The RoundHouse | 7/24/2019 2:37:00 PM

 
On Monday, current Wichita State Shockers Morris Udeze, Erik Stevenson and Dexter Dennis watched AfterShocks basketball practice from the front row in Koch Arena.
 
Current Shockers chatting, fist-bumping, meeting the old Shockers is a common scene since the AfterShocks alumni team started practicing last week. The youngsters are, as they say, observing how the veterans go about their business. The AfterShocks roster features two former NBA players (plus more in the NBA Summer League) and all offer professional experience overseas.
 
The AfterShocks are where most of the current Shockers want to be in a few years.
 
Here is what some of the AfterShocks have to say about life as a professional:
 
Clevin Hannah (Wichita State, 2008-10) 
 
On making it as a professional: 
 
"For overseas guys, you've got to be mentally tough. It's not easy. Coming through this program – Coach (Gregg) Marshall does a great job making someone become mentally tough. If you can make it through here, you can go on and probably have a good career professionally anywhere.
 
The style of basketball is different. You're away from everything you've known for 22 years in a whole different country. The food changed. Everything has changed. You've got to be mentally tough and know what where you want to go with the game."
 
On the experience of playing overseas:
 
"I played in Spain, and that's probably my favorite. I've been in a few different spots – France, Romania, Finland. Spain has been more my style, my pace. Everybody plays the right way. It's more of a team game. Everybody's professional.
 
The food, the language, learning Spanish, the way of life. They have stuff called paella. It's rice with seafood, any kind of meat. That's one of the dishes I learned to like."
 
Toure Murry (2008-12)
 
On finding the right place to play:
 
"What are you looking for? It's not necessarily how much money. It's about situation and coaching and how much they appreciate you and how much they want you to come to the team. That's the most important thing to consider – going somewhere the team 100 percent wants you to come.
 
You can tell by the coaches, the vibe, how much appreciation they give you and how badly they want you."
 
On adjusting to living and playing abroad:
 
"For me, it's mostly been a culture shock after my first five or six years in the states, professionally. Then, to go over there (Germany, Turkey, Greece) the last two years has been great. I've seen basketball in the NBA and in college and I've seen basketball overseas.
 
There's a really good pasta in Italy called Tortelli, which I'm a big fan of."
 
J.T. Durley (2007-11)
 
On your advice to a potential pro:
 
"It's always good to follow a current pro and pick their brain, see what their story is, see what you can pull their from experiences and apply to yourself."
 
On playing basketball overseas:
 
"My craziest would be a game in Argentina, where the fans were spitting at you. They're really rowdy. Basketball is growing at a really rapid rate, as far as popularity, because of all the NBA players.
 
We had to be escorted by the police. We couldn't leave the gym. They had to clear the gym before we were able to leave. We did win the game, and that's what made it worse. It was a fun experience, but it also had its scary moments."
 
Shaq Morris (2014-18)
 
On your advice to a potential pro:
 
"Be an every-day guy. Be consistent. That's what separates you at the end of the day."
 
On the food in Japan:
 
"In Japan, there's a lot of nice people and they work really hard. Everywhere you go, they put love into their cuisine. Every bite of food, somebody's made with a lot of love. There's not really a lot of fast-food type of stuff over there. The people who make cuisine in Japan, they don't do it just for a job. They're raised to do it with love and a passion. A lot of preparation.
 
My favorite dish is Yakiniku. They bring out raw slices of beef, different cuts like tongue, shoulder, what you call Kobe beef here. They grill it in front of you with lots of vegetables and stuff like that."
 
Rashard Kelly (2014-18)
 
On the best thing about playing professionally:
 
"I did something I never would have done on my own budget. Travel the world, because of basketball."
 
On your advice to a potential pro:
 
"Have a true professional approach about it. Handle everything with respect."
 
Paul Suellentrop covers Wichita State Athletics and the American Athletic Conference for university Strategic Communications. Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.