Recently graduated University of Victoria Vikes鈥� star post player Chris McLaughlin signed his first professional contract with Basket Swans Gmunden in the Austria A Bundesliga on Monday.
It follows on the heels of former Vikes forward Terrell Evans also signing to play in Austria after finishing up his schooling in Victoria after completing his fifth year in the 2013-14 season.
McLaughlin, a six-foot-10 senior, just completed his fifth year with the Vikes, who finished fourth at the Canadian Interuniversity Sports championship in 2014-15, where he was selected as a first-team all star.
McLaughlin also competed with sa国际传媒鈥檚 development team at the World University Games in Korea, where he averaged 9.9 points and 4.6 rebounds, while shooting 60 per cent from field goal range and 79.2 per cent from the free-throw line.
鈥淚 am very excited to take the next step in my basketball career and pursue a professional career in Austria,鈥� McLaughlin said in a statement. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have been able to make it this far without the support from friends, family, coaches and my previous teammates who have pushed me over the last five years.鈥�
The move comes as no surprise, as McLaughlin was named the sa国际传媒 West Outstanding Player of the Year after finishing second in conference scoring with 19.8 points per game and third in rebounding with 10.0 rebounds per game.
鈥淥ne of the goals we have is to give our guys opportunities to play following their scholastic careers,鈥� Vikes head coach Craig Beaucamp said of both McLaughlin and Evans. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 actually three players now in the last four years, which we鈥檙e very proud of. We鈥檙e happy to see all of them extend their careers.鈥�
