Iup basketball

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Turns out the rumor was true. The new court has been installed inside the KCAC.

It's pretty nice. I'd call it 'modern' ... definitely a different look.

No idea what they are doing with the old one.

[Ship69]

Each case is different. If the player is from a family with money to help support him ... that's a whole different story than the player making $26k a year in Mongolia on his own.

I think it's largely a status thing for most. I'd assume most D2 guys over there know the Chicago Bulls aren't calling.

As mentioned, if you can get up to the upper levels the money is pretty decent.

That said, the vast majority we see go over to play are only there a year or two (if that).

Speaking of playing in Europe:

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Shippensburg University men’s basketball alumni Jake Biss ’21 and Carlos Carter ’23 have signed professional contracts with Eisbaren Bremerhaven, a team that plays in the second-tier circuit (Pro A) of professional basketball in Germany.

The two Raiders are already in Germany preparing for the team’s first preseason workouts, which begin tomorrow (Saturday, August 10).

Biss returns to the Pro A league after playing 18 games last season for Paderborn after recovering from an injury that kept him out at the start. He is reunited with his head coach from Paderborn, Steven Esterkamp, who took the head job at Bremerhaven in May.

The 2024-25 campaign will be his third season in professional basketball, as Biss also spent time in 2022 with the Den Helder Suns in The Netherlands.

“I’m excited to head back to Germany to continue my basketball career,” Biss said. “When I heard that Carlos was added to the roster I couldn’t wait to head over and get started. Having a familiar face and the great friend that Carlos is around will make things that much more enjoyable this season. We’re both looking forward to getting back on the court together and we’ll be sure to make Ship proud.”

Carter also returns to the Pro A league after playing 21 games last season for Muenster while also dealing with an injury. The 2024-25 campaign will be his second in professional basketball.

“I’m super excited and thankful for another opportunity to play the game I love!” Carter said. “I’m especially looking forward to teaming back up with Jake! It’s going to be a fun and great year.”

It is the third reported Raider men’s basketball alumni signing of the summer thus far, as Dustin Sleva ’18 joined Turkish club Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul in late June.

Biss, the 2019-20 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Athlete of the Year and a 2020 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District honoree, completed his SU career ranked third in school history in career three-pointers (212), sixth in career assists (391), eighth in career free-throw percentage (.802), and ninth in career points (1,484). He is a three-time All-PSAC Eastern Division First Team selection.

Carter, the 2022-23 PSAC Eastern Division Athlete of the Year and a 2023 NABC All-District honoree, finished his collegiate career with 1,339 points, which ranks 15th in program history.

About Bremerhaven and “Pro A”

Bremerhaven is a port city in northern Germany approximately 40 miles northwest of Bremen. Hamburg is two hours to the east. Eisbaren translates to “ice bears,” or as we know them, polar bears – the team’s mascot.

The “Pro A” league is similar to most European leagues in that it has promotion and relegation. The Top 2 teams at the end of the league state are promoted to the top-flight German league – Basketball Bundesliga (BBL), while the two lowest teams in the standings are relegated to “Pro B.”

- SU -

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Other than some kind of non-basketball related incident, it's hard to believe they could lose him at this point.

I guess we'll know for sure when Joe allows them to post the roster at about 4:30 p.m. opening night.

[Ship69]

Can't speak for the actual poster above but I can say for sure Garvin was here as of July. So, if something happened, it had to have just happened.

I'm not the 'most' connected person but I'm pretty connected. I haven't heard a single thing.

Other than some kind of non-basketball related incident, it's hard to believe they could lose him at this point.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Don’t leave us hanging. Those of us with no inside sources want to know what’s up.

Can't speak for the actual poster above but I can say for sure Garvin was here as of July. So, if something happened, it had to have just happened.

I'm not the 'most' connected person but I'm pretty connected. I haven't heard a single thing.

