Former D3 players playing professionally

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I as in Belfast a few months ago; Lisburn is a suburb, well they don't really have suburbs in Europe, but its a very close lying town.

[hugenerd]

Eliot Goren (Carnegie Mellon '05) is playing for TS Goeppingen of the German Regionalliga.  He transfered at the new year (2007) from Montenegro Mogren which is a 1st league team (in Montenegro). He has also played previously for the Manchester Magic of England (whose owner has been in the news recently, John Amaechi).

[b4the3isme]

Sean Murphy from RIT (Rochester Tech) is playing for the Buffalo Silverbacks of the ABA.

[Matt Letourneau]

Former Catholic University All America Matt Hilleary is over in Ireland, playing for the Mustang Sally St. Paul's in Killarney.

His coach described him this way:
Mathew Hilleary is another American we have brought in and he is my Bosman player. He is 6" 7' and is an Irish American. He was with a Catholic University, which is a division three team in the States and Matthew has very good credentials.


"He is very athletic, has a very good brain for the game and I am expecting him to be a key player for us this season.


Seems like he's doing well--I couldn't find stats but I did see that he had 30 in some game recently. 

[Cards7580]

from the Plattsburgh State Web-site

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Former Plattsburgh State forward Kris Gibbs-Smith (Rochester/John Marshall High School) has signed a professional contract to play in the Philippine Basketball Association this season, starting in February through June.  He will play in a Sta Lucia Realtors uniform under head coach Alfrancis Chua. Financial terms of the contract that is renewable each year were not disclosed, but the league does provide an apartment, car and meals for its players.

"It's a great feeling to make this deal a reality and to know that I have an opportunity to play basketball at an international level," Gibbs-Smith said.  "I'm going to be making a living doing something that I love to do, and getting to travel the world is a dream come true.  The time I spent in the gym working out is paying off in great dividends.

"The PBA is a great league because of the fan interest and high TV ratings.  Teams play in front of 10-to-18,000 people on a nightly basis," he added.  "I'll be living in Manila, a modern city with many amenities.  I look forward to continuing to work hard and win pro games, and hopefully take Sta Lucia to a championship like in Plattsburgh."

The 6-foot-6 Gibbs-Smith (#44) was a two-year standout for the Cardinals from 2004 to 2006, averaging 15.2 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field in 53 career games.  He saved his best performance during his senior year when he helped lead the program to its first State University of New York Athletic Conference championship since 1979 in February and a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time in 11 years, earning consensus all-region accolades from D3hoops.com, National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Eastern College Athletic Conference.  He ranked second in the SUNYAC in scoring (18.2 ppg) to capture first-team all-conference honors and was named the most valuable player of last year's conference tournament.

"I'm happy and pleased for Kris becoming a professional basketball player," said Plattsburgh coach Tom Curle, "but I'm more proud that he came back to school in the fall to complete 21 credits and earn his undergraduate degree.  He's a talented player who's worked hard to get this career opportunity for himself.  It won't be an easy road, but I have every confidence that he'll do well in the pro ranks.  More importantly, he'll learn about other cultures and obtain opportunities that the average college graduate doesn't get to do."

Gibbs-Smith played his first two collegiate seasons at Division II Mansfield (Pa.) University, where he averaged 6.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

[abominable_snowman]

I started a new topic because I missed it this first time around.  But here are some updates from MIAC land.

In the spirit of Werner (WIAC) Joining the packers...

Isaac Rosefelt is playing in Cordoba Spain
Bryan Schnettler is playing in the ABA for Rochester MN.

[wooscotsfan]

Congratulations to Wooster's All American Tom Port who will be playing pro basketball for the Thor Basketball Club in Iceland this season.  The Thor Club plays in Iceland's Express League so perhaps Tom Port can throw a few dunks down on the Icelanders.      Of course, he is pretty good at draining three pointers and cleaning the glass as well!  Good luck to Port!

Here is a link to the full story: http://athletics.wooster.edu/mb/news/2006-07/port_iceland.php

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm jealous.  I really want to move to Iceland, but the wife is, as yet, unconvinced.  I suspect Port will do quite well there.

[Gregory Sager]

I'm jealous.  I really want to move to Iceland, but the wife is, as yet, unconvinced.  I suspect Port will do quite well there.

HF, if you move to Iceland, leave the wife behind. It's the hot babe capital of the world. A quick Google study by yours truly finds that the reputation of Icelandic women fuels all sorts of endeavors, from airline package tours to attend the Miss Iceland pageant to travel agencies booking bachelor-party blowouts in the Land of Ice and Fire.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Well, I guess we've finally got an insight into Sager's view of the sanctity of marriage now don't we.

[sludge]

Brandon Adair (Virginia Wesleyan '07) is playing in Germany for Villingen-Schwenningen.  Here's a link:

http://www.vwc.edu/athletics/news/index.php?sport=mbb&disp=1916

Adair was NABC DIII National Player of the Year in 2006, Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) POY in 2006, two-time all-American, and numerous other honors.

Wishing him the best.

[Gregory Sager]

Well, I guess we've finally got an insight into Sager's view of the sanctity of marriage now don't we.

I guess that you missed my invisible smiley face. OK, fine ... I'll go back to the yellow ones.

[dblock]

NYU C/F Jason Boone ('07) is currently playing professionally in Berlin, Germany for SSV LOK BERNAU.

[eastcoast]

Also from NYU, Mike DeCorso (07) is playing in Ireland for the Cork Neptunes.

[abominable_snowman]

Anybody know of any studies/comparisons of the European leagues?