Three Tiger men move on to next level

Marshalltown Community College Men's basketball is proud to announce that three players from the 2021-22 team have signed to transfer on to continue their academic and athletic careers.

Rusmir Hamzic will remain in Iowa as he committed to NAIA DI Mt. Mercy in Cedar Rapids. Mt. Mercy is a member of the Heart of America Conference. Hamzic, a native of Sarajevo, Bosnia, shot almost 30 percent from the three-point range. He also shot over 80 percent from the free throw line this season.

When asked about his time at MCC Hamzic said, "MCC was my first college experience in the US. I am happy that I choose this school to continue my basketball and academic career. It was a transition but with people that I met at MCC, everything got easier. I did really well on and off the court and I met great people. A thank you to my coaches, trainers, and the many staff and faculty that made my time at MCC great and for helping me reach my goals. I would always choose MCC."

"Rus is a true example of a student-athlete. He, maybe more than anyone, was always so thankful for the opportunity and I feel he maximized what opportunities were presented," commented Flack. "Unfortunately, his best individual performance came to an early halt, and we lost him for the season due to injury, but I know he will work hard, and I look forward to watching him next season."

Aleksander Begovic from Kotor, Montenegro, has signed with State University of New York (SUNY) Maritime College. SUNY is a NCAA DIII college located in The Bronx, NY is part of the Skyline Conference. "My time at MCC was filled with ups and downs, but looking back, it was an excellent experience." Commented Begovic.

Begovic shot 54.2% from the field and 72.7% from the free throw line this season. "Aleks showed massive improvements from year one to year two. He is a worker and someone who you can trust on the court. He knows what going on, there is not any slippage from him when knowing what we need to do offensively or defensively," said Flack. "As he continues to improve and stay in the weight room, no doubt his work ethic will pay off for him at the four-year level."

Darren Ainembabazi who transferred to MCC for one season was a backup point guard for the Tigers and has three years to play. He will attend NAIA Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.

"DA is a great young man who came to work every day. I look forward to watching his success at Point Park and beyond," commented Flack.

"My time at MCC was an invaluable experience and allowed me to build lifelong connections on and off the court," said Ainembabazi

"All three of these guys will be missed next year. While they all had different roles on the floor, they all provided guidance and leadership for our other guys off the court through their actions," commented Flack. "All three, in my opinion, maximized their opportunities as student-athletes. Their futures in life both personally and professionally will be great because they care for others and have great commitment and work ethic. I want to thank each of them for all of their hard work the past two years." All three players still have three years of eligibility due to COVID.