Copperas Cove alum heads to the German Pro League

Sean Haney

Cove Leader-Press

Copperas Cove High School class of 2011 graduate Ricardo Artis II is going on to play basketball in a Pro League in Germany.

The 6-foot-6 forward from Copperas Cove, has racked up stats on the collegiate courts with teams since high school. He averaged 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.4 blocks per game with the Eastfield Harvester Bees in 2013-14. He scored double figures in 29 games, including a season-high 31 points in an 88-73 win over Anoka-Ramsey Community College in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III quarterfinals.

The following year he went on to play at McLennan Community College, where he averaged 12.9 points and 6.5 rebounds, while shooting 54.4 percent from the field.

He also played at Wiley College, where he led the Wildcats in points (527), rebounds (301) and steals (35) in 2016-17 before beginning a professional career.

Artis averaged 22.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals, while shooting 58.7 percent from the floor with the Enid Outlaws, which went 20-4 in the regular season to capture The Basketball League Central Division title. Artis reached double figures in 24 of the 26 games he appeared in. He scored a season-high 43 points in a win over the Rockwall 7ers and had 40 in a Central Conference Finals Game 2 playoff win over the Shreveport Mavericks in June.

“The route here was tough. I went through a lot of depression and second thoughts on if this career was even for me. I knew I always had to skill, I knew where my heart is, but the things I went through to get here were tough for me. I wanted to give up many times, but my heart wouldn’t let me,” Artis said. “I started off on b-team in the 9th grade at Copperas Cove High School, and had no scholarship offers out of high school. Then I went to Northlake College, a Division 3 school (2011-2012) in Irving, Texas with Coach Time McGraw.”

Artis said he was there, redshirted, sat out a year, and then almost went into the military with the Air Force before going to a basketball tryout in Mesquite, Texas with the Eastfield Harvesters, and Coach Fletcher.

It was at that tryout that things turned around for him.

“I was signed for 2012-2014 and played there one year before transferring to McLennan (Community College),” Artis said. “Funny thing is, I wanted to go to McLennan out of high school, but they didn’t accept me. So, when they finally wanted me, I went (2015-2016). After playing one year there I finished off at Wiley College (2016-2017). I only played three years on the court in college basketball and after that I went pro.” He said he entered the G league draft where he went undrafted, then played a few games with the Texas Legends before going to Mexico.

“After Mexico, I went to Canada in the NBLC where I was cut on the last day training camp with the Cape Breton Highlanders. I had many stunts with local semi-pro teams, to ABA with the Austin Bats and Newfoundland Rogues. Before going to play in the TBL league with the Dallas Skyline (2020-2021) and Enid Outlaws (2022), which led me to Hagen, Germany today.”

While he may have already played with a few semi -ro teams, Artis seems excited more about his current opportunity than previous ones and for obvious reasons.

“It’s a dream come true. When I was around 10 years old, my stepdad was in the military, and we were stationed in Germany for 3-4 years. My sister was even born there. To finally be able to get the opportunity to play overseas and my first playing opportunity is a place where I lived, is a blessing. Feels like it was meant to be.”

While being in the States for the majority of his life and for all of his career, Artis is looking forward to playing in Germany.

“I’m looking to give the team my all. My general manager mentioned that he wanted to make playoffs this year, but my goal is bringing a championship to SV Haspe. Everywhere I’ve gone recently in my pro years have been championship or bust. Although I’ve had successful seasons, I still haven’t accomplished that goal of winning a championship. Hopefully I can have that here in Hagen.”

Since arriving in Germany, Artis has noticed a change of pace in the competition there.

“I’m only in preseason right now but it’s competitive. It’s been good basketball being played. A few rule changes I have to get used to, but it’s been good so far. I’m grateful to be here.”

Although he’s been playing basketball for a while now there are some challenges that Artis is facing while playing basketball in a new country.

“There are a few rule changes and team huddles are different because it’s another language being spoken at times. But I’ve transitioned well so far and I’m looking to get more comfortable with things here and fitting right in.”

*Stats provided by Jim McCurdy*