Roughly 5,600 miles from Cortez, across the Atlantic Ocean, former Montezuma-Cortez High School basketball star Kirk Archibeque is serving his hometown of Cortez proud.
Now in his sixth professional season, Archibeque is playing for Polish powerhouse Rosa Radom, and thus far, the powerful big-man is making a major impact.
Averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.3 blocks per contest, Archibeque has led his team to a 9-5 record against top teams from Ukraine, Lithuania and the Czech Republic.
“Early in the season, we are stepping outside of our league to get some other competition,” wrote Archibeque in an email to the Cortez Journal. “We want to be ready for the season.”
In addition to his gaudy early-season statistics, Archibeque has garnered widespread praise in the form of an MVP award presented to the top player in a tournament hosted by Rosa Radom earlier this season.
“It was great to be named MVP because the tournament president, along with all the coaches at the tournament, nominated me,” wrote Archibeque. “It was good to get recognized and it feels great to have that honor.”
Teaming with Archibeque on this year’s Rosa Radom team is former Michigan State and Iowa State point guard Korie Lucious, a player who college basketball fans might remember for his late-game heroics during the 2010 NCAA tournament.
For Archibeque, the opportunity to play alongside skilled teammates such as Lucious, as well the experience of living in the city of Radom, has made this season enjoyable thus far.
“I have really enjoyed playing here,” Archibeque wrote. “(Radom) is a great city for my daughter. She is going to school in a bilingual school, and she loves it. (Radom) is just a great family town, we have everything we need, and it is just fantastic to be here right now.”
As for his individual goals for the remainder of the season, Archibeque wrote that he hopes to remain healthy, serve as a team leader and average a double-double.
Always the consummate teammate, Archibeque stressed that his overarching goal is ensure that his team finishes among the top six teams in the league. A finish in the top three would be ideal, he added.
“Poland is getting more money to put toward basketball,” wrote Archibeque, describing the increasingly competitive landscape of Polish professional leagues. “More foreign players are arriving, which in turn is causing more fans to attend games. Poland is just a great place for me to be right now. I am very lucky to be here.”
Always cognizant of his hometown roots, Archibeque stressed that he is extremely proud to be from Cortez and rest assured, Cortez is equally proud to be able to claim the basketball star as one of its own.
imaclaren@cortezjournal.com