Nearly 5,000 miles from home, Croatia freshman eager to make impact at Gaston College

Croatia is a country located in Eastern Europe that is a bit smaller than the geographic size of the state of New York - and nearly 5,000 miles from North Carolina.

It's a country where soccer (they call it football) is the most popular sport highlighted by a silver medal finish in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and bronze medal finishes in 1998 and 2022.

Alpine skiing, ice skating, ice hockey, handball and gymnastics also are popular but since the 1992 men's basketball finished runner-up to the United States "Dream Team" that featured Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the Barcelona Olympics, that sport has grown in popularity.

It's also produced notable NBA stars like Drazen Petrovic, Dino Radja and Toni Kukoc.

Gaston College freshman Tin Tikvesa may not have the NBA in his future but that doesn't mean he hasn't pursued professional basketball as a career.

A 6-foot-10 freshman for the Rhinos, Tikvesa has already received four-year recruiting attention from Ohio University, Texas San Antonio, Longwood, Wofford, Boston U. and Lipscomb and anticipates leaving Gaston College after one season.

Through national and international connections, Tikvesa landed at Gaston College.

"I was trying to find a way to get a degree and play basketball," said Tikvesa, who speaks Croatian as his primary language but also speaks English and German. "In Europe, it's possible but it's harder to do.
"Gaston College gave me the opportunity to graduate from college and play basketball at the same time."

So far on the court, Tikvesa's skills are expected to help the Rhinos pursue a Region 10 championship.

"It's different being here," Tikvesa said. "But I would say I'm adjusting and things are pretty good. The guys are welcoming and we expect to have a good season."

Tikvesa is averaging 4.3 points and 5.6 rebounds and is coming off his best games; He had nine points and 10 rebounds in an 83-70 home win over Cleveland Community College on Nov. 15 and had 12 points and six rebounds in Sunday's 111-57 victory at the Converse JV team.

This weekend, the unbeaten Rhinos (7-0) play two games in the Caldwell Tech. Gaston College meets Harford Community College on Saturday at 5 p.m. and meets Pellissippi State Community College on Sunday at 1 p.m.

"He's a great kid who has a great work ethic," Gaston College coach Benny Moss said of Tikvesa. "And he's a really good player. He's coming offensively. And when he puts the offense with the rebounding and team concepts defensively, the sky is going to be the limit for him."