The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS the second Bahamian to travel to Greece to begin his professional volleyball career, Shonari Hepburn said the experience this past year was more than he anticipated.

Hepburn, following in the footsteps of fellow pro baller Byron Ferguson, said his appearance on the Kyzikos roster in the city of Nea Peramos was a great experience in his rookie season.

"I saw a lot playing wise that I didn't see at home," said Hepburn during a practice with the men's national team as they prepare for the CAZOVA Senior Championships in Trinidad & Tobago next week.

"It was something good for me to bring home to my peers and the younger ones still in college so that they can get better and take their game to the next level."

At the end of the season, Hepburn helped Kyzikos to finish in ninth place out of a field of 12 teams with a 10-20 win-loss record as they participated in the top league in Greece for the first time.

With the season completed, Hepburn said he is waiting on confirmation from his agent on exactly where he will play when the new season starts in September.

If he returns to Greece, Hepburn said he was advised that he could sign with one of the playoff teams in the league, which would only help him to enhance his game.

"Right now, my agent is negotiating for me to also look in France, which is a higher market," Hepburn said.

As a player coming from the Bahamas via Canada where he played on the collegiate scene with Niagara College, Hepburn said it was quite different from what he had experienced in the past.

"The only Bahamian to play pro ball was Byron (Ferguson), so everybody knows what to expect out of Bahamians," Hepburn said. "There was more pressure on me to succeed because people know that the Bahamian players are athletic.

"With Byron also having played in Greece, people know the calibre of play they will get from the Bahamas. So it was good for me to go there because he had a successful season individually and also as a member of his team."

Hepburn said he felt had a relatively good season individually and it will only help to motivate the young players who are following in their footsteps.

"Just work hard and don't quite," said the 24-year-old 6-feet, 7-inches Hepburn. "The things that you are really good at, just continue to work on them and make them better.

"If you get to go pro, everything you used to be doing at home or in college you might be asked to do something differently. So you have to be open and make the adjustment because you never know what the coach might want to implement in your game."

Hepburn, a middle blocker, said he learnt so much during his rookie season on the pro circuit and he's hoping that he can impart some of his knowledge to his teammates when they travel to Trinidad to play next week.

While Hepburn wait to find out exactly where he will continue his career later this year, Ferguson is gearing up to head to France as the Bahamas two pro volleyball players.