SEATTLE – The talent pipeline in the modern basketball landscape has evolved immensely in the last decade. While AAU tournaments, online hoops mixtapes and McDonald’s All-American nominations remain prevalent in the minds of college recruiters, international talent developed in structured academy systems and FIBA competitions has exploded onto the scene. Just ask freshman forward Stratos Papastavrou, who joins Seattle University men’s basketball following a successful youth career in his native Greece.
The 6-foot-7 international has represented club and country at various levels with a trove of accomplishments to pair with his experience. As a member of the Greece under-17 team at the Balkan Tournament, Papastavrou was named tournament MVP, received Best 5 honors and the Best Scorer title on the back of averaging 14 points, six rebounds and two assists per game. On the national stage, he’s played on the under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels – most recently being called into the U18 squad for the 2025 FIBA U18 EuroBasket tournament in Serbia.
Though Papastavrou’s game contains a mix of size, scoring and championship DNA – winning Athens state championships in 2022 and 2023 for Olympiacos’ under-16 and under-18 teams respectively – the freshman admits that his mentality and basketball IQ were the driver of his accolades. Put simply, using his brain rather than his body to make an impact on the court – something he attributes to two of his former coaches and mentors back home.
“In my first years in the academy of Olympiacos, I had two coaches that were extremely supportive, trusted me a lot and loved me – Antonis Kourmoulis and Dimitris Tsaldaris. They also coached me on the men’s basketball team at Panionios,” Papastavrou said. “They always put me in higher age groups so I could compete with bigger bodies, more athletic guys. Because I was younger, it made me have to use my mind, not just my athleticism, so I could compete in the game.”
Expressing his gratitude, he then added: “They always pushed me to be better and they really showcased me, showcased my talent wherever I could show it because they were like the perfect professors of basketball for me. They were a huge part of my journey and they will be forever, and I love them for that.”
Modeling his intensity and shooting ability after Jaycee Carroll – a member of Real Madrid’s 2011 team – Papastavrou also credits his mentor and former teammate, Devin Cannady, for shaping good habits and getting the best out of his game every day. Cannady was notably a part of both the South Bay Lakers and Orlando Magic before joining Panionios in the Greek Basketball League.
“One of the things that really helped me last year was going at it with the men’s team at Panionios,” Papastavrou said. “There were guys that pushed me, like my mentor Devin Cannady. He was a big part of my successful season last year, and he was a big part of my mentality that made me a hard worker.”
The cerebral nature of Papastavrou is something Redhawk fans can expect to see materialize on the hardwood this fall as Seattle U enters West Coast Conference play. The goal, as he puts it, is to use his relentless effort combined with mental acumen to space the floor, move the rock and create open looks for himself and his teammates. Speaking directly to the SU faithful, Papastavrou illustrated what his skill set will bring to the team this season.
“What I can guarantee is that I’m going to give 100 percent whenever I touch the four lines of the court – defensively and offensively,” Papastavrou said. “I think the best thing I can bring for the team is my spacing and shooting, and the understanding of the game to make everyone better around me. I want to go out and give 100 percent on defense and make winning plays whenever I can.”
It’s obvious that both culturally and in a sporting context, the U.S. and Greece have quite a few differences. However, in Papastavrou’s recruitment process, the common thread that crossed the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, from Athens to Capitol Hill, is the whole person – giving your best on the court when the clock starts, and building bonds for life off it.
“It was, in my opinion, the best choice I could’ve made to come here. Because the first moments of communication I had with the coaches or members of the staff, they showed me that they truly loved my game and me as a person,” Papastavrou said. “I felt really comfortable talking to them, and they were showing me stuff and I felt like I could fit here and make an impact. So for me it was an easy decision to come to Seattle U.”
Speaking to the ins and outs of coaching cultures he’s been a part of, Papastavrou continued:
“The difference between the coaches in Europe and the United States is that here the coaches have a relationship with you outside of basketball too. So you can go and actually talk with them about the inside game, and have a conversation about being better and your mistakes. That's a thing that I love here, and the only way is up.”
