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UC Davis junior guard Roger Printup's experience three years ago was an enjoyable one, and something he will remember for the rest of his life when he represented Team USA at the World Deaf Basketball Championships, an event that took place in Taoyuan, Taiwan, during the summer of 2015.
 
"As the youngest person on my team, I hit the game-winning free throws in our semifinal against Russia, represented my country and won a silver medal against the best team in the world. How lucky am I?"
 
If he felt lucky then, one could only imagine the thoughts and feelings that took place after the final buzzer sounded inside the Field House, located at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. — site of the 2018 tournament that drew the top teams from around the world. It was that moment when Printup and his teammates officially earned the title they worked hard to earn: world champions.
 
In addition to the traditional tasting of the gold medal — "it sits heavy around your neck, and it tastes good," said the Orange, Calif. native — Printup learned after Team USA's 81-63 victory vs. Japan that he was named to the Best Five Team for the Men's 2018 U21 World Deaf Basketball Championships, a group that features the five strongest overall performers in the tournament.
 
Printup's golden performance started back in 2015 when coaches were so thrilled with his effort, performance and leadership, they invited him back to this summer's championship, which took place on home soil.
 
"Team USA coaches followed me throughout my time at UC Davis and wanted me to return. Since I did not have any conflicts, I could not wait to wear that jersey and represent my country once again," said Printup.
 
"And go for the gold."
 
As one of the veteran players on Team USA's 2018 roster, Printup understood what he needed to do on the court to help the team succeed and embraced his role as a leader and mentor to one of Team USA's youngest U21 rosters in program history.
 
"Three years ago, I did not know what to expect. The older guys played a key role in teaching me about how challenging this tournament is, both on the court and off the court, when and how I needed to take care of my body and prepare for the challenge of playing multiple games within a short timespan. This year, I wanted to do everything I could to help all the new guys enjoy this experience because I was once in their position."
 
Part of Printup's job as the team's leader involved teaching FIBA rules, which differ from the traditional set employed by the NCAA. Minor differences, which have the potential to play a key role if not understood properly (especially in crunch time), include four 10-minute quarters, a 24-second shot clock, an extended three-point line (22 feet, 2 inches from the hoop vs. 20 feet, 9 inches) and the ability to knock the ball back into play once a shot hits the rim.
 
"I especially wanted the new guys to understand that it is an honor to represent Team USA, so enjoy this experience when you can. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to say you represented your country, but remember, you are here for a reason — to work hard and help this team win. Especially with a target on our backs because every team wants to say, 'we took down Team USA on its home court.'
 
"I also wanted them to understand that a large group of people are working hard to provide a unique opportunity, so make sure to thank the coaches, staff, equipment manager and our hosts (Gallaudet University)."
 
What the third-year Aggie shared with his teammates struck a chord based on the way the team performed from the opening tip throughout the entire tournament. After defeating Israel, 103-24 in its opening game, Team USA collected additional wins against Australia (95-28), Ukraine (93-48) — which included a game-high 20-point performance from Printup —  Lithuania (113-39), Canada (126-23) and a thrilling 78-73 result against Spain, which allowed the hosts to earn an opportunity to compete for gold.
 
"We knew our game against Spain was going to be a tough one, and it went down to the wire. We made our free throws and grinded out a win. That was a good learning experience for everyone because we needed to play our best basketball to advance. The next game, everyone was locked in from the moment we arrived because of what happened in that semifinal," Printup added.
 
On the day of the tournament's marquee game, Printup woke up to a familiar feeling, once that ultimately came to fruition by the time he returned to that same bed.
 
"When my parents asked how I felt before that game, I told them I understood what I need to do. I understood that I'm playing for a gold medal today, and was excited to learn from what happened in 2015 and do whatever it takes for the team to win."
 
And that is exactly what took place.
 
"We played with a sense of urgency," explained Printup. "Last time, we thought our natural talent would help us overcome any obstacle or challenge. This time, the coaching staff worked hard to make sure we never felt too comfortable, remained humble and worked hard to reach our potential. And we started to become complacent, he helped us regain that sense of urgency and remain focused."
 
It was that sense of urgency, combined with Team USA's collective talent that allowed everyone to celebrate once the final horn sounded in the final game of the tournament.
 
"I really enjoyed what took place in Taiwan, I could not wait to head home to show my parents this medal, and give them my jersey to thank them for all their support.
 
"Not many people understand the challenges, issues and sacrifices me, my family and my friends had to make growing up. It is awesome to thank everyone in this way, by winning a gold medal, and hear stories from other people within the deaf community — stories that were similar to my own."
 
During the six-hour flight home, the events that took place throughout the previous weeks started to sink in, now that Printup enjoyed an opportunity to reflect on what took place.
 
"I was not angry or disappointed about what happened three years ago, but it was something that was easy to digest knowing I did everything I could to help the team reach its intended goal. Life goes on.
 
"I used that experience as extra motivation this time … being able to go home and tell family and friends about this experience, and celebrating with them was awesome."
 
Now that Printup is back on campus, a new challenge awaits him — one that he looks forward to facing head-on starting this month: successfully defending UC Davis' Big West title and advancing to the NCAA Tournament once again.
 
"We have a special team this year, I cannot wait to develop chemistry and build relationships with the new guys," Printup said. "We have goals in mind, but want to take things one day at a time. It's a long season and we want to improve each day."
 
Printup added, "it's always great to see the guys, it's been six weeks and it seemed like forever. Once workouts started, we all felt like we returned home; each one of us cannot wait for the season to start."