While in his home country of France, the high school basketball player wanted a backup career plan; he found that here

Athletes go the college route to pursue dreams of being a sports star and have a backup career plan, just in case.

Angelo Tsagarakis is a perfect example of why that’s a good idea.

The Frenchman on the Oregon State men’s basketball team is serious about his goals, so crossing the Atlantic Ocean was only a minor obstacle.

He left his family and friends behind to play in the United States. The sophomore gave up a European education and an opportunity to turn pro as an 18-year-old in his homeland.

“I sacrificed my way of life, and it’s paying off,” Tsagarakis said. “And there’s nothing that’s going to get me down. It has been a long road, but I have a lot ahead of me to look forward to.”

Even missing last season from a dislocated right shoulder and torn labrum hasn’t stopped him. He’s still playing the game he loves and is close to an international business degree.

“Everything is going well,” Tsagarakis said. “My body feels great. I’m playing pain free.”

Growing up in France, Tsagarakis competed with a passion for various club teams. He recorded NBA games, particularly ones involving Michael Jordan, to memorize them and replicate moves on the court.

In the middle of high school, he realized the way education and athletics are set up in France he had to choose to become a pro athlete or earn a degree.

He wanted both, but colleges ask for such commitment there’s no time to train. And pro clubs sign players early, not allowing them to go to school.

Tsagarakis planned to earn a quick two-year economics degree, then try to go pro before it was too late. He was accepted by two colleges and had contract offers from two clubs.

A conversation with a veteran French pro right before a final decision changed his mind. His mother was with him, and asked the pro what he is going to do for a living after basketball.

The blank stare told the story.

“From there I started looking at the long-term,” Tsagarakis said. “I could go professional and have a great career for a few years, but what would I have after that?”

A friend, Dominique Bukasa, from the San Francisco area convinced him to try the U.S. college route. He could develop his basketball skills, earn a degree and see where both took him.

His family gave its blessing, knowing that was the only way for him to try both options.

“I just jumped into it,” Tsagarakis said. “If I wanted to pursue my dream and become a pro and have something to back me up, I had to do this. I used my savings to pay my way and support myself when I first came to the United States.”

He hired an exchange student agency late in the process. It was March of his junior year, and Tsagarakis wanted to be in the U.S. for his senior year.

It usually takes 18 months for placement with a host family but with Bukasa’s help of knowing a family ready for an exchange student, Tsagarakis bypassed much of the red tape and enrolled at Casa Grande High in Petaluma, Calif.

“I met the coach (Jeremy Russotti) and he helped me out when he realized he had a player,” Tsagarakis said. “He made it easy for me to get in contact with (college) coaches.”

Scouts were after him beginning with the first scrimmage. He went on to lead Casa Grande to a school-best 24-5 record by averaging 23.3 points a game, making 100 3-pointers. Only five players in high school basketball history have hit 100 3-pointers in a season.

Tsagarakis won several postseason awards, graduated with a 3.4 grade-point average and had about 30 colleges after him. He picked OSU because he liked the Pacific-10 Conference and Corvallis.

The first season went well, hitting an OSU freshman record 45 3-pointers, and averaging 15.7 minutes and 6.4 points off the bench.

He planned to continue his success last season before the injury. It was during a September workout when he fell on the ball with his arm extended.

“It was a freak accident working out,” Tsagarakis said. “I landed really badly. My shoulder was sticking out three inches. The pain was horrible.”

A four-hour surgery was needed to repair the torn cartilage and set the bones in the socket properly. It was three weeks before he could move around enough to start the rehabilitation.

Progress was slow, but he was back to practice before the Pac-10 portion of the season. However, coach Jay John and Tsagarakis decided a redshirt season would be best.

“It was progress, but tough,” Tsagarakis said of the rehab. “I was in the training room every day, working slowly to be able to move my arm. You feel at times you won’t be able to get your arm back, but I was relentless.”

Pain remained into the summer, but he was confident he would shoot the ball with his past precision again. It was just a matter of staying positive, admitting there were several depressing days.

“It was a learning experience,” Tsagarakis said. “I used it as a positive and not get down on myself. It gave me the opportunity to reaffirm how I loved the game and how much I want to be out there. It reminded me of how hard you have to be working.”

He returned this season to be a key bench player, averaging eight minutes and 2.3 points through three games.

John has been impressed with his comeback, and expects him to be a cornerstone of the team as the season goes on and in the future.

“For missing a whole year, his perimeter defense is not where it was at the end of his freshman year,” John said. “That doesn’t surprise me. That’s lateral quickness, and he needs to get trained to get caught up in that. As he continues to work on stuff, he’s going to be on the floor more.”

Better defense has been his focus in practice. He’s trying to become a total player, not just a shooter.

Looking back at what he’s gone through to get here, Tsagarakis wouldn’t change anything. He’s graduating next winter and then entering the master’s program.

Wherever life leads him, it’s been on his terms. He’s giving his sports dream a shot and has a backup plan.

“Right now I’m waiting for the opportunity to show how much I’ve improved,” Tsagarakis said. “I’m just going to make the most of it. And whatever happens I have something to fall back on. You never know when a freak injury will occur. Look what happened to me.”