TAMPA (August 23, 2022) – The status of USF men's basketball center Russel Tchewa remains unclear because he's stuck in his homeland of Cameroon while awaiting the United States government to approve his student visa, a process that has stretched into its fourth month, Bulls coach Brian Gregory said Tuesday.
Tchewa, a 7-foot, 280-pound junior who averaged 8.0 points and 5.7 rebounds last season while becoming one of the most improved players in the American Athletic Conference, has begun online USF classes to maintain his academic eligibility while his travel status remains in limbo.
This past spring, Tchewa returned to Cameroon to help care for his father, who was sick with COVID. He also made the Cameroon National Team, which was playing in a FIBA (International Basketball Federation) competition, but that's when Tchewa's visa problems first came to light.
"It's our understanding that Russel's application was 'flagged' and we're not sure why,'' Gregory said. "He went home to Cameroon (in 2021) for the first time in four years because we thought it was important for all of our guys to go home (following COVID). He did all the paperwork and everything was fine, his student visa was approved and he returned back to the U.S. after spending time at home. Twelve months later, he went through the same exact process and that has led us to this situation that we're in right now.
"As of today, Russel's student visa has not been approved by the U.S. for his return — even though it's the same situation as a year earlier when it was approved. They said they needed additional information. He has provided that additional information. There is no issue with Russel. We're not sure why this has been delayed. There may be some information we're not privy to and it would be haphazard to guess why (the student visa hasn't been approved). We just want it solved so we can get Russel back here in school, taking classes, and with our team where he belongs.''
Gregory praised the work of USF's administration and elected officials, who have worked with the U.S. State Department to help expedite the approval of Tchewa's student visa. Still, Gregory said he had no updates or timetables on when things will be set in motion.
Gregory said he had a Zoom meeting Tuesday morning with Tchewa, who remained optimistic and in good spirits. Tchewa was scheduled to graduate in December, then begin his master's program.
"Ultimately, this is about Russel's welfare and ability to access all the opportunities afforded to him as a student at USF, whether it's the academics or basketball training,'' Gregory said. "It is difficult, considering the time difference, the available of proper WiFi and so forth. It's a challenge. We're trying to work through this as quickly as possible because, to be quite honest, this has been a real strain on Russel and his family.''
In Tchewa's absence, Gregory said the Bulls have been working with 6-11, 200-pound freshman Dok Muordar at center or playing with a smaller lineup. The Bulls have made quality additions in transfers Selton Miguel (6-4, 210, Kansas State), Keyshawn Bryant (6-6, 190, South Carolina) and Tyler Harris (5-9, 150, Memphis), along with freshman guard Ryan Conwell from Indianapolis.
But Tchewa, whose buzzer-beating hook shot in the lane produced USF's most memorable victory last season (56-54 at Cincinnati), was expected to be at the center of USF's 2022-23 plans.
Tchewa has played two seasons at USF after transferring from Texas Tech. He has a 7-foot-7 wingspan, 8-percent body fat and wears a size-17 shoe. He speaks four languages — English, French, Italian and Cameroonian (one of 250 dialects in his homeland).
Tchewa had 11 double-figure scoring games last season, including eight in USF's last 12 games. As Tchewa became one of the AAC's top big men, he reflected on his potential in basketball, where he has compiled just six seasons of organized team experience after beginning as a soccer player.
"Basketball has given me a great opportunity,'' Tchewa said then. "I am determined to make the most of it.''
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About USF Men's Basketball
The USF men's basketball team is led by head coach Brian Gregory, who enters his sixth season in 2022-23. Gregory was introduced as the 10th head coach in program history in March of 2017 after previously leading 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 owns over 300 career head coaching wins and six postseason appearances, including the 2010 NIT Championship with Dayton. In his second season at the helm of the Bulls, Gregory led the team to the best win turnaround in the NCAA, the most single-season wins in school history and the 2019 College Basketball Invitational championship.
USF has retired three numbers in its history: Chucky Atkins (12), Charlie Bradley (30) and Radenko Dobras (31). The Bulls have earned three NCAA tournament bids, appeared in the NIT eight times and won the 2019 College Basketball Invitational.
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