The Sports Management BA student and former Westminster Dragon Rinor Dragusha has been offered a contract to play for Bora Basketball Club in Kosovo, becoming the fourth Dragon to sign a professional contract in the past three years.
Rinor started his studies at Westminster in 2022 and played for the Dragons under Coach Clive Castillo, Programme Director and Head Coach. During his time in the team the Dragons won their Division and beat Cardiff in an epic play off. Rinor was also crowned the final’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), regular season MVP and the Rookie of the Year, making him the first player in the programme to win more than one award in one season. He was also part of the Elite Athlete Programme at the University, which offers Westminster’s highest performing student athletes the support and resources to make them the very best they can be.
The basketball star said: “What I enjoyed the most about playing for the Dragons was the community and the vibe. Whenever I was in the court, I always felt like I was at home. The game day experiences were also so great as so many students would come to support us.”
The Lakers fan picked up a basketball for the first time in secondary school when he was around 15. From that point he fell in love with the sport, always playing during lunch breaks and in parks around where he lived. It was not until he was 17 that he joined his first team, London United, which was full of ups and downs thanks to Covid. Despite all the disruptions, his love for the game did not waiver and he decided to keep on going when he enrolled at Westminster.
Rinor said: “It was during Covid so we didn’t have a season but despite that I would still say I learned a lot about the sport in just that year. After finishing my academics in college, I decided to enrol at Westminster and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Rinor is the fourth Dragon to sign a professional contract in the past three years. Business Management and Entrepreneurship BA student Ulhas KS was previously signed by a professional club in Moldova and also represented his national country in India. Another alumnus Mylo Mitchell, who graduated from the Film, Television and Moving Image MA course played in the NBA endorsed Basketball African League, while Business Management BA graduate Afrasyab Khalil currently plays in the National Basketball League D1, the highest level of NBL in the UK.
Bora Basketball Club approached Rinor, who plays guard, after they saw him play in a summer tournament this year. The team has had a successful season, winning the Kosovo Cup earlier this year and Rinor cannot wait to get stuck in.
He said: “When I was first offered the contract from Bora I couldn’t believe it. It was nice to get recognition from teams in other countries. After talking to the staff I knew straight away that it was the right place for me. We haven’t yet played any games but the season will be starting in two weeks so stay tuned!”
He added: “This year is a big steppingstone for me as I am now playing pro. It will be a real test for my ability as a basketball player. I am hoping to gain a lot of knowledge playing with vets [veterans] and I just want to be able to compete to my best capabilities.”
On his success, Coach Clive Castillo said: "I am extremely proud of Rinor's accomplishments as a student-athlete during his time at Westminster. We are honoured to be part of his journey at Westminster, and witness Rinor's talents, tireless dedication and reward in excelling in his sport. Rinor is continuing the tradition of Westminster's excellent basketball alumni and maintaining their high standards. Wishing him the best for his professional career, I have no doubt he will continue to thrive and shine."
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