Shane Hammink was looking forward to receiving a phone call from his parents wishing him a Merry Christmas.
More Top Picks Best Smart Displays For Seniors
But otherwise, the senior swingman didn’t have elaborate plans for the holiday.
He could spend time with Valparaiso coach Matt Lottich. Heading home with teammates Jubril Adekoya, from Tinley Park, Ill., or Lexus Williams, from Chicago, were possibilities.
Two years ago, Hammink traveled home with Chandler Levingston Simon to Vernon Hills, Ill.
But if nothing materialized this year, Hammink was perfectly content with a quiet Christmas.
“I might have a microwave meal,” he said. “Hanging by myself, watching movies and playing video games. I’m good with it.
“I haven’t spent Christmas with my family in five years, so it’s something I’m used to.”
Hammink — who began his college career with two years at LSU and is in his third at Valparaiso after transferring — is from the Netherlands. He’s one of four international players on the roster, and actually the only one not going home for Christmas.
Freshman center Jaume Sorolla departed for Spain, and junior guards Tevonn Walker and Max Joseph took a flight to Montreal.
Most of the players dispersed Friday after the Crusaders’ Thursday game against Santa Clara. They’ll return Monday, when practice resumes.
Ordinarily, Sorolla wouldn’t make the trans-Atlantic trip. But his father has been ill.
“If he was good, I’d stay here,” Sorolla said. “But he is sick, so I want to spend time with him.”
Sorolla expected his father to recover, but didn’t want to miss being with him for Christmas. He wasn’t scheduled to return until Wednesday, missing Valparaiso’s final nonconference game against Chicago State.
In addition to seeing family and friends, Sorolla was eager for a few days with temperatures in the 60s.
“Here, it is too cold,” he said.
Walker was unable to go home as a freshman, so his mother, brother and girlfriend visited. They enjoyed much of what Chicago has to offer.
But this year will be his second straight back in Canada.
“It’s a traditional Christmas,” Walker said. “Spend time with family, eat, get gifts, give gifts. A lot of people.”
Joseph also comes from a large extended family, with his grandmother having 13 children. Not everyone will be around, but it’s special.
“Just getting together, eating food, dancing,” Joseph said.
“It’s always good to get away, relax your mind, be with your family, reminisce about old times.”
The Crusaders have had 32 international players from 19 countries the last 20 years.
Associate head coach Luke Gore has been on the staff for 15 years, witnessing the atmosphere at this time of year. For example, he recalled former Valparaiso star Ryan Broekhoff, from Australia, spending Christmas with Tommy Kurth in Osceola.
“Our players are very hospitable,” Gore said. “They’re family oriented to get guys to their place.”
More Top Picks Sonos Move
Most of the coaches typically stay in town, Gore said, and they welcome players into their families’ homes. Players might not spend Christmas with the coaches, but it’s not uncommon for players to be around when they’re among the few people still on campus after finals.
“We like to be around our guys, we like our children to be around our guys,” Gore said. “Our children couldn’t have better role models.
“From our freshmen to our seniors, these guys are all great around our kids, our wives, very respectful. The more my kids can be around these guys, the better their life is. They’ll know what it means to have goals and to work hard toward them, to balance a lot on their plate.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff