Ismail Kareem is no stranger to success on the basketball court.
After helping Fargo South High School to the state tournament in each of his final two seasons, Kareem is now lending his talents to a Lake Region State College team that is off to a 7-3 start to the season.
The Royals will look to add to that win total Wednesday when they play host to Dawson Community College at the Devils Lake Sports Center.
“(Kareem) gives us a calming effect on the entire team,” said second-year LRSC coach Curt Herman.
“Everyone knows we can count on him to get points, but what a lot of people sometimes forget is that he is also a very darn good defender,” added Herman, who led the Royals to a 19-11 record in his first season on the bench at the school.
Kareem, a 6-foot, 3-inch sophomore, helped the Bruins to the state tournament as a junior before being knocked out in the first round by Bismarck. Those same two teams met up the following season on a grander stage and Kareem and the Bruins came up short as the Demons prevailed in the state championship game.
Kareem, a native of Kenya, made his way to the United States by way of Sudan in 1999. He moved to live with his aunt in an effort to receive a better education than what was available in Africa.
He has adjusted nicely to America, and is doing nicely adjusting to the style of basketball played in the U.S.
“The pace of the game is a lot different,” Kareem said. “You really have to be in shape to play at this level.”
Kareem, one of just four veterans on an otherwise youthful Royal team, is looking forward to another successful year and a deeper run into the playoffs in 2009-10.
“As long as we play the type of basketball that we are capable of, we should be just fine,” Kareem said. “The key for us is to play hard and we have to be more physical,” he added.
Kareem’s exploits on the basketball floor, and his leadership off the court, has been cause for plenty of college recruiters to turn an eye to the Lake Region and the Royals.
Herman said a number of schools from the Northern Sun and the Dakota Athletic Conference have made inquiries of Kareem for next season.
“There’s been a lot of interest him playing in both of those leagues,” Herman said.
But the talented Fargo South product is keeping his options open and not setting his goals a bit higher and has not ruled out playing at a Division 1 school.
“Kareem is just a great, great kid,” Herman said.
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Ismail Kareem is no stranger to success on the basketball court.
After helping Fargo South High School to the state tournament in each of his final two seasons, Kareem is now lending his talents to a Lake Region State College team that is off to a 7-3 start to the season.
The Royals will look to add to that win total Wednesday when they play host to Dawson Community College at the Devils Lake Sports Center.
“(Kareem) gives us a calming effect on the entire team,” said second-year LRSC coach Curt Herman.
“Everyone knows we can count on him to get points, but what a lot of people sometimes forget is that he is also a very darn good defender,” added Herman, who led the Royals to a 19-11 record in his first season on the bench at the school.
Kareem, a 6-foot, 3-inch sophomore, helped the Bruins to the state tournament as a junior before being knocked out in the first round by Bismarck. Those same two teams met up the following season on a grander stage and Kareem and the Bruins came up short as the Demons prevailed in the state championship game.
Kareem, a native of Kenya, made his way to the United States by way of Sudan in 1999. He moved to live with his aunt in an effort to receive a better education than what was available in Africa.
He has adjusted nicely to America, and is doing nicely adjusting to the style of basketball played in the U.S.
“The pace of the game is a lot different,” Kareem said. “You really have to be in shape to play at this level.”
Kareem, one of just four veterans on an otherwise youthful Royal team, is looking forward to another successful year and a deeper run into the playoffs in 2009-10.
“As long as we play the type of basketball that we are capable of, we should be just fine,” Kareem said. “The key for us is to play hard and we have to be more physical,” he added.
Kareem’s exploits on the basketball floor, and his leadership off the court, has been cause for plenty of college recruiters to turn an eye to the Lake Region and the Royals.
Herman said a number of schools from the Northern Sun and the Dakota Athletic Conference have made inquiries of Kareem for next season.
“There’s been a lot of interest him playing in both of those leagues,” Herman said.
But the talented Fargo South product is keeping his options open and not setting his goals a bit higher and has not ruled out playing at a Division 1 school.
“Kareem is just a great, great kid,” Herman said.
