NAMPA, Idaho – Talk to Marko Lepovic for a few minutes and it is easy to see why his coach, Paul Rush, calls him an "old soul."

Lepovic, a Northwest Nazarene University men's basketball senior, is wise beyond his years.

Maybe it's from living in three countries or the sacrifices his parents made for him or from experiencing violence at a young age.

Whatever it is, Lepovic has a will to succeed whether on the basketball court or in the classroom.

"I know my priorities," said Lepovic, who is fluent in five languages and can communicate in two more. "I know why I'm here. I didn't come here to hang out, I came to get things done; to finish what I came for … to get an education."

Lepovic will play his final two home games this weekend as NNU (11-11 overall, 7-9 GNAC) hosts Western Oregon on Thursday and Concordia on Saturday. Both games are at 7 p.m.

"Marko's approach to his day-to-day requirements – whether on the court, in the classroom or with the Norwegian National Team," Rush said, "show a level of maturity and organization that is unique and gives a glimpse into the type of man he is."

Lepovic lived in Kragujevac, Serbia, for nine years before war and constant bombing pushed his parents to make the difficult decision to leave their home country and move to Norway.

"As a kid, you are aware of certain things," he said. "You don't see as much as adults see or experience, but those memories don't fade away that is for sure. You hear things. You feel things."

His mom, a doctor, and his dad, an engineer, moved to Norway not knowing the language but wanting to provide a better life for their children.

That sacrifice is part of what drives Lepovic to succeed in school and get his degree. He was recently named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference all-academic team and has a 3.91 grade point average. He is double majoring with a BS in global business and management.

"My parents gave me an opportunity and I cannot disappoint them," he said. "I'm doing it for myself, but at the same time I'm doing it for them. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be able to be here. Their support is just tremendous."

Neither of Lepovic's parents played basketball, instead he learned the game by attending his older brother's practices in Norway. After graduating from high school in Norway, he wanted to pursue an education in America, so he attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for a transition year to help get him ready for college.

After spending a year at Modesto Junior College in California, he was recruited to Nampa, where he immediately hit it off with the other athletes on campus.

From fellow Serbians Nikola Prvulj (basketball) and Alex Mitrovic (soccer), to Norwegian Bouna N'Diaye (basketball) to study partner and fellow basketball transfer Dylan Brink.

"We are both pretty hard-working students, so we spent a lot of time in the library together studying," said Brink, a fellow senior playing in his final home games this week. "Being diligent and having someone else who is diligent helps you be accountable."

Which Lepovic is on and off the court.

He hopes to get into coaching in the future and it is something his current coach thinks is more than possible.

"Regardless of what is going on in practice, you will both see and hear Marko coaching up his teammates," Rush said. "Many players know how to innately play the game, but few really understand the philosophy deeply enough to vocalize what, when and why they are doing what they are doing on the court.

"Marko's 'old soul' has somehow grasped the game at such a deep level that he not only has developed this knowledge, he is able to communicate it as well."