Herausforderungen » the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Dejan Vasiljevic is a native of Canada with Serbian roots who grew up in Australia and has now found a home as a shooting guard for the Miami Hurricanes.Vasiljevic is the most well-traveled member of a talented freshman class already playing a significant role for the Hurricanes, who compete in an eight-team tournament in Orlando beginning Thursday.In Miamis first three games, all wins, Vasiljevic has averaged 11.7 points while going 9 for 18 from 3-point range.He can really, really shoot, coach Jim Larranaga said. I told him he reminds me of me -- a really good offensive player who doesnt play much D. He really tries, but youre guarding a different kind of player, an athlete who is very skilled, and he hasnt faced that kind of athlete on a regular basis. So hes learning.Vasiljevics background suggests hes quick to adapt.My parents are from the former Yugoslavia, he said. Because of the war, they decided to move here and there.He was born in Calgary and moved to Melbourne when he was 6. He has Canadian and Australian citizenship, and plans to apply eventually for citizenship in Serbia, where he still has family. His parents and sister live in Australia.His unusual accent -- mostly Aussie, a bit Serbian -- made him somewhat difficult for teammates to understand at first.Im trying to get rid of the Australian slang in my speech, said Vasiljevic, who pronounces his name DAY-on Vass-EEL-uh-vitch and goes by DJ. At first they didnt know what I was trying to say, but Ive gotten into their vocabulary and how they speak.Teammate JaQuan Newton said Vasiljevic was shy and quiet when he first arrived.But now hes talking the language we talk, Newton said. Hes picking up our lingo. Hes very playful.And he can play. His parents both played semi-professional handball, but he took up basketball at 12 and quickly became hooked, modeling his game after Croatian NBA star Drazen Petrovic, who died in a car crash four years before Vasiljevic was born.Vasiljevic has given the young Hurricanes a perimeter threat as the offense retools after the departure of last seasons leading scorers, Sheldon McClellan and Angel Rodriguez.His shooting ability caught the eye of college recruiters in the summer of 2015 playing for a U-19 team in Europe. He made visits to Miami and Stanford and chose the Hurricanes because he liked Larranaga and the weather.I thought it was the perfect fit for me, he said. Its a new family to me, a new home.Vasiljevics parents probably wont make it to the United States this season to see him play in person. He said he misses moms cooking, and notes there are no longer kangaroos in his backyard.But the biggest adjustment has been dealing with cars driving on the right-hand side of the road, opposite from Australia. Hes in no rush to obtain a U.S. drivers license and gets where hes going mostly by walking, which isnt much of a problem because he lives on campus.Vasiljevic wants to get a degree and plans on a four-year stay rather than an early exit for the NBA. He likes Miami so well he helped land two prospects in next years recruiting class and would be happy to give other prep players his sales pitch.Im 2 for 2, he said. Lets see if I can keep it going.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Pink Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31 . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. Womens Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 32 .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. http://www.cheapairmaxzoom.com/ . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Red Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33 . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration. Grey Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31 .com) - The Montreal Canadiens embark on their first road trip of the season as they head out west to battle the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. JOLIET, Ill. -- Matt Hagan drove to the Funny Car qualifying lead on Saturday at the K&N Filters Route 66 NHRA Nationals.Hagan recorded a track record time of 3.882 seconds at 331.12 mph in his Dodge Charger R/T. Its his second top qualifying performance of the season.Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Shane Gray (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) weere the top qualifiers for their classes.ddddddddddddagan beat out teammate Jack Beckman for the top spot. Beckman momentarily held the top position following a run of 3.885 at a track record speed of 333.25 in his Dodge Charger. ' ' '