Those moments of communication, and the one that inked his commitment to the Redhawk program, came in the form of a text message at 3 a.m. Eastern European Time, asking him to make the journey across the world to play for the Redhawks. Papastavrou woke up for a glass of water, checked his phone and immediately ran to wake up his mother – someone he explained has always supported him to follow his basketball passions, no matter how far it would take him in both success and distance.
“I woke my mother up to tell her, ‘The first recruitment is always the best, I’m going to go there,’ and she said, ‘I’ll miss you, but you have to go. It’s perfect,’” Papastavrou said. “There are some parents that push their kids to do things that they don’t want to do or don’t like – my parents are the difference from that. If they see I love something and want to choose something, they will go with me and that decision. Even if they think it’s the wrong choice, they’re always by my side.”
The Papastavrou family, he says, helps keep him grounded, but allows for his confidence and determination to flourish. Papastavrou went on by highlighting how his brother makes an impact in his personal growth and the mindset he brings to every game.
“My brother is also the perfect friend. I can trust him for whatever, tell him everything that I’m thinking, wake him up at 3 a.m. and he won’t be mad,” Papastavrou said. “I think my brother plays a big part in my energy and confidence, just to keep going. They’re coming here for Christmas and I know I have a family that loves me and is going to be there for me every day, every time.”
His brother’s name?
“Thanos — like the movie guy,” Papastavrou said, smiling.
Making the long journey from Athens to Seattle has been an adjustment for the Greek international. At the time this interview took place, Papastavrou had only just settled into his dorm and had been in the Pacific Northwest for all of 72 hours. Jet lag and culture shock aside, as he touched down on the tarmac of Sea-Tac airport, he noted he felt like he'd been a Redhawk for years based on the camaraderie and love shown by the players and coaching staff from the get-go.
“The first day, Coach Bryce picked me up from the airport and took me to my dorm, and from there I really just felt like I was at home,” Papastavrou said. “All of my teammates, from the first to the last one, welcomed me like I’ve been here for three years – no exceptions. All of the guys, from the 24-year-olds to the 19-year-olds, welcomed me like I’m one of them, and that’s why I felt like I’m home and felt confident. It just keeps the chemistry up and I feel great about them.”
On the contrasts between his native Athens and the Emerald City, Papastavrou expressed:
“It’s very different being here than Athens, but I think the city is great and the facility, the people, are both amazing. Everyone is so kind. Like strangers randomly wave at me on the street and I’ve never experienced anything like that. So I think it’s a pretty great city and I love it here.”
While still acclimating to Seattle, Papastavrou relaxes by playing NBA 2K with his teammates and friends from Greece, while also making the time to stay connected with his family and culture. Without that connection, he believes it would be a lot more difficult to find the drive to do what he does best on the court and naturalize to his new surroundings.
“An important thing for me is that I stay in touch with everyone in Greece,” Papastavrou said. “I have to wake up a little bit earlier to talk to my guys, friends, family, brother, everyone, but they give me confidence and an attitude to just keep going and not feel bad that I left home, because it was the perfect choice and it will show eventually. Keeping in touch with my loved ones in Greece, that’s one thing that keeps me up every day with hunger and energy.”
With the 2025-26 campaign kicking off Nov. 3 for Papastavrou and the Redhawks, the forward reflects that he’s happy for the team to get to this level of competition prior to his arrival – marking it as a big achievement for the program since Victor took the helm and showcasing the year-over-year improvement made on the court. Though for Papastavrou, getting to West Coast Conference level of play isn’t enough – it’s about making serious noise and making a statement.
“I think we’re ready to go out and compete with everyone that’s in front of us. Our goal is to face everyone in their eyes and beat them, and I think we can have a good season doing that with the fans by our side.”
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