Former Indiana Basketball Player Caught In Russian Invasion Finds Way Out
Maurice Creek, a former Indiana and George Washington University basketball player, told reporters on Friday (February 25) he was stuck in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s invasion of the European country, which began last week.
But according to a tweet posted on Monday, which he retweeted (Feb. 28), he is now en route out of the country.
Creek, who currently plays for the Ukrainian pro basketball team, Municipal Basketball Club Mykolaiv, had said he was extremely worried he won’t be able to leave.
“I’m terrified, I’m terrified,” Creek told WJLA in Washington D.C. “I’m not just that because I’m in it, I’m saying it because it’s real. I’m not gonna lie, I’m terrified right now. It’s a terrible time, so I can use all the comfort and need all the love and support I can get.”
Creek claims his team, which is part of the Ukrainian SuperLeague, had not offered to help him leave the country and has been bouncing between his apartment and bomb shelters.
“I just got out of a bomb shelter,” he said. “It scares you, it’s like I am part of a war that I have no business being a part of.”
Creek has had trouble finding help to flee, considering the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine being closed. He has been able to contact his family in the D.C. area who are very worried about him.
“My mother is crying everyday, my father is worried sick, my brothers are calling me nonstop everyday,” Creek said.
Creek played for IU from 2009 to ‘13 and George Washington during the ‘13-’14 season. After his collegiate days, he played overseas in Denmark, Israel, Finland, and most recently Ukraine.
