SEASON UPDATE - LINUS HOLMSTRÖM RIDDERVOLD

If you're not from Sweden you might not know who this Kalles Kaviar looking guy that we post from time to time is. His name is Linus Holmström Riddervold and has been a regular on the youth national teams for a couple of years now. First time I met him was in the gym as he was playing some pick ups on a school break. We played for an hour and my first impression was that he's fearless. He talked the most, but only to encourage people. Not once did he complain or talk shit. Except when my team won. Then he got mad as hell. He was only 14 at the time, it was the first time I beat him. And the last.

As we got to know each other more, we started to work out and hang out but since he left for Italy after 9th grade, we been keeping in touch over the phone. But every time he's home, he wants to get in the gym. All. The. Time.

Last time we sat down with Linus, he was back in Sweden for National team camp for the Baltic Sea Cup U18. Since then he's been busy playing different stages of the EYBL and making noise in Italy. As the season ended he got awarded All-Star Five and MVP's multiple times and plenty of schools reached out to recruit him for next season. As his Head coach Alex Sarama will be leaving the College Prep next season, Linus decided it was time for him to move on and take on another challenge.

I've known Linus for some years now and we talk frequently about the upcoming season or whatever it may be, he told me earlier that he wasn't looking to play in U20 after the 22-23 season, and the talk about him coming home to Sweden started to circle. Some SBL teams reached out, and he got some offers in Italy, but ultimately he chose to head over to the U.S. to play at Colorado Prep and prepare himself for his dream since he was a young kid, to play D1 basketball.

As one of Linus closest friends and former teammate Otto will be studying at Colorado University, the decision was easier for Linus. He will have one of his best friends only 15 minutes away, after being away from friends and family since he was 15 years old.

Check out the interview about his journey from last summer.

Ok, back to this year.

Earlier this summer I met coach Sarama and since Linus was his team captain for two seasons, it came natural that the first topic was about him. And Alex spoke very highly about Linus, but in a totally different way than most. His focus was on how smart he is reading and reacting, and also his work ethic. I laughed and said "well, it's good that his dad is around to keep him in check." and Alex agreed. Linus dad is one of the most supportive people I know, and even tho he didn't have any knowledge about basketball, he learned and became the team physio as Linus was 12. Just to spend more time with him, since he was always in the gym.

This summer was going to be an important one for Linus, as he was going to play a big role on the U18 National team in both the Nordic Championships and the European Championships in the A division, after he was part of the team that won the B division last summer. Last year he played a smaller role and as we spoke every day during the tournament, he told me he took it as a challenge to make sure he was going to have a leading role this summer and show that he belongs in the top. Every time he's home in Sweden we work out together and I've seen his development, so I know for a fact that he does.

The day before the Nordic Championship started, Linus called me late that evening. Usually he calls me those hours to ask if we can go hoop, but since I knew he was at camp in Södertälje, that wasn't the case. And as soon as I answered the phone, I heard in his voice something was wrong. He told me he torned his knee and was ruled out for the tournament and wasn't sure he was going to play in the European Championships either. We talked and I told him there's no one I know who can take on a 4-6 weeks rehab and make it in time, except him. I watched some of the games and I could tell that his presence was missed. The team didn't go far and I know it was frustrating for him to sit out.

Last week he called me and told me his physio and doctors both cleared him to participate in the upcoming camp before the Euopean Championships and if it went well, he was going to play the tournament. In typical Linus fashion he asked if he could join my teams practice to get some shots up, straight from the doctors office. And yesterday before he left for the airport we sat down outside the gym where it all started, our local gym Hersyhallen.

Funny thing is, that most people that I know had their best games in there, the rims used to be a little low and the opponents warm up hoop was always nice to shoot on, since they always used to dunk a lot in warm ups. Soft rims or not, I've never seen anyone shoot in there like Linus does. And it comes from his crazy dedication. He's gifted, but he works harder than most, and that combination is what makes him special. I hope this tournament will be a great one for him personally, and of course for Sweden.

Check out when Linus fucked around after a work out, and don't forget I went Scott Skiles and had 26 assists. 27 if you count the last one...

Go get yours Linus, this is your summer. Again.