Devine Eke, a 2014 graduate of Union Catholic, has signed at contract to play basketball professionally in Spain
UC graduate Devine Eke signs to play basketball professionally in Spain
Devine Eke, who a starred on the basketball court during his days at Union Catholic, signed a contract on Tuesday to play professionally for Palencia Baloncesto in Spain.
Eke, a 2014 graduate of UC, is joining a team that plays in the Liga Española de Baloncesto (also known as LEB Oro), which is the second basketball division of the Spanish Basketball League.
The 6-8, 205-pound Eke is a tenacious rebounder, and a strong rim protector, who will reinforce Palencia Baloncesto's inside game from the power forward position.
Eke, who turns 25 on July 29, said this is the opportunity he's been waiting for.
"With COVID last year, there really weren't any opportunities to get to play overseas, said Eke. "So playing in a pro league is something I've been waiting a long time for, and I think it's a great fit for me. They (Palencia Baloncesto) like to run up and down the court, and play tough defense, and that's perfect for how I like to play.''
Eke, who said he's had workouts with the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and the Chicago Bulls, said this is all part of chasing his dream of one day playing in the NBA.
"This is a big step in the right direction for me,'' said Eke, who is from Plainfield. "I want to show them what I can do and then hopefully get a chance to play in the ACB, which is the top pro league in Europe, and then maybe get a shot to make it to the NBA. That's my goal, and I'm going to work as hard as I can to try to make it happen.''
Eke credits his years at Union Catholic for shaping him into the player and person he is today.
"Union Catholic is where it all started for me,'' said Eke. "Union Catholic is like home, and everyone there is like family to me. I wouldn't be where I am now without Union Catholic.''
Palencia Baloncesto coach Pedro Rivero said Eke has a unique skill set, and should be able to help his team in several areas.
"He's a physically very powerful player,'' said Rivero. "He is capable of defending all five positions. He runs the court very well and has many details regarding defense. He is capable of intimidation, he is able to rebound very well and get out with the ball. We believe that he is one of those glue players who lends a hand in everything that is needed''
Eke's journey to become a professional player has included several stops along the way.
After he earned a spot on the All-Union County First Team as a senior in 2014 when he averaged 16 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game for UC, Eke appeared in all 30 games, making 22 starts as a freshman at the University of Maine, where he led the team with 6.8 rebounds per game, field goal percentage (.612), and blocks per game (1.6). His 9.5 points per game was fourth on the team.
Eke then transferred to Rider University where he played for two seasons (2017-18/2018-19). In 2019-20, Eke played as a graduate student at Radford University in Virginia. At Radford, Eke led the team with 222 rebounds (7.2 per game) and 26 blocks, and he shot 60.8 percent from the field.
