Aug. 1, 2014
DAVIS, Calif. - Ryan Sypkens, the most prolific three-point shooter in the history of UC Davis men's basketball, will now don another basketball jersey as the Elk Grove native signed a professional contract to compete for the Aguilas de Tunja shortly after receiving his undergraduate degree.
Located in Tunja, Boyacá, the Aguilas (Eagles) are one of 12 teams that compete in Colombia's DirecTV Basketball League. Sypkens' season starts on Friday, Aug. 1, when the Eagles travel to the nation's capital to face the Piratas de Bogota.
For a small fee, U.S. basketball fans can join their peers in Colombia and watch Sypkens' professional debut--in addition to numerous games throughout the season--on demand, online, tablet or smartphone for a small fee by clicking here. Tip-off for Sypkens' professional debut is slated for 6 p.m. PT.
"The team expects me to come in and start at the wing as one of its primary scorers," said Sypkens. "We have numerous plays that include a lot of screens for shooters, so it will work to my advantage."
After signing his contract, the three-point specialist wasted no time in preparing for his time overseas. Throughout the summer, Sypkens worked out multiple times a day.
"In the mornings I focused on strength and conditioning with Jeff Bough in Sacramento, I spent my afternoons working on honing my skills with Brian Rodgers. Twice a week, I traveled to Oakland for additional workouts with a trainer that my agent knew and trusted."
Throughout his initial weeks in Colombia, Sypkens experienced challenges similar to ones faced by other Americans competing abroad.
"It will be challenging to live in a different country and not know anyone here, sometimes it can get lonely. I am excited to live here, my new home is really nice and the local food is amazing.
"So far, I am having the time of my life," Sypkens added.
In his final season at UC Davis, Sypkens scored his 1,000th career point when the Aggies hosted Sacramento State in last season's Causeway Cup meeting.
Already the school's record holder for the most three-point field goals made in a single season (106) and career (220 and counting entering his final season at UC Davis), Sypkens completed his three-point hat trick by setting a new school mark for the most threes made in a single game in his team's final warm-up prior to league action.
Taking place in the Aggies' first game of 2014, the senior guard hit 10 of 14 shots from behind the arc to shatter a six-way tie and set a new school record. Entering that Jan. 2 contest, Sypkens, Corey Hawkins, Tyler Les and three others stood alongside one another in the program's records book with eight treys each.
In his penultimate game at UC Davis, Sypkens stood alone as the Big West Conference's all-time three-point shooter by drilling three from behind the arc to capture the No. 1 spot.
He ended his career as an Aggie with 315 three-point field goals made.
Click here (Google Translate version) for the latest news and results via Twitter regarding Sypkens and his team from the Aguilas' handle, @AguilasdeTunja.
