Amaan Sandhu was greeted by a really acquainted tune when he walked into the basketball courtroom at Monmouth University within the first week of August this yr. “I walked into the gym for my first workout and my coach King Rice was playing a song for me. It was Mundian to bach ke rahi,” he says referring to the track by British Punjabi bhangra rap group PanjabiMC.
Rice, the top coach of the basketball group on the New Jersey-based Monmouth University had really been taking part in ‘Beware’ –the JayZ remix of the track but it surely was an ideal alternative all the identical for Sandhu. “I was like damn! These guys know my song! That was pretty cool. It really made me feel welcome,” remembers the 19-year-old who performs as a middle.
Sandhu was admittedly a little bit nervous forward of his first exercise session till then. Monmouth University, situated within the American state of New Jersey, competes in Division 1 of the NCAA – the best degree of collegiate basketball within the USA and one of many prime recruitment swimming pools for the NBA (50 of the 60 gamers who have been drafted by the NBA in 2021 have been from Division 1 schools). When he dedicated to signing with the Monmouth Hawks earlier this yr, Sandhu turned the primary Indian-born male basketball participant to win a scholarship to a Division 1 group. Division 1 of the NCAA is by the way the identical degree of competitors that Commonwealth bronze medallist excessive jumper Tejaswin Shankar competed in – albeit in observe and area.
The final objective for Sandhu is the NBA, in fact. A number of Indian gamers have tried to grasp that dream however with out a lot success. Satnam Singh Bhamara was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2015, he by no means performed a recreation for the group and is now making an attempt a profession in skilled wrestling. Princepal Singh signed a developmental G League contract in 2020 however didn’t progress very far both. Neither Satnam or Princepal went by the NCAA route although – and it’s one which Sandhu hopes will convey him extra success.
“It’s just really different when you compete here. In India, every court looks the same. Here the NBA and even college courts just feel larger,” Sandhu says.
| Photo Credit: AFP
While Sandhu could be a trailblazer of kinds, it appears inevitable that he can be related to basketball. Sandhu, who hails from Mohali in Punjab, comes from a household of basketball gamers. His father, Gurcharanjeet Singh Sandhu, performed for the nationwide group whereas his mom, Rajinder Kaur performed for Punjab. His older sister, Aakarshan, has additionally performed for the U-18 Indian group.
Standing at 6 foot 7 by the point he was 13, Sandhu was scouted by the NBA India Academy situated within the Greater Noida suburb of New Delhi. Within a couple of years, on the advice of NBA Academy and one-time Indian nationwide coach Scott Flemming, he joined the First Love Christian Academy, a faculty in Pittsburgh, USA. By the time he graduated, Sandhu had shot as much as 7 ft in peak and was already attracting curiosity from a variety of schools in America.
Sandhu didn’t at all times plan to take the school route. “I remember, back in 2018, when I joined the NBA academy. I ain’t gonna lie, I knew what college basketball was but I didn’t know what it is. I knew about the NBA and that’s about it. When I started taking basketball seriously, that’s when I started looking at what my options were. My coaches at the NBA Academy said college basketball was a good idea and that’s how I decided to go for it,” he says.
His mother and father, he says, weren’t utterly enthused at first. “My parents didn’t know much about college basketball in the USA. So I had to educate them on how that puts me one step closer to professional basketball. My parents played in the 1990s and 2000s so they have no idea about college basketball because Indian college basketball is really small, It’s not even close to what college basketball in the USA is like,” he says.
There’s another excuse for his choice as nicely. “I made them understand that I was getting to go to college for free and I’m getting a degree. If I graduate I of course will have a chance to go to the league but after that my degree is going to help me in whatever I decide to do,” says Sandhu who says he’s planning to main in communication.
Monmouth was eager to have him over. “After my school, I had a couple of other schools who were interested in me but ultimately it was just Monmouth and me going back and forth. I’m an international student, so there’s a lot more paperwork involved. I had to wait for the NCAA to clear me before I could play for a D1 school. I loved the school and coaching staff. I saw the arena. I met the dean. One of the deans is from India too. I was talking to one of the seniors.I love the vibe. As soon as everything got over, I told the coach if I get cleared to play for you, I’m coming here,” he says.
Sandhu has at present began seven of the 11 video games Monmouth has performed this season. He’s solely averaged 2.1 factors per recreation – the bottom within the Monmouth roster however has averaged 3.1 rebounds a match – the fourth-highest price within the 10-member group.
| Photo Credit: Instagram/Amaan Sandhu
For probably the most half, Sandhu has made the transition from Mohali teenager to American faculty pupil pretty seamlessly. With a vocabulary peppered with Americanised slang and a simple sense of humour, it’s laborious to think about he’s ever not been within the nation.
