After switching agents, though, the high-leaping Little has landed a one-year contract with the UBC Tigers in Hannover, Germany. And he’ll play on the same club with one former teammate while competing in the same league against another.
London Warren also signed a one-year contract with the Tigers, while Rob Lowery, who shared point guard duties with Warren the past two seasons for the Flyers, will play in Kaiserslautern, Germany, for the Saar-Pfalz Braves.
On facing Lowery, Little said: “We’re not worried about him. London will take care of Rob.”
Little stayed in shape by working out and playing pick-up games, and he has trimmed down from 240 to 225 pounds.
“I definitely feel like I’m playing the best I ever have,” he said. “I’ve worked on my jumper a lot. The Europeans want their players to be versatile.”
The Braves finished third and the Tigers 12th last season in the 16-team ProA League, the second-highest professional level in Germany. Former UD star Brian Roberts just won a championship with the Brose Baskets in Basketball Bundesliga, the top league in Germany.
American players at the ProA level generally receive an apartment and car and about $2,500 per month during the season.
“You’ve got to start somewhere,” Little said. “It’s a good league. We just have to play how coach (Brian Gregory) taught us to play.”
The Tigers finished just 12-18 last season, while Lowery’s team had a 22-8 record.
“They told me they’re not looking for a superstar,” Lowery said. “They’re looking for someone to come in and run the team. They didn’t have that and still went 22-8.”
While Warren and Little will report in mid-August, Lowery has already moved to Kaiserslautern, which is about five hours away from Hannover.
“If you want to play basketball, you’ve got to go where basketball takes you,” Lowery said. “It’s a big step to go all the way across the world, but I wanted to keep basketball going. I’m a family type of guy, but my family understands I want to pursue my dream.”
Marcus Johnson, another player from UD’s Class of 2010, said he’s gotten pro offers from clubs in Austria, Germany and Italy but is still weighing his options.
Contact this writer at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@ DaytonDailyNews.com.
About the Author