Utah State Guard Joins Ukrainian U20 Team For European Championships

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah State junior guard Max Shulga will join the Ukrainian under-20 national team as they compete in the FIBA European Championships.

The FIBA U20 European Championships are set to open on Saturday, July 16. Games will be played in Podgorica, the capital city of Montenegro.

Looking forward to watching the U20 European Championships this weekend. Tune in to cheer on Max Shulga and the Ukrainian National Team when they open pool play on Saturday, July 16, at 6:15 a.m. (MT) #AggiesAllTheWayhttps://t.co/Yzwh2Nk3Vd

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) July 14, 2022

“I’m looking forward to playing against some of the top players in Europe and competing against them,” Shulga said. “It’s a different kind of feeling when you are wearing the jersey with your country’s name on it. It is something special.”

While playing for the Ukrainian U18 team in 2019 Shulga averaged 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

The 6’4 shooting guard is entering his junior season as an Aggie. As a true sophomore in 2021-22, Shulga played in 34 of Utah State’s 36 games. He averaged 4.4. points while shooting 45 percent from three and 51.2 percent overall. Scoring in double figures six times as a sophomore, Shulga poured in a career high 18 against Portland State in December. He also grabbed a career-high seven boards against Portland State.

In his freshman season in Logan, Shulga came off the bench in 23 games. In 6.8 minutes per game, the shot 34.2 percent from the floor and 30 percent from beyond the arc.

Earlier this year with Shulga’s home country of Ukraine under siege by neighboring Russia, Aggie fans honored Shulga prior to a home game against Colorado State. During a moment of silence to honor all Ukrainians, two sections of the famed Spectrum student section held up yellow and blue placards resembling the Ukrainian flag.

Cool moment by USU student body honoring Max Shulga from Ukraine pic.twitter.com/U5skhtfB7Y

— Scott Garrard (@ScottyGZone) February 27, 2022

Ukraine (41st in World) will be playing in Group C which features Lithuania (Seventh in World), Czech Republic (52nd in World) and Spain (Second in World).

Utah State men’s basketball news and information is available on Facebook (facebook.com/usumensbasketball), on Twitter (@usubasketball) and on Instagram (@usubasketball). Fans can also get USU men’s basketball highlights on YouTube (youtube.com/utahstateathletics). Aggie fans can follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter (@usuathletics), on Facebook (facebook.com/usuathletics) or on Instagram (@usuathletics).

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