Thousands of blue and yellow Ukrainian flags waved proudly contained in the Stuart C Siegel Heart throughout Virginia Commonwealth College’s remaining residence sport of the common season, all in honor of Max Shulga.
The gesture on senior evening meant an excellent deal to Shulga, making him really feel at residence in Richmond, Virginia regardless of being removed from his native Ukraine, because the nation continues to expertise unrest three years following Russia’s invasion.
“It’s been all love since I transferred right here [from Utah State] two years in the past,” Shulga says. “I see it each sport, and in all places out right here in Richmond. I actually admire it and it reveals rather a lot about our fanbase. It’s only one huge household, and all people helps one another.”
Along with his fast relations nonetheless residing in Kyiv, the complete VCU group has discovered significant methods to indicate solidarity for Shulga, from chanting “Slava Ukraini,” a salute that interprets to “Glory to Ukraine,” to getting ready a meal that reminds him of residence.
Days earlier than senior evening, VCU’s government chef Jennifer Taylor shocked Shulga by serving him borscht, a signature Ukrainian dish.
“He walked in and he didn’t realize it was coming,” VCU’s head coach Ryan Odom mentioned throughout a latest press convention. “He noticed the massive pot, and he mentioned, ‘If I grew up in America, there’s not an opportunity I might be consuming this. However I grew up in Kyiv and I find it irresistible!’ He mentioned his mother would make it as soon as per week. He sat there and had a cup together with his teammates, which is a neat factor.”
On the courtroom, Shulga, a 6ft 5in guard, was named this week because the Atlantic 10 Convention Participant of the Yr and First Workforce All-Convention. Past sports activities, Shulga represents the resilience of his homeland as uncertainty surrounds Ukraine and US political relations, even after Tuesday’s announcement of a 30-day ceasefire within the battle with Russia.
In the identical week that Shulga earned A-10 Participant of the Week honors in late February, an intense assembly between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump on the White Home resonated globally. Within the aftermath, the Trump Administration paused army and intelligence assist to Ukraine, earlier than it was restored this week. Amid the turmoil, basketball provides Shulga a way of solace as he finds private peace whereas enjoying the sport.
“After I’m on the courtroom, enjoying within the sport, all the things type of simply goes away,” Shulga says. “And I’m simply within the second centered on what’s at hand and what I’m doing in that individual sport. Basketball helped me to only keep centered. Something that has been happening, basketball will probably be my getaway, my outlet.”
Shulga’s love for basketball started as a youth in Kyiv the place sports activities was an vital a part of household life. Shulga’s father refereed Fiba basketball video games, permitting his son to observe and study from a few of the greatest worldwide gamers. Shulga’s grandfather additionally labored as a referee and his uncle performed professionally in Europe.
By age 14, Shulga moved to Spain, honing his expertise whereas attending the distinguished Basketball College of Excellence and turning into a standout prospect by his senior season.
He returned residence earlier than beginning his school profession at Utah State to steer Ukraine within the 2019 Fiba European Championships, an expertise that gave him immense pleasure.
“It’s all the time nice to play for the nationwide group, it’s a distinct feeling to only go on the market along with your brothers from again residence,” Shulga says. “Enjoying on your nation, and simply having Ukraine throughout your chest, is a distinct feeling. It feels such as you’re enjoying for one thing far more than basketball. It’s all the time an honor.”
Shulga returned to play for Ukraine on the 2022 Fiba European Championships beneath totally different circumstances. The video games occurred simply months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, forcing the group to coach in Italy. His on-court management offered a glimmer of hope as he opened match play with a stellar efficiency, scoring 26 factors and grabbing 10 rebounds in an time beyond regulation thriller towards the Czech Republic.
Though his elite playmaking expertise continued to evolve, the battle started to take a heavy toll on Shulga throughout his time at Utah State. His former teammate Sean Bairstow knowledgeable Coach Odom, then accountable for Utah State, and his employees of Shulga’s private struggles, prompting Odom to construct a stronger rapport together with his rising star.
“I’m grateful for the expertise that he and I’ve had collectively,” Odom mentioned at VCU’s press convention. “Max has accomplished very well since that second, and has weathered some totally different storms alongside the way in which, relative to the battle and what’s happening there.”
After his stint at Utah State, Shulga continued to achieve momentum, enhancing in each statistical class after transferring to VCU in 2023 and becoming a member of Odom in his transfer to the East Coast.
VCU started this season with the purpose of profitable the A-10 Championship and up to now, they’re proper on monitor. Led by Shulga, who averaged 15.5 factors per sport and 6 rebounds, the Rams (25-6) completed the common season as co-champions together with George Mason. They enter the A-10 Convention Males’s Basketball Event because the No 1 seed.
“The mindset is similar because it’s been for each different sport all through the season,” Shulga says in regards to the group’s strategy to match play. “We simply need to keep level-headed by means of each sport and do what we’ve practiced and belief what we’ve practiced … Our purpose was to win the A-10 Championship after we fell brief final yr. All of us got here again, hungry and simply able to compete for the championship.”
This week, the A-10 Convention Event will happen at Capital One Enviornment in Washington DC, only some miles away from the place political leaders will proceed to debate the Russia-Ukraine battle and US involvement. It’s anticipated that VCU followers and supporters of Ukraine will fill the sector and wave Ukrainian flags to encourage Shulga and everybody affected by the battle.
Whereas Shulga focuses on main the Rams to an A-10 Championship and success within the 2025 NCAA Males’s Basketball Event, the hope for peace and a return to normalcy in his homeland endures.
“It’s undoubtedly good to see that individuals care and are going outdoors to rally [for Ukraine],” Shulga says. “I’m unsure how a lot of a distinction it actually makes, but it surely’s good to see the assist. It will be nice to make peace as quick as doable.”
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