MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—When Buccaneer men’s basketball player Derrick Bolanos left Barry at the conclusion of last school year, he never imagined the opportunity that would soon present itself to him. Bolanos, a sophomore point guard for the Buccaneers, earned a spot on the Panamanian senior national basketball team over the summer.
“We went down there with few expectations,” Derrick’s father Virgilio Bolanos said. “This quickly changed as Derrick impressed the coaching staff and was invited to travel with the pre-Olympic team to Venezuela for the Copa Israel Sarmineto tournament.”
At the Copa tournament, Bolanos and the Panamanian team played against national teams from Brazil, Venezuela, and Cuba. Though Panama fell to Brazil and Venezuela, the team earned a win against the Cuban national squad.
A freshman last season, Bolanos was a key contributor for the Buccaneers in 2010-11. He saw action in 24 games and earned five starts for the Bucs. Bolanos averaged 2.9 points per game.
In all, Bolanos, the youngest member of the Panamanian team, played in six games with Panama. In a game against Puerto Rico, Bolanos had the opportunity to play against NBA stars Carlos Arroyo and J.J. Barea.
“There were butterflies in my stomach when I saw Arroyo and Barea,” Bolanos said. “But once the game started they went away and I learned a lot watching the two of them play.”
Ultimately, Bolanos was invited to join the Panamanian team full time as they prepare to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. With help from his parents and Barry head coach Cesar Odio, however, Bolanos decided to stay focused on his education, returning to Barry for his sophomore year.
“The opportunity has really built my confidence both on and off the court,” Bolanos said. “Overall the experience was amazing and has shown me what it takes to get to the next level.”