VCU basketball says goodbye to two key players
Photos by Arrick Wilson, Kaitlyn Fulmore and Andrew Hill. Collage by Gabe Molina.
Bersabeh Kemaw, Staff Writer
After the final buzzer of the season blared, VCU graduate forward Kuany Kuany and graduate guard and forward Sean Bairstow said goodbye to their collegiate basketball careers.
Kuany and Bairstow were both transfer students who came to VCU for their graduate year to play under head coach Ryan Odom, who was also a new member of the VCU basketball team.
Kuany played at the University of California, Berkeley where he also obtained his undergraduate degree in sociology, according to Cal Bears.
He chose VCU as his last-stop destination for college basketball because he wanted a school that would fit his game and a school that would win, according to Kuany.
“VCU was a place that I believed was gonna win and it has a track record of winning,” Kuany said. “I wanted to be a part of that.”
Kuany is no stranger to moving to new places and adapting to new environments, he said.
He came to the United States on his own at 15 to pursue his basketball career, according to VCU Athletics.
His journey to America at a young age has helped the process of moving get easier for him, Kuany said.
“I get acclimated to whatever place I go to a lot faster now,” Kuany said. “I know what to expect and I can engage with other people through those past experiences.”
His transfer journey to VCU was difficult at first, and he faced a lot of ups and downs, according to Kuany.
“I came in with a shoulder injury,” Kuany said. “So that set me back a little bit.”
Even though his experience was difficult from a physical standpoint, his teammates welcomed him with open arms and his coaches made sure to help him through his injury process, according to Kuany.
“Once I got up and running, everything was smooth sailing from there,” Kuany said.
His shoulder injury prevented him from working out with the team over the summer of 2023, according to Odom.
“He started a little bit slow from a shooting perspective and then took off,” Odom said. “I’m really proud of his ability to persevere and fight through situations and help the team win.”
Kuany takes pride in his game and the type of teammate he is, according to Odom.
“I think that’s why you see the success that he had on the court this year,” Odom said.
Bairstow, on the other hand, transferred from Utah State, where he was coached by Odom for two years, according to Odom.
“I coached Sean during his junior year and senior year at Utah State,” Odom said. “Then he came to post-grad here with us at VCU.”
Bairstow also faced a foot injury early on in the season during practice which made him sit out for 12 games before finally making his debut on Dec. 22, 2023, according to VCU Athletics.
He was able to come back and help the team when they needed him, according to Odom.
“He rounded out the roster and the team,” Odom said. “He really impacted the team in a positive way and helped us go on a run down the stretch.”
Bairstow was an important piece for the Rams because of his size and his ability to handle and pass the ball, according to Odom.
“He’s very unselfish with how he plays,” Odom said. “He can make a key basket for you when you really need it and he defends and rebounded too.”
Bairstow led the team in assists since his return and Kuany led the team in free throw percentages, making them key players for the Rams, according to ESPN.
As Kuany moves onto the next chapter of his life, one of the biggest takeaways from his time as a Ram is learning to truly work hard and be efficient in his game, according to Kuany.
“I’ve always been a hard worker,” Kuany said. “But now I know how to simplify the game through ways that coach Odom and the other coaches have taught me.”
He wants to play professional basketball after graduating from the Center of Sports Leadership with his master’s degree, according to Kuany.
“That’s been my goal my entire life,” Kuany said. “So I’m just going to put all my eggs in one basket and go for it as long as I can.”
His experience here at VCU as a Ram has been a great one, and he hopes to have his younger family or friends come to play for the Rams in the future, according to Kuany.
“This is one of the best environments I’ve been around,” Kuany said. “This is one of the greatest fan bases that I can think of and it was a pleasure playing here.”
