Holland grad Demetrius Lake to continue pro basketball career in Belarus

HOLLAND - Demetrius Lake had dreamed about being a professional basketball player since he was a kid.

Now that he has a kid himself, he is out to prove that those dreams can continue to come true - and that he will do what it takes to get there, and stay there.

The former all-state player at Holland High School proved that by playing in Ukraine last season. He was the first American player to join the Ukrainian league and thrived, despite the constant signs of war. He spoke about it after the Return 2 the Dome event.

"It was a great learning experience. It is very different from America, especially with the war going on. It showed me I can be mentally strong, because a lot of people wouldn't step into that opportunity and thrive, and I am not looking at it from a basketball standpoint, a life standpoint. Creating a blueprint for my son," Lake said. "Night in and night out, you could hear it, you could see tanks and I was woken up twice to bombs dropping, thankfully not in my location. To see those people go through that was a humbling perspective."

Lake is headed back to play in Europe starting in August, but will be in a new country: Belarus, a neighbor of Ukraine and a country that allowed Russia to cross it's territory to get to Ukraine.

While the choice might seem controversial, Lake spoke with his Ukraine teammates about joining the higher league before making his decision.

"I will be there the next year with a great team. The hospitality has been great just like Ukraine. I spoke to my Ukrainian teammates (and they were supportive). This is a next level of competition," Lake said.

More: Demetrius Lake is the first American player in Ukraine since the war began. We spoke with him about his experience there

It is the next step in a career that has seen Lake become a three-time all-state player at Holland, play at Grand Valley State, Olivet College and professionally in a few stops.

"It means a lot to keep this going. To show I am still able to compete at a high level shows that I am meant to do this," he said. "A lot of people hit bumps in the road and quit. To do what I am doing coming from that shows that I am able to not give up on my dream."

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland's Demetrius Lake to continue pro basketball career in Belarus