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Date Posted: 09:38:03 01/26/02 Sat
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Korajkic and Maraker article

The Record has an article on the two Swedish players on this year's team Christian Maraker and Jasko Korajkic. It is very interesting and it sounds like Jasko has some good basketball genes in his family. I still wish we would have red-shirted him, oh well.

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Originally Published Saturday, January 26, 2002
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Swedes adjusting to style

By Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

Christian Maraker and Jasko Korajkic are half a world away from their family and friends in Sweden.

But at least they have each other.

The freshmen on the University of the Pacific men's basketball team are adjusting to life and hoops in the States.

''It's good to have a friend here,'' Korajkic (Kor-AY-KEETCH) said. ''It probably would have been tougher at the beginning because I didn't know anybody. When you come to a new place and not know anybody, it's good to have a friend.''

Said Maraker (Mor-oh-KER), ''It's the best thing that could happen. I have someone I knew when I came over here.''

Pacific coach Bob Thomason said the pair has fit in well.

''As good of players as they are, they're even better people,'' said Thomason, whose Tigers (12-6, 4-4 Big West) will play Cal State Fullerton (4-13, 1-7) at 7 p.m. today at Spanos Center. ''They have great personalities.''

Both will play a more prominent role in the Tigers' future, but right now, they're learning as much as possible.

''It's a different style of basketball over here,'' Korajkic said. ''It's more professional than there. The game has more set plays than I'm used to. It's more physical.''

Korajkic, a 6-foot-7 guard, has seen spot duty this season. He played three minutes and scored two points against UC Riverside on Thursday. He's used to contributing much more. Korajkic was a star in Sweden, where he and Maraker played together for two seasons at Sanda Gymnasium in Bankeryd.

''Not being a big star like I was in Sweden, that's been the biggest adjustment for me,'' Korajkic said. ''I'm not playing like I used to, the minutes. That's kind of hard. We have eight seniors, and they're good. They've been around the game, and they know what they're doing.''

Thomason believes Korajkic will be a big contributor in time.

''He's learning the American way of basketball,'' Thomason said. ''It's a more physical game based on defense. He shoots and goes to the basket pretty well.''

Korajkic and his family fled war-torn Yugoslavia in 1993, when he was 10.

''I don't remember that much of the war,'' Korajkic said. ''But everything happened so fast. When we moved to Sweden, I didn't understand why. I don't remember the worst things. I was so young. Learning a new language when you're so young is easier. For my parents, it was really hard to find a new job and learn the language.''

Korajkic's parents, Mujaga and Emira, played pro basketball in the top

Yugoslavian leagues, but Jasko was a soccer player as a youth. After moving to Sweden, he took up basketball. He left home when he was 15 to attend Sanda Gymnasium. He met Maraker there, and the two quickly became friends.

Their journey from Sweden to the West Coast began when Pacific's basketball team toured Scandinavia before the 2000-01 season. Thomason recruited Maraker and signed him to a letter of intent. When Dan Masters gave up his scholarship in the offseason season because of knee problems, Thomason needed another player. He took a recommendation from Maraker.

''He asked if I knew any other players in Sweden, and I told him about Jasko,'' Maraker said.

Korajkic sent the Tigers a videotape, and after some phone calls, he was headed to California.

Maraker, a 6-9 forward, played in three games before falling and injuring his wrist during practice. He's redshirting this season. Korajkic has played in 11 games and averages about two points.

Maraker and Korajkic both want a career in professional basketball. Until then, they'll look to each other for support and continue to play the game they enjoy.

''The guys on the team are really good guys,'' Korajkic said. ''The coaches are really helping us out.''

* To reach reporter Bob Highfill, phone 546-8299 or e-mail bhighfil@recordnet.com

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