KUTZTOWN, Pa. – COVID-19 has made it difficult for many people in all aspects of life. For Kutztown University men's basketball junior Facundo Arens (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Bahia Blanca), it has made it hard for him to return home to see his family and friends overseas.
 
Arens is a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and just completed his third year as a student-athlete at Kutztown last week. Travel restrictions and closings have made flights out of the United States into international territory nearly impossible to make. Arens had plans to fly back home after the spring semester, but his plans have had to be put on hold.
 
"Things in Argentina are quite good," said Arens. "The president ordered quarantine fifteen days before it happened here. My idea was to return to Argentina two weeks from now because I have a plane ticket for [May] 23rd. But the problem is that the Argentina airport I would fly into will only open at the end of September, and I would not be able to start my senior year on time if I flew home, so for the moment I am going to stay at KU."
 
Arens, who arrived at Kutztown in the fall of 2017, has had to adjust to a new lifestyle and language. While it was difficult at first, not being able to speak English fluently, he has made great strides in his understanding of the language and also in his academics. Arens is a dual-major, studying sport management and Spanish.
 
"The opportunity to be able to play basketball and to be able to continue my university studies has been great for me," Arens said. "It is very beneficial for me because back home the education and sports systems are separate. So, I'm living a dream. The adaptation was not easy, but after three years I feel like I am understanding it a lot better than when I first got here. I'm learning every day. As any change is difficult due to the difference in language more than anything, I can thank my friends, teammates, teachers and coaches who have made it easier for me to adapt. I can't thank all of them and the people at Kutztown enough."
 
Since the beginning of spring break on Saturday, March 7, Arens, along with his fellow Kutztown University students, have not been on campus for classes or activities. Aside from completing his schoolwork virtually, Arens was one of just a few students to remain in town. He has kept himself busy and occupied like any normal college student, by working out, watching movies and playing video games.
 
Along with the Golden Bears coaching staff, the men's players have welcomed Arens and treated him like a member of their families. KU men's basketball is a family in its own right. Within his time here, Arens has struck up good friendships with most of his teammates, especially David Johnson (Dunellen, N.J./Dunellen), Ricky Hicks (Coatesville, Pa./Polytech), Moe Williams (Townsend, Del./Life Center Academy (N.J.)) and Josh Townsend (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter).
 
Coming all the way from Argentina, Arens knew little about American basketball and American academics, but his decision to attend Kutztown University has been one that he is proud of three years in.
 
"I think it is a great program, well balanced in importance according to both sports and academic performance," said Arens on KU men's basketball. "In addition, the experiences of coaches [Bernie] Driscoll and [Tom] York, along with the freshness of young coaches such as coach [Bilal] Salaam and [Scott] Blair. The town of Kutztown is a small, but very nice town, and the campus is like a Division I campus with how beautiful it is."
 
Following a freshman season where he did not see the court as often as he would have liked, having to wait on NCAA rulings, Arens broke out during his sophomore campaign and became a regular in Driscoll's lineup. He played in all 30 games, starting 28, and averaged 6.7 points per game (ppg) and 3.1 rebounds per game (rpg). As a junior last season, Arens appeared in 26-of-28 games with 21 starts, and finished with 5.5 ppg and a career-high 3.2 rpg. He also shot a career-best 70.5-percent from the free-throw line.
 
Following the 2020-21 academic year, Arens will have the option to again play overseas, or attain a job here in America. If he decides on pursuing a career in the U.S., he will soon start the process of obtaining the F1 visa.