Imports important at AOP

Basketball is not in their lineage.

Their father was a judoka, their mom a gymnast. But Allen Mkrtychyan is a basketball player, and so are his younger brothers, Artur and Arkadiy. For them, home is on the hardwood, even if the hardwood is 8,000 miles away from their hometown of Moscow, Russia.

Artur, 17, and Arkadiy, 16, are the newest European imports to play for the Academy of the Pacific varsity boys basketball team, led by second-year head coach Wally Marciel and associate coach and athletic director Ryan Hogue. The brothers join sharp-shooting German native Mattia Raebel and a slew of overachieving local players on a team determined to make its second straight appearance in the Division I state tournament.

The brothers, although generally fluent in English, rely on iPhone language translation apps in the classroom. Communicating on-court strategies have proven more difficult.

"It’s easier in the classroom when you have a book with the visual right in front of you," said Hogue. "But when you’re on the court and we call a timeout and we have 30 seconds to give directions, it’s a lot tougher. But they’re getting the hang of it."

"When you talk to them, you can’t talk pidgin," added Marciel. "They know ‘da kine’ and ‘hey brah,’ but anything else and they give you a confused look."

Language isn’t their only barrier. The brothers are also transitioning to post play against Hawaii’s stout and physical big men. Unfortunately, there’s no app that can translate the game of basketball, so Marciel and Hogue used an old-school method to introduce the brothers to Hawaii’s style of play.

"We went to play Kahuku and Waianae," said Marciel. "Artur and Arkadiy battled in the post with some big, strong, football-player types and got banged up a bit. It was trial by fire."

Standing 6-foot-6, Arkadiy, a junior, was a point forward while playing for the under-16 Armenian national team in the European Championships this summer, averaging 13.6 points, 2.3 assists and 7.8 rebounds. Artur, a 6-foot-4 senior, also played for that team a few years ago. Admittedly, both have had limited experience playing with their backs to the basket.

"Both are tremendous passers and ballhandlers, but in order to integrate them into our team concept, I have to train them to play in the post," said Hogue, a 6-foot-7 former Kalaheo and Hawaii-Hilo standout post player.

The younger and taller Arkadiy has made a quicker transition at the power forward spot, posting 27 points in a preseason match against Waianae. The lanky junior runs the floor like a gazelle, and has learned to forego the open 3 and instead establish good position on the block.

Artur is strong, and bears a striking resemblance in looks and physique to former Hawaii standout Predrag Savovic.

"When he goes to the hoop, he’s able to will that ball into the bucket," said Marciel.

Artur’s height and strength make him the prototypical tweener, with Hogue and Marciel still devising ways to utilize his skills as a ballhandler and maximize his potential in the post.

Despite the steep learning curve, Hogue and Marciel cite the brothers’ tremendous work ethic and their willingness to learn new skills as signs that progress is inevitable.

"Come January," said Hogue, "they’re both going to be fantastic players who will have a huge impact on our season."

While their games remain in transition, Artur and Arkadiy have brought a level of maturity and professionalism that has rubbed off on their teammates.

"We traveled and played in many countries — Croatia, Lithuania, Hungary and others," said Arkadiy. "I have always played against good players. We know what it’s all about."

"The European kids take a different approach to academics and sports," said Hogue. "They’re extremely focused because they’re so grateful to be in Hawaii."

When asked if they feel homesick, their response was an emphatic "no."

"Do you know how cold it is right now in Moscow?" said Hogue. "These kids soak up the laid-back culture. They leave in slippers, board shorts and a T-shirt."

Weather aside, the brothers have no plans on leaving Hawaii anytime soon. They have taken root in Hawaii, and enjoy living with their older brother, Allen. They have also grown accustomed to AOP’s cozy campus and small student body.

"I like that we know everyone and everyone knows us," said Artur. "I like the small classes, I’m learning a lot of English."

AOP’s basketball team resembles the mission of its school, with an emphasis on developing close-knit relationships among peers.

"It benefits the local kids greatly to build relationships with kids from 8,000 miles away," said Hogue. "We have a unique team dynamic that works."

Eight thousand miles separates Artur and Arkadiy from family and friends. Home, however, comes in the form of a round ball and a 10-foot hoop.