George Washington University Athletics
John Kopriva: Basketball (and Medicine) Man
1/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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In 2011, long before he was #DrJohn or planning a career in medicine, John Kopriva was a star forward at Milwaukee's Marquette University High School confronted with a decision - either keep his Letter of Intent to the University of Vermont, or honor his commitment to Mike Lonergan, the new men's basketball head coach at George Washington.
Almost four years later, Kopriva does not waver on the path he chose.
"I know it was the right decision. I knew it was the right decision even before the success of last year," says Kopriva of GW's 24 wins and trip to the NCAA Tournament during his junior season in 2013-14. "I love Washington, D.C. I have met amazing people, and I have been able to compete at the highest level of college basketball."
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Since arriving in Foggy Bottom in fall 2011, Kopriva has helped set the tone for the men's basketball program as a student-athlete who mirrors both the values of the Athletics Department and Coach Lonergan - determination, commitment and respect, both on and off the court.
"John's been a big part of us getting this program back on track," said Coach Lonergan. "He's such an impressive young man and he really embodies everything that we look for in a student-athlete - great student, great character, and a very good basketball player."
On the court, Coach Lonergan cites Kopriva's leadership abilities and work ethic: "He's been an ambassador for our program, probably only the second three-year captain I've ever had in any of my coaching positions. Yet despite being pre-med and maintaining a very high grade-point average, he's always been able to find time in the gym on his own to help him expand his game."
The added dimensions to his game have been on display several times early in his senior season in 2014-15. After not attempting a three pointer in his first three seasons as a Colonial, Kopriva hit two in GW's opening four games in an effort to spread out defenses for frontcourt teammate Kevin Larsen. Against Longwood on Nov. 26, Kopriva hit one of those triples en route to a career-best 19 points.
"It's nice to see him in his senior year start to reach his potential and take advantage of the opportunity he has to get more playing time," said Coach Lonergan. "He should feel really good about our recent success and hopefully he'll be a part of any success we have this year."
He's had an impact in the community as well, spearheading GW Athletics' effort with Lemonade Day DC and Paul Charter School to teach business and entrepreneurial basics in the form of lemonade stands to district youth. For those efforts he's been recognized as a GW Community Service Student-Athlete of the Month and was nominated for the 2013-14 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Allstate Good Works Team.
In the classroom, the chemistry major has been a model student, earning status on GW's Athletics Academic Dean's List every semester of his career, including two semesters with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Last year, he was selected to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team, further distancing GW men's basketball as the most decorated academic program in league history.
That groundwork was laid by former GW men's basketball student-athletes like Steve Frick, Mike Samson and Mike Zagardo. Those three blazed similar paths in basketball and medicine at GW in the 1970s and 80s, and have served as mentors to Kopriva.
"It was great to know that it had been done before, it helped give me confidence in the beginning," said Kopriva. "The former GW players who are now doctors have been nothing but encouraging to me, and they are men that I look up to."
That built-in network is one of the biggest takeaways from GW for Kopriva. "I think the local sense of community and the worldwide network I now have and will continue to develop because of GW, specifically the Athletics Department, will be huge for my future. I plan on being a doctor, but there is still a long way to go before I truly become 'Dr. John,' so I hope to use the network each step of the way."
Kopriva has been at the forefront of the renewed emphasis of the student-athlete at GW and in many ways is a tangible symbol of the #RaiseHigh mantra. Now, as his collegiate career enters its final semester, he has an appreciation for what those words have meant to him and will mean to him throughout life beyond GW.
"Hearing #RaiseHigh elicits many great memories and hopefully this season adds even more to it. In terms of living out the motto #RaiseHigh, I see it as the mindset to never settle for less than your best. Raising up both those around you and yourself to be the best will produce great results, on and off the court."
