Guard from Mongolia commits to Dayton Flyers

The commitment of Sharavjamts continues a trend of foreign-born players picking the Flyers. The current roster has five international players: Mustapha Amzil (Finland); Toumani Camara (Belgium); Kobe Elvis (Canada); Moulaye Sissoko (Mali); and Richard Amaefule (England). That’s the most the program has ever had at one time.

Sharavjamts sat behind the bench when Dayton played Cedarville University in an exhibition game at UD Arena on Nov. 1.

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Sharavjamts’ Instagram handle is “@MongolianMike.” He came to the United States in 2018 and played for Legacy Christian in Xenia in the 2018-19 season before transferring to Prolific Prep (Calif.), where he played the last two seasons. He joined ISA in August.

While at Legacy Christian, he helped lead the team to a league championship. He averaged 10.5 points in 19 games.

”It was a good year last year and learning about American basketball,” he told the Dayton Daily News in January 2020 while playing for Prolific Prep in the Flyin’ to the Hoop. “And this year I know about American basketball, and I’m trying my best.”

At that time, Sharavjamts had only one offer: from Eastern Washington.

Dayton first contacted Sharavjamts in June 2020, and he announced Sept. 29, 2021, he received a scholarship offer from Dayton. He received offers from Rutgers in July and from Providence in October.

Sharavjamts played in the summer, along with Centerville’s Gabe Cupps and Rich Rolf, for Midwest Basketball Club. He also played with Centerville for a time last summer.

His dad, Sharavjamts Tserenjanhor, a 7-foot center nicknamed the Mongolian Shark, played for the Harlem Globetrotters after being discovered by then LSU coach Dale Brown at a basketball clinic in Mongolia. Sharavjamts Tserenjanhor played at UD Arena in December 2001 with the Globetrotters.

In an interview with CityofBasketballLove.com last summer, the younger Sharavjamts said basketball is gaining in popularity in Mongolia.

“It’s a big sport in Mongolia,” he said. “Actually, 3-on-3, that’s the big sport.”