen - center Jakub Kusmieruk (Sokolow Podlaski, Poland) and guard Isaac Sosa (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) - both joined the program.
Kusmieruk spent three years in the United States before heading to Orlando. Sosa came to the country as a junior in high school.
The 7-foot-4 Kusmieruk is the tallest player in school history.
Speraw's squad is set to open the regular season on Nov. 16, hosting North Carolina A&T at the UCF Arena. The Knights will play 16 contests at home this year, including a Dec. 6 non-league showdown with USF and a Jan. 10 Conference USA game with national power Memphis.
Season tickets are currently on sale. To purchase your season tickets today, and to learn more about the Fastbreak Club and other premium seating options, contact the UCF ticket sales office at (407) UCF-1000.
On Nov. 8, fans can get an early look at this season's team by attending UCF Postgame Madness at the UCF Arena. The free event is slated to begin following the UCF-Southern Miss football game. The event will include the opportunity to choose your season ticket seat location and an inter-squad scrimmage.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
Notes: Former UCF point guard Mike O'Donnell stopped by to watch the Knights practice on Thursday afternoon. O'Donnell, who concluded his playing career last spring, currently works for the Golden Knights Club.