After the season’s final buzzer, VCU graduate forward Kuany Kuany and graduate guard and forward Sean Bairstow said their final goodbyes to collegiate basketball.
Kuany and Bairstow were both transfer students who came to VCU for their graduation year to play under head coach Ryan Odom, who was also new to the VCU basketball team.
Kuany attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he also earned an undergraduate degree in sociology, according to Cal Bears.
He chose VCU as his last collegiate basketball destination because he wanted a school that fit his game and would win, according to Kuany.
“VCU was a place that I believed was gonna win and it has a track record of winning,” Kuany stated. “I wanted to be a part of that.”
Kuany is no stranger to relocating to various places and adjusting to new environments, he claims.
According to VCU Athletics, he moved to the United States on his own at the age of 15 to pursue his basketball career.
Kuany believes that his early arrival in America has made the transition simpler for him.
“I get acclimated to whatever place I go to a lot faster now,” Kuany stated. “I know what to expect and I can engage with other people through those past experiences.”
According to Kuany, his initial transfer at VCU was difficult, with many ups and downs.
“I came in with a shoulder injury,” Kuany explained. “So that set me back a little bit.”
Even though his experience was physically challenging, his teammates embraced him with open arms, and his coaches made every effort to assist him during his injury recovery, according to Kuany.
“Once I got up and running, everything was smooth sailing from there,” said Kuany.
According to Odom, his shoulder issue stopped him from working out with the club during the summer of 2023.
“He started a little bit slow from a shooting perspective and then took off,” Odom stated. “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 is a good teammate, according to Odom.
“I think that’s why you see the success that he had on the court this year,” Odom stated.
Bairstow, on the other hand, transferred from Utah State, where Odom had coached him for two years.
“I coached Sean during his junior year and senior year at Utah State,” Odom stated. “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.”
