Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

During his freshman year at Cal State Fullerton, Victor Panov was feeling lost.

It wasn’t because of homesickness. Unlike most college freshmen, Panov was familiar with living away from home. A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, Panov relocated during high school to play basketball in the United States.

Panov has never struggled in basketball. Yet after committing to Cal State Fullerton out of high school, he was set to fulfill his dream of playing Division I basketball. But when he stepped on the court, the ball wouldn’t go in the net.

“My freshman year, I struggled on the court and off the court,” Panov said. “At the end of the year, I was just like, ‘Alright, I need a change, I need to take a step back to take a step forward.’”

Panov played 11 games at Cal State Fullerton, averaging just 1.4 points per game and shooting 22.7% from the field. After that turbulent freshman year, he transferred to Daytona State, a junior college. He regained his confidence with the Falcons, jumping to Drexel for his junior year and starting 32 of its games. Now a senior, Panov averages 8.3 points per game as the Dragons’ only returning starter, and he’ll bring that to Drexel’s next matchup with Syracuse Saturday.

After years of work, Panov has finally become comfortable playing basketball. But at first, basketball wasn’t even on his radar. When he was young, Panov played hockey, skied, figure skated and even did jiujitsu and judo for several years. He hated basketball at first.

Then, after attending a basketball tournament in Estonia as a 10-year-old, Panov realized he enjoyed it. He immediately discovered he had an advantage: he was taller than everyone else. Panov eventually committed to basketball, and at age 17, he moved to the U.S. to play AAU ball in Pennsylvania.

Victor Panov dribbles around a defender in while playing for the Russian National Team. Panov played seven games for Russia in the 2019 U16 FIBA European Championship. Courtesy of Drexel Athletics

Just like at Cal State Fullerton, he initially struggled to adapt. His move to America coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic’s emergence, so he barely played in his junior year of high school. So, he moved south to Daytona, Florida, to play at DME Academy.

He once again had to adapt. Panov had to adjust to an American style of basketball.

“As an international player, you either accept it and you succeed at the end of the day, or you just refuse to adapt to that mindset and just have to go back and play European basketball,” Panov said.

So, he adapted, resetting his career at DME Academy, where Daytona State head coach Joey Cantens first saw Panov play. Cantens tried to recruit Panov out of DME, but he’d improved too much. Panov had a stellar year, averaging 17 points and seven rebounds per game. It netted him several Division I offers, eventually landing him at Cal State Fullerton.

However, Panov struggled once he got to California. He averaged just 7.2 minutes per game in his 11 contests and deeply struggled to score. It was a massive disappointment for Panov.

“As athletes in general, you put all of your identity in your sport,” Panov explained. “And my whole identity was in my sport at the time.”

With his shots not falling, he said he started to feel depressed, bleeding into his life away from basketball.

He decided to move on from Cal State Fullerton. Panov found his way back to Daytona, this time to play under Cantens at Daytona State. The school instantly felt like a better fit.

“We just boosted his confidence again, and we gave him freedom to play,” Cantens said.

Daytona State’s playstyle prepared Panov to play at Drexel. Cantens allowed Panov to play on both the inside and outside, shoot 3s, dribble and pass. He shot 56% from the floor, averaging 13.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

He rediscovered his love for basketball at Daytona State, helping to develop his already-high IQ and his confidence as a playmaker.

“He had a lot of joy playing that way,” Cantens said. “We got the best version of him, giving him freedom to play as a big guy.”

Everything fell into place after that. Panov helped Daytona State to a 28-4 record in 2023-24, and after his successful season, he started the recruitment process again after spending the maximum two years there. He took a trip back to Pennsylvania to visit Drexel and committed on the spot.

Victor Panov shoots over a defender in Drexel’s exhibition contest against Lafayette. Panov is averaging a career-high 8.3 points per game through three games this season. Courtesy of Drexel Athletics

It was the perfect fit. Drexel head coach Zach Spiker was involved with Panov’s recruitment, explaining to Panov Drexel’s playstyle and family atmosphere. As an international player who lacked the support systems of a typical college player, forging strong connections with his teammates and coaches was hugely important to Panov.

“At the Division I level, you really don’t meet people that deeply care about you,” Panov said. “I think here, they actually look at us as human beings. They try to get to know us better, I can talk to them as my friends, and it’s just really what sold it for me.”

Drexel became a nurturing environment for Panov. It taught him to weather the ups and downs. He did that by embracing his faith, which Panov felt made him a better person and basketball player.

The impact was immediate. Panov was a consistent presence in Drexel’s starting five, averaging 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds, shooting 71% from the free throw line and 47% from the floor. He’s physical on the floor while using his size and IQ to make plays.

“He’s a really good passer, he has good vision,” Spiker said. “He’s just a very tough, very well-rounded basketball player.”

Panov’s current playstyle mirrors the one that first attracted Cantens to him back at DME Academy. He constantly controlled the perimeter and made high-IQ plays. He learned not to focus on the outcome of each game, instead staying grounded and honing in on his personal growth.

His growth throughout that junior year prepared him to take a senior-year leap. Through three games, Panov has increased his scoring, rebound and steals averages from last season. After this year, Panov isn’t sure what’s next for him.

But at Drexel, Panov says the Dragons like to focus on one game at a time — that’s it. He’s gotten everyone to sacrifice everything to win games, and everything will fall into place from there.

“I just want to get as much out of these guys as I can,” Panov said.

Published on November 13, 2025 at 1:08 am
Contact Fiona: fmchugh@syr.edu