Junior Eloy Vargas dunks during the UK mens basketball Dillard exhibition game. Photo by Mike Weaver
Last year, Josh Harrellson couldn’t find enough space in his duffel bags for all his jorts while he was traveling to China.
Eloy Vargas will probably not encounter the same problem.
However, UK would love to see Vargas emerge from his round-the-world trip with the same productivity as Harrellson, who along with Jon Hood participated in the Sports Reach program. This year’s team will play nine games in 10 days.
Is that drastic improvement realistic? No. Harrellson’s improvement came almost exclusively through the hard work accompanying his Twitter saga and subsequent workout program — along with the sole rights to being the big man on the team. But he did get the chance for game action over the summer, and that certainly played a part, although probably miniscule.
Still, the China trip should help Vargas, especially when that trip is coupled with his tryouts for the Dominican Republic national team. But the biggest factor if he does improve will probably be from simply being a year older, a year more experienced, a year more used to the college game.
For some perspective on how players end up after the trip, here’s the rosters of the last two years plus this summer’s:
Summer of 2009 (roster via)
Ali FarokhmaneshNorthern IowaKwadzo AhelegbeNorthern IowaAlex LegionIllinois (transferred to Florida International)Dominique KellerIllinoisCarlton FaySouthern IllinoisPaul CarterMinnesota (transferred to Illinois-Chicago)A.J. SlaughterWestern Kentucky
Summer of 2010 (roster via)
Peyton SivaLouisvilleBrandon BarnesLipscombMalik StoryNevadaJon HoodKentuckySkylar McBeeTennesseeXavier SilasNorthern IllinoisSteffphon PettigrewWestern KentuckyJeremy WilliamsUTEPCarlton FaySouthern IllinoisJosh HarrellsonKentuckySean KowalNorthern Illinois
Summer of 2011 (roster via)
Eloy VargasKentuckyJordan HullsIndianaVictor OladipoIndianaMalik StoryNevadaJustin BocotSouthern IllinoisAustin HollinsMinnesotaGarlon GreenTCUMarcus ThorntonGeorgiaKeith ClantonCentral FloridaDevonte ElliotNevada