Sebastian Zervas
 | |
| No. 5 – Albany Alphas | |
|---|---|
| Position | Bigfur |
| Species | Golden Jackal ( Canidae ) |
| Gender | Male |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
May 18, 2004 Millburn, NJ |
| Listed height | 7 ft 4 in (2.24 m) |
| Listed weight | 247 lb (112 kg) |
| Shoots | Left-handed |
| Career information | |
| School | Connecticut Canid University |
| FBA draft | 2024 / Round: 1 / Pick: 9th overall |
| Selected by the Albany Alphas | |
| Pro playing career | 2024–present |
| Career history | |
| 2024 - present | Albany Alphas |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Contract information | |
| Contract year | 2024 |
| 2026 Salary | $3 million |
| Player Contacts | |
| (IC) Agent | Faded |
| (OOC) Creator | Faded |
| (OOC) Actor | Unknown |
| (OOC) Usage | Ask me before any use |
Sebastian Zervas (Golden Jackal, born on May 18th, 2004) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Albany Alphas, who selected him 9th in the 2024 FBA Draft.
Biography
Early Life
Sebastian Zervas was born into a life of privilege in Millburn, New Jersey, as the second son of Alexis and Sophia Zervas. His family's roots stretch back to Greece, where his great-grandparents fled just before the turmoil of World War II. Having used their wealth and connections to escape, they settled in the United States and established a series of successful businesses. This post-war prosperity would secure generational wealth for the Zervas family.
Sebastian grew up alongside his older brother Elias, who was three years his senior. When Elias was diagnosed with leukemia at age eight. At just five years old, Sebastian struggled to comprehend the situation, but he quickly noticed that his parents' attention had shifted to Elias' medical needs. Even after Elias went into remission three years later, the dynamic remained with Elias seeming to take their primary focus. Sebastian might have grown to resent his older brother if not for one passion that brought the siblings closer together: basketball.
A Love for Basketball
Both Sebastian and Elias were avid fans of the Pride. Watching games together became a bonding activity during Elias' treatment. After Elias' recovery, the two brothers would finally be able to attend the games in person, often finding themselves courtside thanks to their father’s connections. It was during these formative years that Sebastian found himself in awe of basketball legends like Valencia Zeraus and Lance Freewell. The latter of whom Sebastian received a signed jersey of, courtesy his brother, for his 10th birthday, which Sebastian still has framed and on display.
Though there was heartbreak dealt by the Pride when they moved to Queens, it could not diminish his love of the sport, often finding himself practicing shooting drills with his brother on their backyard court his parents had installed. By the time he entered high school, Sebastian's basketball talent had become undeniable.
High School Years
Sebastian attended the prestigious private school where his brother Elias studied. As a freshman, he quickly earned a spot on the starting lineup. While not a rare achievement given the academic nature of the school, his athleticism and talent were clear from day one. With Elias as the team captain, the two shared one memorable season together on the court before the older brother would head to Templeton University.
As Sebastian continued to grow—both in stature and skill—he transitioned to the center position, towering over his teammates at an imposing 7 feet by the start of his junior year. Despite his size, Sebastian distinguished himself as a versatile player on the court. While not the most physical presence in the post, his size and speed made him a nightmare to get past and his shooting touch from mid-range and beyond set him apart from traditional bigfur.
Still he struggled to be known beyond “Elias' brother,” with teachers commenting on their time teaching him or his coach bringing up “what Elias would do” during practice. His parents were little help either, wrapped up in their first born heading to college and fretting over him being away from home. It was suffocating, being overlooked and Sebastian was in need of change.
Connecticut Canid University
Having long outgrown his brother, and wishing to step out of his older brother's shadow, Sebastian opted to carve his own path at Connecticut Canid University by accepting a full athletic scholarship instead of following in his brother's footsteps to Templeton University. While his parents would still chime in comparing him to his brother, Sebastian finally had the opportunity to be someone other than Elias’ younger brother.
Despite his imposing stature, Sebastian’s easygoing nature and charm helped him make friends quickly. However, freshman year wasn't without its hiccups. Getting caught up in the college social scene and not knowing his limits, he went a little too far partying with his friends. His coach was less than impressed and had Sebastian running extra suicide sprints for months after campus police had caught the jackal drunk at a party they had shut down on.
While he would still have the occasional drink while hanging out with friends, he chose to cut back the partying. The new freedom he found was exhilarating, but he had an underlying pressure to prove himself, one that took precedent and drove him in practice and games.
Sophomore Breakout
Sebastian's sophomore year is when things really began to click, he had reached his final height of 7'4"", and though his position remained center, his playstyle defied expectations. CCU's offense shifted to utilize his unique skill set—his ability to stretch the floor with his shooting from the perimeter, combined with his size, made him a defensive nightmare for opponents. Coaches would throw double teams at him, but his vision and passing ability meant that Sebastian was always one step ahead, creating open looks for his teammates; and if he did shoot, his 40.8% shooting from beyond the arc brought comparisons to FBA pros such as Serhan Tevetoğlu.
The pinnacle of Sebastian's college career came in the FCAA Tournament, when CCU faced off against powerhouse Atwood University. It was a game that would test Sebastian's skills and mental toughness. Down by double digits at halftime, Sebastian rallied the team with a combination of clutch shooting and key defensive stops. Despite his efforts, CCU fell short in a close loss, but it was the kind of performance that cemented him on the radar of FBA scouts.
Sebastian declared for the draft soon after the tournament wrapped. Now seeking to achieve something even his brother had failed to do, play on that stage that they had watched from the outside so long ago.
Stats
| Season | Team | G | Min | FGM | FGA | 3PtM | 3PtA | FTM | FTA | Off | Reb | Ast | TO | Stl | Blk | PF | Pts | MPG | FG% | TP% | FT% | RPG | APG | TPG | SPG | BPG | FPG | PPG | Ast/TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | ALB | 79 | 2342.4 | 497 | 1096 | 187 | 482 | 259 | 346 | 93 | 634 | 191 | 130 | 60 | 101 | 248 | 1440 | 29.7 | 0.453 | 0.388 | 0.749 | 8.0 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 18.2 | 1.5 |
| 2025-26 | ALB | 72 | 2233.4 | 454 | 1026 | 249 | 550 | 241 | 321 | 81 | 596 | 208 | 98 | 44 | 88 | 198 | 1398 | 31.0 | 0.442 | 0.453 | 0.751 | 8.3 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 2.8 | 19.4 | 2.1 |
| Career Total | 151 | 4575.8 | 951 | 2122 | 436 | 1032 | 500 | 667 | 174 | 1230 | 399 | 228 | 104 | 189 | 446 | 2838 | 30.3 | 0.448 | 0.422 | 0.750 | 8.1 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 18.8 | 1.8 |
No playoff stats found for Sebastian Zervas.