[Chuck Norris]

Have I missed something - what's happened to Garvin Clarke. Is he still with the programme?

Don’t leave us hanging. Those of us with no inside sources want to know what’s up.

[IUPalum]

Have I missed something - what's happened to Garvin Clarke. Is he still with the programme?

If you got info, spit it out!

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Have I missed something - what's happened to Garvin Clarke. Is he still with the programme?

He was as of June. Jesus what now?

[Cobra Hawks]

Have I missed something - what's happened to Garvin Clarke. Is he still with the programme?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Agree with all of that. I don't begrudge anyone for doing it. I just don't necessarily know that there is financial benefit from it for a lot of them, compared to just using their degree and starting their career. That's just me though. If you do it for a year or two, I think that's probably low risk in the long run. If you hang on, that could be a bad decision.

But again, to each their own.

Each case is different. If the player is from a family with money to help support him ... that's a whole different story than the player making $26k a year in Mongolia on his own.

I think it's largely a status thing for most. I'd assume most D2 guys over there know the Chicago Bulls aren't calling.

As mentioned, if you can get up to the upper levels the money is pretty decent.

That said, the vast majority we see go over to play are only there a year or two (if that).

[IUP24]

I think part of it is kids’ minds are still functioning more like a college athlete than someone who’s been a working professional or “real” adult. There’s probably still a dream there that they’ll get noticed combined with being able to say “I played pro ball” and not being quite ready to move on. Most of these guys will have been playing for between 15-20 years and it has been a big part of their lives and it’s just hard to shut it off if there are still opportunities. As you point out though, there might be a price to be paid down the line.

Some might also have the luxury of not having to “adult” right away. If that’s the case, cool. I know I was sweating bullets when I graduated knowing student loans would be coming due and I needed to get a big boy job fast. That’s not the case for a lot of these high level players that were on scholarship. As far as that goes, have fun for as long as you can, although I’m not sure playing in Ukraine would be a whole lot of fun these days.

Agree with all of that. I don't begrudge anyone for doing it. I just don't necessarily know that there is financial benefit from it for a lot of them, compared to just using their degree and starting their career. That's just me though. If you do it for a year or two, I think that's probably low risk in the long run. If you hang on, that could be a bad decision.

But again, to each their own.

[IUP24]

Did you make 70-80k in your first job out of college? That’s a lot of money in professional basketball for rookies with the exception of NBA/fringe NBA guys.

Personally, I wouldn’t want to be playing for 25k when I’m 30 years old, but doing so for a couple years after college isn’t going to cripple you financially. You start your working career at 25 instead of 23. At least that’s how I look at it.

I didn't make quite that much. But I think what I was making in my first year out of college was probably far more than what guys in these down the line leagues are making.

Like I said.. To each their own. I just would like to have a clearer understanding of what the salaries are in some of these places. As you said, you aren't going to get crippled financially if you quit when you realize it's over. I know somebody who couldn't give up the dream. He would have been far better joining the workforce at 23.

[IUPHawks24]

I am perhaps in a different camp than everyone else. If you are in a league where you are making 100k+, then that's pretty darn good. I would even say, 70-80k too. That is probably worth doing. But I also wonder what the actual salary of some of these down the line leagues are. Totally recognizing that there are some deals where you can get meal stipends, or some living expenses covered. I also wonder what the dollar figure is for a lot of these guys to just sit there and say, "this isn't worth it."

I've made a similar post here before when this topic has popped up and most have vehemently disagreed with me. That's okay. I get your athletic career is limited and the opportunities to get paid to play a sport are here and gone in a flash. All that said, if you are making less playing overseas than you are starting your career in your profession, is that really worth it? To me, saying you get to live in Croatia for 10 months isn't. But that's my personal decision. I'm just curious at what some of these lower tier leagues are actually paying. But that's certainly not to disparage anyone playing in those leagues.

