If following Loyola`s basketball season has seemed like trying to read the Greek alphabet, then brace yourself for the next chapter.
It should be labeled Spyros Sakellarious, in honor of the 6-foot-9 Rambler reserve. Loyola coach Gene Sullivan says he`s ready to unleash the front-court player from Piraeus, Greece, after an important eight-minute stint in Saturday`s loss at Dayton.
”He didn`t get terrfied and he held his own,” said Sullivan. ”I`ve had to wait for him to work himself into shape, but he`s ready now. I think he`s going to surprise a lot of people.”
Sakellarious spent last season at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, where he also was a reserve in the school`s highly respected basketball program. Sullivan planned to redshirt him this season, but has been forced to press him into duty following numerous personnel losses.
”He hadn`t played for a month (after first-semester exams),” Sullivan said, ”and we let him go home for break not dreaming we were going to need him. It`s taken a while for him to get back into shape.”
Sakellarious had seen parts of three games before his longer stint at Dayton. ”I wanted to use him on the road to build up his confidence,”
Sullivan said. ”He`s going to help us.”
