Former Kentucky Wildcat Eloy Vargas has become one of the elite players in the Dominican Republic, but it hasn’t come easy.
Vargas, a member of the Kentucky 2012 national championship team, had signed a professional contract with Knet in Spain until he tore his meniscus playing for Los Caneros Del Este in the Dominican. Eloy had surgery on October 1st, 2012 and rehabbed for 7 months.
Eloy was back on the court for the first time 2 months ago playing for Los Cupes in Santiago, Dominican Republic where the 6’11” center now makes his home. He just wasn’t on the team by any means as he finished his 12 game stint as Rookie of the Year and MVP of the semi-finals as he averaged 23.5 points and 12 rebounds.
Eloy is currently playing with the club San Lazaro in the Santo Domingo League and is averaging 21.8 points and 12.8 rebounds.
When speaking with Eloy, you can tell he is motivated for bigger and better things in his basketball future.
“I think I realized how hard I needed to work after my surgery, especially not having any strength in my leg.” Vargas said. “I had to work twice as hard as before.”
Eloy has also been gaining attention from the NBA and Europe after his stellar play in his home country.
“I have been contacted by several NBA Developmental League and European teams for next season,” said Vargas. “I am also looking forward to the possibility of playing in the NBA Summer League.”
The Kentucky graduate currently has two homes in the Dominican and gives a lot of credit to his education to help him with the management of his business affairs.
“My education has really helped me get where I am today, because basketball just isn’t practice and games, it is also a business.”
My guess this won’t be the last we hear from Eloy Vargas, so keep an eye out for him to be back in the United States grabbing rebounds, quite possibly on a NBA team near you.
