STORYTELLER TUNDE VAHLBERG FASASI

Couple of weeks back my GM called me and told me Tunde was coming home to apply for a visa and was going to practice with our team for a while. I was thrilled because I saw him during the U18 EuroBasket last summer, when he won gold for Sweden. So, when he came to our first practice, I told him we had to sit down and talk about his journey.

Tunde is a young and athletic wing. He grew up playing soccer, and because of his height someone told him he should try basketball. He signed up for AIK Basket and his first coach was none other than Swedish Basketball legend Lesli Myrthil. Lesli was a regular on our National team for years, and a member of the famous Boys '77 from Solna, which is considered to be the greatest youth team in Swedish Basketball.

On Tundes team was also the cousins William Kermoury and Romeo Myrthil (Lesli's oldest son). All three of them became cornerstones on Swedish youth national teams, and took three different routes in pursuing their dreams as professional basketball players. Romeo is making his name at Dartmouth College after playing at RIG Mark, William is playing his fourth season in SBL and Tunde took his talents to Greece to play high level basketball.

Last summer Tunde and William were starting teammates on Swedens U18 National team that won Gold and advanced the next team to the A Division. Together with Swedens guard Elliott Cadeau, Tunde was voted on the All-Star team of the tournament. In the finals Tunde went down hard after a block and broke his hand, and was out a couple of months to start the 2022-23 season. Since Tunde was rushed to the hospital for x-rays, William Kermoury accepted the award, holding up his numer 21 on the pictures. Shortly after I met them at Hovet when the team was celebrated at halftime during Sweden's game against Germany. Seeing Tunde at practice every day for a couple of weeks, I'm sure he will have a great situation and we will see him this summer again when he's supposed to represent Sweden again, this time on the U20 squad which is a stacked team.

What impresses me the most about Tunde, is his manners. He's humble and coachable, smart and wants to learn. He can create for himself and others, and his athleticism combined with his shooting ability makes him one of the best young players I've seen in a long time.

Tunde, thanks for taking your time to show me how the Eastbay is done and talk hoops for a while. See you again this summer.