Yetna Wins Bronze in Greece Before Heading to USF
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, OCT. 4, 2017 – Freshman
Alexis Yetna looks forward to his future with the Bulls after a hoops experience of a lifetime this summer.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Paris got to represent his country at the FIBA U20 European Championship and helped France capture a bronze medal on the Greek island of Crete in late July.
"You feel like you achieved something in your life, something someone can't take away from you," he said. "That was an amazing feeling."
Yetna saw action in seven games and put together his best performance in the Round of 16. Against the Czech Republic, Yetna scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds in an 88-61 victory.
"I was proud to represent my country and play in front of NBA scouts," he said. "That was an achievement with all the work I've put in since I started playing basketball."
Yetna posted four points and six rebounds in a semifinal loss to Israel before helping France secure the bronze medal with two points and seven boards in 19 minutes of a 72-58 win over Spain on July 23.
"When we lost in the semifinal, we were disappointed but we wanted the bronze medal," he said. "It was proof of what we did and what we put in for like two months. That was a blessing for us to earn it."
Since the European Championship, Yetna's bronze medal headed to his mom's living room in France while he traveled to Tampa to join his new team. USF started practicing for the season last week and Yetna already feels right at home with the Bulls.
"The campus is just amazing and the school. The people here are such great people, from the coaches to academic advisors and (others)," he said. "Everybody here is so nice and so friendly. You just fall in love with this place."
Yetna said he's impressed with the culture new head coach
Brian Gregory and his staff are building as the season opener approaches. USF starts with a test against Florida Atlantic at the Sun Dome on Nov. 10 and Yetna can't wait to help the Bulls set the tone for what's ahead.
"Everybody is all in," he said. "We can really build something special here."
About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory. On March 22, Gregory was introduced as the 10th head coach in program history. He previously led programs at Georgia Tech (2011-16) and Dayton (2003-11). Gregory spent nearly a decade as an assistant coach under Michigan State's Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo and helped the Spartans win the 2000 NCAA National Championship. Gregory brings nearly 250 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship, to Tampa.
USF has retired three numbers in its 47-year history: Chucky Atkins (12), Charlie Bradley (30) and Radenko Dobras (31). The Bulls have earned three NCAA tournament bids and appeared in the NIT eight times.
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