US basketball player’s confession from Ukraine: ‘I’m terrified’

The war conflict in Ukraine caused by the invasion of the Russian armed forces is leaving thousands of fatalities, but also collateral damage among Ukrainian citizens and the world. One of them is Maurice Creek, an American basketball player who plays in the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague.

Creek, who during his time in college played for Indiana University Hoosiers and The George Washington University, has sought opportunities outside his home country to fulfill his dream of being a professional player, which has taken him to countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Israel and Ukraine.

Creek is stuck in Ukraine

However, holding on to his basketball career put him in the least desirable place and time, the war that has raged in Ukraine.

“My mother is crying everyday, my father is worried sick, my brothers are calling me nonstop everyday,” Creek told 7News.

Creek has been stuck in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, where he has been playing for MBC MYKOLAIV since January, his third team in that country, where he first arrived in 2019, but now has no way out.

“I just got out of a bomb shelter. It scares you, it’s like I am part of a war that I have no business being a part of,” Creek said.

Because the U.S. embassy in Ukraine is closed, Creek is staying in touch with his agent and family to help get him to a border crossing so he can leave Ukraine.

“I’m terrified, I’m terrified,” Creek said. “I’m not just that because I’m in it, I’m saying it because it’s real. I’m not gonna lie, I’m terrified right now. It’s a terrible time, so I can use all the comfort and need all the love and support I can get.”

Players live as hostages

The basketballer tried to escape Ukraine before the conflict escalated, but couldn’t find travel out of the country because he wasn’t paid, something Jerome Randle, a former California shooting guard, elaborated on.

“These teams basically held us hostage. It was like you either stay over here or you’re not going to be able to be able to play anywhere. That’s pretty messed up. That’s pretty backwards to me. I don’t think that was fair for them to be able to do that,” Randle said to Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Esienberg.


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