“I ain’t gonna lie. I didn’t speak a word of English before I joined the NBA Academy in 2017. But that was the only way to communicate with my coaches who are all from the USA. I was like I can’t speak to my coaches if I can’t speak English. When I went to school in the states, I saw the way people speak and I picked it right up. I still speak to my family in Punjabi but sometimes even they say I’ve become an American,” he says.
But as usually the one Indian within the basketball groups he’s a part of, it’s Sandhu who’s usually the one giving classes. “It was really strange when I came to college and my teammates and coaches were like— hey Amaan tell us something about yourself and where you come from. Tell us about your background, your religion, and that sort of stuff. I found that crazy. Then you be thinking how, in India, no one really asked about it or they just knew already. Now you have to take the time to explain it to someone else. I also teach some of my teammates a few words in Punjabi too. Just a little stuff like ‘hi’ and ‘how are you’,” he says.
But for probably the most half although, it’s Amaan who’s doing the training. Although Monmouth is only one of 358 Division 1 groups, the usual of play right here is increased than something that Sandhu – who’s already represented the Indian senior group on the FIBA South Asian Championships — has performed in earlier than. “Don’t get me twisted. At the end of the day, College basketball is hard. It’s different than high school basketball and academy basketball. It’s different than international basketball. The style and physicality of the game is different than the way I played with the Indian team,” he says.
Sandhu’s nonetheless getting adjusted to the distinction in ranges. He has at present began seven of the 11 video games Monmouth has performed this season. He’s solely averaged 2.1 factors per recreation – the bottom within the Monmouth roster however has averaged 3.1 rebounds a match – the fourth-highest price within the 10-member group.
He understands that the development will likely be laborious but additionally is aware of that he has time on his aspect. “Right now, we just played a few games. College teams in the NCAA division 1 usually play older guys. Our team just has one senior(the fourth year of an undergraduate programme in the USA). It’s good. We as a team have grown and progressed and we have a long way to go. We are getting better. I’m one of the youngest guys as a freshman (first-year student). The role I’m playing, a lot of freshmen don’t even see the court and I’m starting for the team. It’s a blessing but I can’t take that for granted because the coach can take me out at any point,” he says.
So for now, Sandhu’s attempting his greatest to present himself as a lot of an opportunity to be a daily within the aspect.
“There’s no two ways about it. You have to be a professional here because training at the NCAA level is very different from what I did at the NBA academy or high school or even the Indian team. The level of basketball, the intensity of workout and the speed of the game is really different. But you have to be a professional player period,” he says.
What complicates issues is the truth that he’s bought to steadiness his research as nicely. “I ain’t gonna lie to you. I really don’t like hitting the books but I have to. So because of that I really have to plan my schedule. On Monday for example, I have classes from 11:40am to 1pm. So if I had a 7 am practice, then I’ll text coach If I can I work out with him individually at 6 am. I work out individually and by the time the team gets here, I’ve got 100s of shots off and worked on my individual skills. After I’m done by 8, I’ll shower and all. I grab breakfast at around 9. Between 9-1140, I’ll get some sleep and then see the phsyio or I’ll go to the trainer and ask if he can stretch me or something. After classes, I’ll grab some lunch and go to my room and chill a little bit before I go to my 330 pm practice. I’ll practise till 5:30pm and then shoot maybe a thousand free throws before I go to a 7:40pm class. Then I’ll be done by 9pm, grab dinner, go to my room chill. Do my homework. And then by 11pm, I’m kayoed (tired) and I’m sleeping until the next day. That’s how my day goes,” he says.
It’s hectic however, for Sandhu, all of it appears price it when he steps on courtroom within the Hawks jersey. “It’s just really different when you compete here. In India, every court looks the same. Here the NBA and even college courts just feel larger. The intensity and physicality and the way the game moves is way faster than anything. The crowds are insane,” he says.
Ahead of what was his first match, Sandhu says the event virtually appeared too huge for him. “Here I’m this 19 year old and in my first match against Seton Hall I was up against a 25-year-old. I remember initially how nervous I was. The whole arena was packed. I was like ‘dang! this is my first college game. Coach is going to put me in. And initially, I wasn’t doing too well. I was thinking whether I’m really up for this. And coach was like what are you doing, you got to pick it up. And then I went in and got my first basket. I was really hyped after that. I was like ‘lets go!” he remembers.
Sandhu will likely be in search of extra such moments within the years to return as he seems to interrupt new floor in an unfamiliar atmosphere. But he’s assured he’ll be capable to pull it off. “It’s very different from anything I’ve done before. But at the end of the day, it’s basketball. I’ve been doing this for a long time. When I get the ball, I’m not thinking about where I’m playing. I’m thinking ‘lets just hoop.’” he says.
