Kevin Oberweiser continues globetrotting basketball journey in Luxembourg

Dec. 22—Former University of Jamestown men's basketball player Kevin Oberweiser has been trekking around the world. The former Jimmies guard has taken his talents to two different continents — Europe and South America — to keep his hoop dream alive.

The possibility of playing abroad came into focus for the Montana native after his junior season in which he averaged 15.4 points per game on 49% shooting, 29 steals, and 108 assists. During his senior season, he averaged 19.3 points per game on 49% shooting, 108 assists, 41 steals, and 194 rebounds.

Oberweiser's head coach Danny Neville said that one of the big moments in Oberweiser's journey to playing overseas was his participation in the 2019 NAIA Men's Basketball All-Star Game.

"I think one big thing from him was making the NAIA All-Star Game in Kansas City. A lot of scouts are down there. I think it was a good exposure event for him ... Once he told me he wanted to do it," Neville said. "It was a thing where let's get the season over with and not have to worry about it during the season. Let's worry about doing what we can to possibly win the GPAC, win a national title. When the season was over I told Kevin, I'll do whatever for him."

After graduating the guard had an agent, One Motive Sports, reach out to him and they decided on his first stop, the Limerick Celtics in Limerick, Ireland. After his stop in Ireland, he went to Albania for the preseason before leaving for Argentina when the Albanian Superliga was postponed because of COVID-19. After his season in Argentina, he moved back to Europe and is now playing for the Kordall Steelers in Differdange, Luxembourg.

The level of play in Ireland was less than ideal, according to Oberweiser, who said that at times it felt like he was playing one-on-one between the other American players. The jump in competition to Argentina is in a class of its own, he said.

One of the differences between playing overseas and playing high-level professional sports in the United States is akin to those who play sports at the junior college level, Neville said.

"It's kind of different because when you play overseas, you obviously are on the team and you want to be loyal to them but at the same time, you're always looking for something bigger and better, that's just natural for guys playing overseas," Neville said.

"It's that fine line between are you playing for yourself and to advance yourself or are you playing for your team and to help your team and advancing yourself...He's just a team guy, that's why I think it is so important, his agent does a good job of selling those teams, he's a great teammate, great guy, he's willing to do whatever," Neville said. "It's kind of like junior college like obviously you want to help your team and win, but you're also playing for a scholarship to go somewhere else. So, it's kind of similar to help your team but you're also playing to advance your career."

Throughout his experiences, Oberweiser and Neville have stayed in contact and continued to follow each other throughout.

"It's awesome. He's just a great kid, a great competitor. He's a guy that we just happened to watch a video that he sent us," Neville said. "He sent an eight-minute video of him talking to our team. He continues to help us. I continue to stay in contact with him."

Some of the biggest adjustments that he has had to deal with is the language barrier between himself and his teammates both on the floor and off of it. He has had to become skilled at nonverbal communication skills to bridge the gap.

One of the other biggest adjustments that Oberweiser has had to deal with has been playing basketball in countries where basketball is not the most popular sport. In Ireland, he learned about some of the most popular sports in the country like Gaelic football and hurling.

Some of the teams have been very accommodating and have apartments that they rent out to their players every year, which is how he has found places to live at each stop.

Being abroad during COVID has been an interesting experience for Oberweiser. As in Luxembourg, he has had to show proof of vaccination when he arrived in the country or a negative test and quarantine for a period of time upon arrival. He also has to show proof of vaccination when he goes into businesses.

From a basketball perspective, COVID has impacted his experience because during the 2020-21 season in Argentina the games were played without fans in attendance. The lack of fans in attendance was disappointing to Oberweiser because he heard a lot about how rowdy the fans are and the fact that they bring drums to the games.

As a result of his basketball journey, Oberweiser has been able to go to places around the world that he would not have been able to go to otherwise. He is hoping to travel to the countries that border Luxembourg, Belgium, France, and Germany.

Oberweiser might be joined in the ranks of Jimmies pro athletes in the next few years, Neville said.

"I mean Mason Walters has a chance with his size and his skill," Neville said. "I think he has a chance but again we're worried about the present and what he can do for Jamestown. But, I think he has a chance to have a long career overseas."