Leading up to the men's basketball regular-season opener on Nov. 6, GoStanford.com will profile all 15 student-athletes on the team and learn more about their interests, experiences and goals.
In the 12th edition of our Cardinal Capsule series, we get to know sophomore Oscar da Silva from Munich, Germany.
What is something that most people don't know about you?
In my free time, I really enjoy fishing. If anyone knows good fresh water fishing spots near the Bay Area, let me know. Isaac and I have been here for a year now, but we don't know of any.
Tell us about your work with stem cell research in one of the labs at Stanford.
Dr. Longaker mentioned the research work to me on my visit here and I was really interested. I started working in the lab here on campus this past summer. I still work in the lab several times a week during the fall quarter, helping with experiments. I help prepare tissue samples, cut them, image them think about what happens in certain cells that are affected by disease. We inhibit certain cell functions and figure out what the inhibition does to the cell and how that can minimize diseases.
While you won't declare a major until your junior year, have you given any thought to a specific area of study?
I am pretty sure I am going to explore the biochemistry track as a biology major.
Tell us about your family.
My dad is from Brazil and my mom is from Germany. My dad moved to Germany, where he met my mom. That's where I was born and raised. My dad was a boxer in Brazil before he moved to Germany. Now, he owns a restaurant in Munich and puts most of his time into that. I have a younger brother, Tristan, who plays basketball as well. When I enrolled in school in the summer of 2017, that was my first year away from home.
What are the biggest differences from Munich to California?
I am bias, but I think the food in Germany is better. I miss the food from home. I have a greater variety of foods. My favorite dish is Schweinebraten, a classic Bavaria dish. It is roasted pork with potatoes and gravy.
Is it true you are fluent in six languages?
Yes. I learned German and Portuguese growing up and was taught English, Latin, Spanish and French in high school, which runs from fifth to 12th grade in Germany.
When did you first start playing basketball?
I was eight. I fell in love with it and have been playing ever since. I tried soccer when I was younger as well, but basketball took over pretty quickly.
Tell us about your experience playing with the German National Team.
I played with the Under 18 team in two different tournaments and the Under 19 team at the World Cup in 2017. Playing for the national team is a great experience. Anyone who gets a chance to do that, should certainly take advantage of the opportunity. Representing your country is an amazing feeling. In Eqypt, we had a chance to tour the Pyramids and see the Sphinx. I have made a lot of friendships and am still close with a lot of the guys from those teams. Two of them now play in the NBA with the Rockets (Isaiah Hartenstein) and the Lakers (Isaac Bonga). We actually played Isaac and the Australian team in the Albert Schweitzer Tournament. Little did I know several years later we would be roommates at Stanford.
Nickname?
When I first got here, people started calling me "O" and it has stuck.
Any significance behind the No. 13?
I have always had 13 when I played. It is known as a bad luck number, but I like it for that reason.
Any memorable experiences from last year that stick out to you.
The double overtime win over UCLA at home last year was one of the best games I have ever been a part of. There were so many key plays late in the second half and in overtime. It was so fun to be a part of and celebrate with my teammates at the end.