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French lessons: Ex-Jenks star Bryson Pope is playing for France this summer before heading to TU

STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World file

 
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Published: 7/3/2009  2:23 AM
Last Modified: 7/22/2009  3:42 PM

 Bryson Pope's preparation for international basketball wasn't exclusively in the gym.

He also spent much-needed time practicing the French language.

"It's a bit rusty, and my brothers made fun of me for it," Pope said in late May, days before departing for Paris. "But I'll get used to it."

Pope, a Tulsa basketball signee, is playing for the French National Team at the FIBA Under 19 World Championship in New Zealand.

Pope saw limited action in a Friday morning (Thursday night, Tulsa time) loss to the United States. He didn't score in the 71-55 defeat to the Americans.

He holds dual citizenship to France after growing up in the country where his father was a basketball star.

When French basketball officials heard that Pope may be a national team candidate, they asked for video of the four-year Jenks star. He was invited for a tryout and cracked the 12-man squad.

"This is very exciting, first of all," Pope said. "It's a great honor to represent my country and experience new things over there."

Summer can be critical for building chemistry for a college basketball team, but TU coach Doug Wojcik knew Pope could not pass up this chance.

"It was too good an opportunity for the individual, as well as our own program," Wojcik said. "He's played a lot of basketball.

"He's on buses, he's understanding travel and international play. He (played against) the United States. This experience will even help his pro career beyond college."

The
Pope name carries weight in France. His father, Derrick Pope, spent 14 years in the country as a player, earning legendary status with his thunderous dunks.

Father and son laughed hard at a story told by Bryson Pope.

"We went to this equivalent to Wal-Mart in France, and the manager said over the intercom that 'Derrick Pope is in the store,' " the son said. "My dad turned to me and my brother and said, 'When you have that kind of juice, come talk to me.' "

There was still a bridge to French basketball, as oldest son Nick is under a professional contract in the country.

Nick also was an important link to the Popes' journey to Jenks.

Nick attended Metro Christian Academy under a foreign exchange program in his senior year and played one season for Will Reese (a former Wojcik volunteer assistant). His mother Shari, who stayed in Tulsa for some of the time, fell in love with the area and decided to move the family here upon their return in 2005.

Like any mother, she was worried about how her five kids would adapt when moving to America. They already had one successful transition, when the Popes moved from France to England.

"They'd never been to a French-speaking school and we put them into an English school," Shari Pope said. "They adapted real well."

Reports from Bryson Pope haven't come often this summer, with family and friends getting quick updates through Facebook.

No matter the outcome for France in this week's tournament, Pope wants to return as a better player for TU.

"I want to fine-tune all the aspects of my game," he said. "I want to improve my shooting skills before I go off to college."

While Derrick Pope is a basketball star in France, he expects Bryson to make his name in the Tulsa area.

In a sense, the father said, he already has.

"I just want him to be his own player," Derrick Pope said. "He can't be compared to me. Sometimes that's the hardest part."

The elder Pope pointed to Bryson's success in high school and AAU play, which led to the Tulsa scholarship.

"He's good enough for people to talk about him now," Derrick Pope said.

"He's not the son of Derrick. Now I'm the father of Bryce."

Eric Bailey 581-8391
eric.bailey@tulsaworld.com
By ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer

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But What Do I Know?, (7/3/2009 11:15:50 AM)
c'est bien!
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GoldenDriller1, Out of State (7/3/2009 12:04:27 PM)
Cette GRENOUILLE peut sauter et jouer! GO TU.
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Shadow Knows, Tucson (7/3/2009 12:29:00 PM)
Hope he becomes a star contributor for TU! Gooooooooooooo Hurricane, blow away the opposition!
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shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (7/3/2009 5:05:35 PM)
Ditto Golden Driller1!
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tulsandn, Boswell / Tulsa (7/6/2009 11:02:29 AM)
Don't know much about France but those Pepe Lepew cartoons sure do crack me up....
 

 
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