LOUDONVILLE, NY – Three Siena Men's Basketball student athletes are set to showcase their talents overseas this summer. Newcomer Giovanni Emejuru (Italy), incoming freshman Michael Evbagharu (Canada), and rising sophomore Killian Gribben (Ireland) will represent their countries in three different international competitions on the global stage.
 
"I'm excited for these three to have the opportunity to represent their countries and compete against high-level competition on the global stage," said head coach Carmen Maciariello. "We look forward to following their progress, and are thrilled that they are Saints."
 
The son of Nigerian parents who was born in Italy and raised in England, the well-traveled Emejuru will represent his birth nation and compete for the Italian Basketball Federation. Emejuru will suit up for the Green Team – an Italian national developmental squad comprised of young, talented prospects – in a pair of friendlies vs. their Spanish Federation counterparts on July 3 and 4 in Torrejon de Ardoz in Madrid, Spain. Both games will tip off at 2:30 PM ET, and will be streamed through the Italian Federation YouTube page.   
 
Emejuru, who transferred to Siena last month after spending his previous two collegiate seasons at Sam Houston State, is no stranger to competing on the international stage. As a high school junior, he averaged 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds while competing for U18 Barking Abbey at the Euroleague Adidas Next Generation Tournament held in Lithuania.
 
"Being selected to play for Italy is an honor, and a great opportunity for me," said Emejuru. "I'm looking forward to representing Italy in this event."
 
A native of Scarborough, Ontario, Evbagharu will represent Canada at the FIBA U19 World Cup, which features the world's top-16 youth men's national teams in a 56-game competition set for June 24 – July 2 at Fonix Arena in Debrecen, Hungary. Canada will compete in Group A along with China, France, and Spain. Evbagharu and Canada begin play vs. Spain on Saturday, June 24 at 2 PM ET, and will also face China (Sunday, June 25 – 9 AM ET) and France (Tuesday, June 27 – 6:30 AM ET) during the Group Phase. All games will be streamed at youtube.com/fiba.
 
Evbagharu, who also signed with the Saints in May, has also previously competed for his national team in international competition. He represented Canada at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas Championship.  
 
"I'm very grateful and just want to thank God for the opportunity to represent my country," said Evbagharu. "There aren't a lot of people who get to do this, especially at this high of a level on the world stage. It means a lot to me because of my journey and process, as I've always been one to trust the process and just work hard to get where I need to be. A lot of people downplay Canada, but we're looking to shock the world and bring home a gold medal."
 
Gribben, who hails from Letterkenny, Ireland, is set to represent his country for a third straight summer in a FIBA European event. The rising sophomore will join Ireland for the FIBA U20 European Championships "B" Division – which features 19 national teams from across Europe – July 7-16 in Skopje, North Macedonia. Ireland will compete in Group A with Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and host North Macedonia. Gribben and Ireland begin play vs. Bulgaria on Friday, July 7 at 7:30 AM ET, before facing Czech Republic (July 9 – 12:30 PM), Slovakia (July 11 – 3 PM ET), and host North Macedonia (July 12 – 12:30 PM) to wrap up the Group Phase. All games will be streamed at youtube.com/fiba.
 
Gribben previously competed for Ireland at the 2022 FIBA U20 European Championships, and for the U-18 National Team at the FIBA European Challenge in 2021. Last summer, he led Ireland to a 5-1 record while ranking second in the Tournament averaging 1.8 blocks, and added 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and an overall plus-minus of +52 in 22.1 minutes. Gribben averaged 16.8 points and 12 rebounds over four games for the U-18 squad in 2021. He appeared in 27 games, averaging 2.2 points and 1.9 rebounds spanning 9.7 minutes during his freshman season with the Saints this past winter.
 
"I'm really thankful for this opportunity I have been given to play for my country in the European Championship," said Gribben. "It's always been a dream of mine, ever since I was a kid, to be able to play for Ireland, and I feel honored to do so again this summer. This will be the first time in two years that my family will be able to see me play in person, and the first time that they will also be able to see me play for Ireland in person as they will be joining me in North Macedonia, and that really means a lot to me. We are in a tough group, which includes the Tournament host, but we will be giving everything we've got and showing everyone what the boys in green can really do."