EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Carolinas have been home to Artur Labinowicz all of his life.  A native of the Charlotte, North Carolina area, Labinowicz began his college career at Coastal Carolina, which is located in Conway, South Carolina.  Now, he is ready for his next adventure at the University of Evansville.
 
"It is so exciting coming into a great league at UE.  The Missouri Valley Conference is a league that produces professional players and is just a high level of basketball," Labinowicz said.  "I am prepared and have been putting in a lot of work so far.  Sitting out this season will also help, getting to understand offense, be in the gym and shoot while also getting to 100% mentally and with my body will help me."
 
Evansville is roughly a 9-hour drive from Charlotte, but he is enjoying the sights of the area.
 
"I went home on Labor Day for the first time, which was great," he exclaimed.  "It was my longest time away from home is right now.  I am still trying to get adjusted but am learning my way around town and am settled into my apartment,"
 
Labinowicz enjoyed a nice start to his college career at CCU, scoring 6.5 points per game as a freshman before jumping to 10.8 PPG last season.  While his numbers are excellent, especially for the first two years with a Division I program, Labinowicz says there is room for improvement and he is ready to put in the necessary work.
 
"I want to improve on a lot of things – shooting, passing, being able to read a ball screen, be a better teammate and sharpen the mental side of it," he explained  "People have said that I have all of the tools, now it is time to sharpen them."
 
Making the decision to transfer is always tough on student-athletes, but finding the right fit is what it is all about, not just for the student-athlete, but the program itself.  Labinowicz is 100% confident in his choice and is chomping at the bit to get on the floor.
 
"It was a learning experience leaving Coastal, their coach and I agreed that it would be best if I went somewhere else," he said.  "We agreed that it would be beneficial to learn a new offense while growing and getting better.  I think that will help me at UE, I got recruited by a few different schools, but I saw something different here – Walter McCarty was great, I believe in him and have given him my trust."
 
In watching Labinowicz practice, it is evident that he is definitely one of those guys you would love to go to battle with each and every day, but would hate to face him on the other team.  He chuckled at the question before going into detail about what fans can expect from him.
 
"My game varies, I can be a shooter one game, then be a driver the next game," Labinowicz explained.  "All around, I am a slasher who can shoot 3's, I love to play above the rim, and also enjoy getting to the rim and getting fouled too.  I shot the three much better as a sophomore and can do a little bit of everything.  Overall, I am just trying to get everything better."
 
He also brought out a quick warning to those who may be in his way.
 
"I may bring back my high school game on dunk on you too!"
 
While his education at UE and the sport of basketball are two of the top priorities in his life, he also has someone joining him in his journey.  Making the trip with him from the Carolinas to Evansville was his 1-year old German Shepherd – Athena.
 
"Athena is my baby; I can't leave her out of my sight, I hate leaving her in the morning," Labinowicz said.  "She is still a puppy and does puppy things, but she is great.  All of the players like her, they were scared of her at first, but she is very friendly, likes everyone and likes other dogs.  She will jump on you, though, because she is excited to see everyone."
 
"Sometimes she comes to the player's lounge with me and will be rolling around while I'm doing homework.  Just recently, I was in the gym shooting and she sat there and stared at me the whole time.  I guess she feels the same way, she can't live without me and I can't live without her."
 

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