Playing college athletics can merit a lot of travel.

So why not do it overseas too?

Augusta alum and current Rockford College basketball player Cody Ripato took that option recently, making the voyage to Europe to play with PhD Hoops in an overseas summer trip for 10 days.

PhD offers up a 10-day travel experience combining basketball competition, skill development, and an immense cultural education to last a lifetime. The tour is led by coaches, includes a number of sightseeing excursions and caps off by competing at the United World Games, the largest youth tournament in Europe.

“The Alps were amazing,” Ripato said. “They are incredible. Pictures don’t do it justice. I really loved Venice and the history. Europe is incredible. I also learned that we have it great in America, some places you have to pay .50 cents to go to the restroom or pay .50 cents extra for barbecue sauce. It just gives you a different outlook on things.”

Ripato was grouped with other college players across the country to do the tour and play against teams from Hungary, Italy, Austria and Germany.

They hit Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Austria during their trip, getting to go sightseeing while also being able to compete against competition in Europe.

Ripato was connected with Richard Schueler, a contributing coach for PhD and college basketball analyst on the ESPN Network and found out about the trip through him.

“Richard branched out and started new tours and recruiting guys and told me it was a great experience so I was interested,” Ripato said. “We hit five countries in 10 days. It was a great experience that a lot of people don’t get to do. This was a great opportunity as an athlete and as a person.”

Ripato’s American team went 4-2 during their week in Europe and earned a bronze medal, finishing third out of 20-plus teams in their division, a solid result for a team that was picked to join up and go overseas without much time together, compared to some of the European teams who have been playing with each other for years.

“Our team was from all over. We had guys from Arizona and the West Coast and we all basically joined up with strangers. It was a different style of play then what we’re used to in college over here. A lot of the games finished in the 30’s and 40’s and they ran offenses similar to when I was with coach Kirk at Augusta. A lot of passing, not a lot of iso basketball,” Ripato said. “Their offenses featured a lot of touches, a slower paced game. In college at Rockford, our last five games of the season were in the 100’s and just a lot faster paced.”

Ripato feels the experience was beneficial both on the court and off. He got to see the European culture in a variety of countries and he said most importantly on the court he got to take on a leadership role.

“I played point guard and learned how to be a leader even more. At Rockford we lose six seniors off our team so we’ll need some guys to step up and take leadership roles. That will create a ton of opportunity and people need to fill in and be leaders in the locker room and on the court and that’s where I can be successful,” Ripato said.

The Rockford sophomore had to sit out his freshman season after transferring from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin after his first semester. Ripato said he made the move mainly for education purposes, Rockford having a lot more to offer for his major.

Adapting to new surroundings is something Ripato is familiar with, transferring from Lewis County after his first three years of high school to Augusta prior to his senior year, averaging 8.7 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Panthers during the 2017-18 season.

He’ll enter his sophomore year hopeful for some playing time with the Regents. Rockford, a Division III school in Rockford, Illinois, is coming off a 12-14 season and a loss in the first round to Illinois Tech in the NACC Tournament.

“Once mid-August rolls around I’ll head back to campus and get ready for next season. In the meantime, I’ll be working on my skillset and keeping my body in shape for the college game. I didn’t get to play the second semester, I’m eligible now and hoping to see some action,” Ripato said.

He’ll also get a former district foe as a teammate, St. Patrick’s Brevin Jones committing to play for the Regents over the summer. Jones is recovering from a second ACL injury and hopes to have found a better spot for him after transferring from Cincinnati Christian University after his freshman year, one he had to sit out to rehab his knee.

“Once he gets healthy I think he can really help us in the future,” Ripato said.

Augusta alum Cody Ripato recently got to tour some European countries and compete in basketball during the PhD Hoops 2019 United World Games Tour. (Submitted)
https://maysville-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_Ripato.jpgAugusta alum Cody Ripato recently got to tour some European countries and compete in basketball during the PhD Hoops 2019 United World Games Tour. (Submitted)
Augusta alum tours Europe while getting to compete

Evan Dennison

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