Florida Atlantic stunned the college basketball world by advancing to the Final Four with a win over Kansas State on Saturday night. Their Russian big man is a big reason why.
Vladislav Goldin, a sophomore from Nalchick, Russia, was dominant against the Wildcats. He has been a standout player in his first season with the Owls, averaging 10.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
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So, who is Vladislav Goldin? And how did he end up in Boca Raton, Fla.? Here's everything you need to know about the FAU big man who's on his way to the Final Four:
Where is Vladislav Goldin from?
Goldin was born in Nalchick, Russia, a city in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains near the border with the nation of Georgia. His basketball career began with the CSKA Moscow Junior Team in Russia's capital city, and he represented Russia at the U-18 Euro Championship and U-19 World Cup.
He moved to the United States in high school and played for Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. He was high school teammates with guard Hassan Diarra, who now plays for UConn. The two could potentially face each other in the national championship.
Coming out of high school, he was ranked as a three-star prospect by 247Sports and the second-best player in Connecticut for the recruiting class of 2020.
MORE: C-USA teams in the Final Four: FAU joins elite NCAA Tournament company
How did Vladislav Goldin end up at Florida Atlantic?
The 7-1, 240-pound Goldin initially committed to play his college ball at Texas Tech. He came off the bench 10 times for the Red Raiders, averaging 1.9 points and 1.0 rebound per game as a freshman.
He entered the transfer portal after one season in Lubbock, ultimately choosing to play under head coach Dusty May at FAU. In his first year with the Owls, he averaged 6.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as the team finished 19-15.
MORE: Lowest seeds to make Final Four: FAU becomes only the second 9-seed to reach national semifinals
This season, he is averaging 10.2 points and 6.4 rebounds. He played a major role in the Owls' Elite Eight victory on Saturday, with 14 points and 13 rebounds against Kansas State.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC IS BACK IN FRONT 🔥#MarchMadness @FAUMBB pic.twitter.com/csoVKnqPfu
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 26, 2023
Vladislav Goldin stats
| Season | Team | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG |
| 2020-21 | Texas Tech | 4.7 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
| 2021-22 | Florida Atlantic | 17.7 | 6.8 | 4.9 | 0.3 |
| 2022-23 | Florida Atlantic | 20.8 | 10.2 | 6.4 | 0.4 |