I went to high school with somebody who ended up playing hockey professionally in the Southern Professional Hockey League. That's a pro hockey league that is the 4th tier of pro hockey in North America (NHL, AHL, ECHL), but is unaffiliated (unlike the AHL and ECHL). You are simply playing because you are holding out hope that your dream is going to eventually be fulfilled. The decision to do that set him back financially. A lot.

Did you make 70-80k in your first job out of college? That’s a lot of money in professional basketball for rookies with the exception of NBA/fringe NBA guys.

Personally, I wouldn’t want to be playing for 25k when I’m 30 years old, but doing so for a couple years after college isn’t going to cripple you financially. You start your working career at 25 instead of 23. At least that’s how I look at it.

[EyeoftheHawk]

I am perhaps in a different camp than everyone else. If you are in a league where you are making 100k+, then that's pretty darn good. I would even say, 70-80k too. That is probably worth doing. But I also wonder what the actual salary of some of these down the line leagues are. Totally recognizing that there are some deals where you can get meal stipends, or some living expenses covered. I also wonder what the dollar figure is for a lot of these guys to just sit there and say, "this isn't worth it."

I've made a similar post here before when this topic has popped up and most have vehemently disagreed with me. That's okay. I get your athletic career is limited and the opportunities to get paid to play a sport are here and gone in a flash. All that said, if you are making less playing overseas than you are starting your career in your profession, is that really worth it? To me, saying you get to live in Croatia for 10 months isn't. But that's my personal decision. I'm just curious at what some of these lower tier leagues are actually paying. But that's certainly not to disparage anyone playing in those leagues.

I went to high school with somebody who ended up playing hockey professionally in the Southern Professional Hockey League. That's a pro hockey league that is the 4th tier of pro hockey in North America (NHL, AHL, ECHL), but is unaffiliated (unlike the AHL and ECHL). You are simply playing because you are holding out hope that your dream is going to eventually be fulfilled. The decision to do that set him back financially. A lot.

I think part of it is kids’ minds are still functioning more like a college athlete than someone who’s been a working professional or “real” adult. There’s probably still a dream there that they’ll get noticed combined with being able to say “I played pro ball” and not being quite ready to move on. Most of these guys will have been playing for between 15-20 years and it has been a big part of their lives and it’s just hard to shut it off if there are still opportunities. As you point out though, there might be a price to be paid down the line.

Some might also have the luxury of not having to “adult” right away. If that’s the case, cool. I know I was sweating bullets when I graduated knowing student loans would be coming due and I needed to get a big boy job fast. That’s not the case for a lot of these high level players that were on scholarship. As far as that goes, have fun for as long as you can, although I’m not sure playing in Ukraine would be a whole lot of fun these days.

[IUP24]

I am perhaps in a different camp than everyone else. If you are in a league where you are making 100k+, then that's pretty darn good. I would even say, 70-80k too. That is probably worth doing. But I also wonder what the actual salary of some of these down the line leagues are. Totally recognizing that there are some deals where you can get meal stipends, or some living expenses covered. I also wonder what the dollar figure is for a lot of these guys to just sit there and say, "this isn't worth it."

I've made a similar post here before when this topic has popped up and most have vehemently disagreed with me. That's okay. I get your athletic career is limited and the opportunities to get paid to play a sport are here and gone in a flash. All that said, if you are making less playing overseas than you are starting your career in your profession, is that really worth it? To me, saying you get to live in Croatia for 10 months isn't. But that's my personal decision. I'm just curious at what some of these lower tier leagues are actually paying. But that's certainly not to disparage anyone playing in those leagues.

I went to high school with somebody who ended up playing hockey professionally in the Southern Professional Hockey League. That's a pro hockey league that is the 4th tier of pro hockey in North America (NHL, AHL, ECHL), but is unaffiliated (unlike the AHL and ECHL). You are simply playing because you are holding out hope that your dream is going to eventually be fulfilled. The decision to do that set him back financially. A lot.