State College, Pa. - June 30, 2005 - Freshman Nikola Obradovic (Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro) arrived at University Park Airport on Friday evening, June 24, shortly after 7 p.m. Less than a week later, the Serbian guard has settled in to college life and embraced the early whirlwind of his Nittany Lion career.

"This is very exciting for me," says the talented guard. "Everyone has been so friendly and so helpful. It is something everyone at Penn State should be very proud of, that desire to help out new people. Yes, I've been busy, but it has been good."

From taking classes (Obradovic is taking two during the second summer session - one online) to getting to know his teammates, Nikola finds the days speeding by. "The pace of things here is fast so far, but that is because I'm new and from another country," he says with a smile. "I'm enjoying the transition to being a student and really enjoying getting to know my teammates. They are, to a man, great guys."

Obradovic has the added bonus of having countryman Milos Bogetic as part of his incoming class. "Milos has been great," notes Nikola. "We're taking classes together and since he's been here for a while, he's been very helpful in my adjustment. But it's not just him, it's everyone."

A little background on Penn State's newest player will let you see a 21-year old freshman who is excited to help the Nittany Lions succeed but even more committed to getting everything he can out of Penn State academically. "There were a lot of schools recently who were interested," Obradovic says. "But in talking with Milos and other friends I have over here who are playing, each of them made mention of getting a good education. For me, a degree is like putting something in the bank." Obradovic hasn't declared a major yet, but he has a serious interest in international business, and that makes Penn State a perfect fit.

The 6-5, 195-pound, Obradovic laughs with all the questions he gets about Milos and his home country. "I only met Milos once before coming to Penn State," he says. "I know that sounds odd, but it's true! But you have to understand, that while we're both from the same country, we're from different regions, or states."

Obradovic hails from Belgrade, the capitol of Serbia and Montenegro the country and the capitol of Serbia the state. Bogetic is from Podgorica, the capitol of Montenegro the state. Think of it as Mike Walker being from near Harrisburg, the capitol of Pennsylvania, and Jamelle Cornley being from Columbus, the capitol of Ohio.

"My countrymen are all Serbian, whether they be from Serbia or Montenegro," Nikola says. "But people from each 'state', they are also proud of that heritage, too. So Milos and I are just getting to know each other. He is from Montenegro and I am from Serbia, so that is how we had never met before, even though we both play basketball."

Nikola is the son of a doctor, his mother, and an electrical engineer, his father. Given that heritage, it is no wonder that he decided to forego a professional career back home for the chance to get an education at Penn State. "I want to play basketball, sure, but I must get an education as well," he says. "A degree from the U.S. opens up so many doors for me as far as a career outside basketball goes. It was something I always knew I wanted and now I have the chance."

Obradovic and the rest of the Nittany Lions have spent the last week getting acquainted. All but one of the team is on campus for the summer session, giving the team an important chance to gel and form the cohesive family unit that will be so important for any success this coming year. Nikola has fit right in.

"My teammates are great," he laughs. "Coach DeChellis has said each time we've met that we are a family here and I see it in every player on the team. Once we commit to each other, then we are a team. Once we are a team, we can have success on the floor."