Kansas State University Athletics
SE: Still Going to Be Me – Miguel Brings K-State Experience to Olympic Qualifying
Jun 16, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
From a hotel room in Barcelona, Selton Miguel is keeping up with the NBA Playoffs.
The K-State freshman is a big part of the future at Bramlage Coliseum - only Mike McGuirl and Nijel Pack saw more minutes for the Wildcats last season - but the NBA Playoffs are all about the present for Miguel.
If the Atlanta Hawks are eliminated, Bruno Fernando will be free to join Miguel and the Angola men's national team in Spain.
When the Dallas Mavericks went out, it meant that NBA Most Valuable Player finalist Luka Doncic and Slovenia will await in Miguel's second-ever game with the senior national team.
"I'm just blessed to be here at 20 years old and playing against an MVP candidate," Miguel said. "It motivates me, but at the same time, I'm still going to be me. Show who I am and what I can bring to the team."
In the same city where Charles Barkley nearly caused an international incident by elbowing an Angolan player during his first game with the Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics, Miguel is trying to help his country get back to the biggest sporting event in the world.
He will compete at the FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Lithuania later this month, where Angola opens up with Poland on June 29, before facing Slovenia the next day.
Miguel and his teammates arrived in Barcelona for training camp earlier this month and to scrimmage a few professional teams ahead of the Olympic qualifiers at the end of the month.
The K-State freshman is the only college player on Angola.
"It means a lot. There's a lot of 20-year-olds who play basketball in my country and play overseas," Miguel said. "To be the one who's chosen to be in this position is a blessing."
This month might be his debut with the senior national team, but Miguel is no stranger to the international stage. More specifically, he's never been too worried about his age and experience.
Miguel was the only high school player on Angola's U19 World Cup team. That meant playing against future NBA lottery picks R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish and 2019 NBA Slam Dunk champion Hamidou Diallo.
"My whole life I've played for my national team, facing grown men," Miguel said, earlier this season. "I don't know about my teammates, but for me it's not a big difference. I've been going up against players double my age my whole life."
In training camp this summer, Miguel is living and breathing basketball. Angola is running two-a-days at a gym a few minutes from the team hotel, ending most days with an evening practice that wraps up around 9 p.m. before Miguel gets ready for another 7:30 a.m. wake up call.
All of the other players in camp with the national team have already turned pro, playing basketball in Angola or in leagues across Europe. While Miguel can't match their professional experience, he has the right mindset after his first season with K-State Men's Basketball.
"K-State taught me to be a professional, even though I'm not a pro yet," Miguel said. "It's about how you approach the practices and the older guys. Be respectful on and off the court."
Miguel is the youngest player in training camp with the national team, just a few months after playing a big role on K-State as a true freshman. He's also playing a different position, running the point for Angola and adjusting to some of the quirks of the international game.
"As a freshman, my role was making plays. When I get the ball with a chance to score, go score," Miguel said. "Here, I'm playing point guard because the coach likes the way I create for others."
That means focusing on his three-point shooting and jump shot, since Miguel is doing most of his offensive work in the backcourt for Angola.
His flexibility, something K-State fans are already familiar with, has been a big advantage.
"The game is different, because the way we play in America isn't the way we play internationally," he said. "Here it's about things like ball movement and fast cuts. America is about setting screens, playing in transition and playing fast. I'm used to playing both, so it hasn't messed with my game."
Miguel and Angola will spend another week in Barcelona before heading across Europe to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Lithuania. To qualify for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Angola will need to defeat either Poland or Slovenia, and make it through two knockout rounds.
No small task, but after a season spent dealing with COVID-19, adjusting to life in the Big 12 and breaking into the Angolan national team, Luka Doncic doesn't seem quite so intimidating.
"We're really motivated," Miguel said. "It's been a great experience to be here with the old guys and the new guys, even though I'm the youngest one here. I think we're ready."
From a hotel room in Barcelona, Selton Miguel is keeping up with the NBA Playoffs.
The K-State freshman is a big part of the future at Bramlage Coliseum - only Mike McGuirl and Nijel Pack saw more minutes for the Wildcats last season - but the NBA Playoffs are all about the present for Miguel.
If the Atlanta Hawks are eliminated, Bruno Fernando will be free to join Miguel and the Angola men's national team in Spain.
When the Dallas Mavericks went out, it meant that NBA Most Valuable Player finalist Luka Doncic and Slovenia will await in Miguel's second-ever game with the senior national team.
"I'm just blessed to be here at 20 years old and playing against an MVP candidate," Miguel said. "It motivates me, but at the same time, I'm still going to be me. Show who I am and what I can bring to the team."
In the same city where Charles Barkley nearly caused an international incident by elbowing an Angolan player during his first game with the Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics, Miguel is trying to help his country get back to the biggest sporting event in the world.
He will compete at the FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Lithuania later this month, where Angola opens up with Poland on June 29, before facing Slovenia the next day.
Miguel and his teammates arrived in Barcelona for training camp earlier this month and to scrimmage a few professional teams ahead of the Olympic qualifiers at the end of the month.
The K-State freshman is the only college player on Angola.
"It means a lot. There's a lot of 20-year-olds who play basketball in my country and play overseas," Miguel said. "To be the one who's chosen to be in this position is a blessing."
This month might be his debut with the senior national team, but Miguel is no stranger to the international stage. More specifically, he's never been too worried about his age and experience.
Miguel was the only high school player on Angola's U19 World Cup team. That meant playing against future NBA lottery picks R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish and 2019 NBA Slam Dunk champion Hamidou Diallo.
"My whole life I've played for my national team, facing grown men," Miguel said, earlier this season. "I don't know about my teammates, but for me it's not a big difference. I've been going up against players double my age my whole life."
In training camp this summer, Miguel is living and breathing basketball. Angola is running two-a-days at a gym a few minutes from the team hotel, ending most days with an evening practice that wraps up around 9 p.m. before Miguel gets ready for another 7:30 a.m. wake up call.
All of the other players in camp with the national team have already turned pro, playing basketball in Angola or in leagues across Europe. While Miguel can't match their professional experience, he has the right mindset after his first season with K-State Men's Basketball.
"K-State taught me to be a professional, even though I'm not a pro yet," Miguel said. "It's about how you approach the practices and the older guys. Be respectful on and off the court."
Miguel is the youngest player in training camp with the national team, just a few months after playing a big role on K-State as a true freshman. He's also playing a different position, running the point for Angola and adjusting to some of the quirks of the international game.
"As a freshman, my role was making plays. When I get the ball with a chance to score, go score," Miguel said. "Here, I'm playing point guard because the coach likes the way I create for others."
That means focusing on his three-point shooting and jump shot, since Miguel is doing most of his offensive work in the backcourt for Angola.
His flexibility, something K-State fans are already familiar with, has been a big advantage.
"The game is different, because the way we play in America isn't the way we play internationally," he said. "Here it's about things like ball movement and fast cuts. America is about setting screens, playing in transition and playing fast. I'm used to playing both, so it hasn't messed with my game."
Miguel and Angola will spend another week in Barcelona before heading across Europe to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Lithuania. To qualify for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Angola will need to defeat either Poland or Slovenia, and make it through two knockout rounds.
No small task, but after a season spent dealing with COVID-19, adjusting to life in the Big 12 and breaking into the Angolan national team, Luka Doncic doesn't seem quite so intimidating.
"We're really motivated," Miguel said. "It's been a great experience to be here with the old guys and the new guys, even though I'm the youngest one here. I think we're ready."
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