Huskers Add Three to List of Professional Athletes

Several former members of the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska basketball program will be in action this fall as they play professionally around the world, including three first-time players from recent NU rosters. Overall, 10 former Huskers are currently slated to play professionally this season, including three in the National Basketball Association: Tyronn Lue (Atlanta Hawks), Eric Piatkowski (Phoenix Suns) and Mikki Moore (New Jersey Nets). Piatkowski is one of the longest-tenured players in the NBA, as the veteran is entering his 13th season when camp opens this fall. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Brian Conklin, a letterwinner from 2001 to 2004, became the most recent addition to the Huskers’ growing list of professional players. Conklin joined Omniworld Almere in The Netherlands for his first professional season and opens play in the 20-team Dutch League in October. Omniworld is the same club that former Husker John Turek played for last season.

 

After ending his collegiate career, Conklin remained in Lincoln while working full-time with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Conklin quickly got back into playing shape this past spring and had workouts with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers before signing last week with Omniworld.

 

Conklin still ranks among the all-time best 3-point shooters in Nebraska history. The 6-11 center hit an astounding 55.9 percent (66-of-118) of his 3-point attempts as a senior to set the Big 12 Conference record. He also still ranks first in career 3-point percentage at Nebraska by hitting 43.2 percent (176-of-407) during his four years with the Big Red.

 

Also joining the professional ranks this season are former Huskers Wes Wilkinson and Jason Dourisseau, the co-MVPs for last year’s 19-win Husker squad that reached the Big 12 Championship semifinals.

 

Wilkinson, who worked out for multiple NBA teams and played in the 2006 Vegas Summer League for the Boston Celtics, joined his new club, Okapi Aalstar, in Belgium earlier this month. Last year, Wilkinson led Nebraska with 11.9 points per game and broke into the Huskers’ single-season top-10 list with 61 blocked shots. Wilkinson is the only rookie from the United States currently listed on Aalstar’s roster.

 

Dourisseau begins play with his EnBW Ludwigsburg squad in early October. The Omaha native joined the squad in August for training camp and is one of three newcomers from the NCAA ranks, along with OhioState’s Ja’Kel Foster and UtahState’s Nate Harris. Dourisseau averaged 11.3 points and 7.3 rebounds ? both second on the team ? for Nebraska last year.

 

Turek moved to MPC/Capitals Groningen after averaging 17.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.5 steal per game for Omniworld last year. Turek, who was also named to the Dutch League All-Star Game last season, joins a MPC/Capitals team that placed third in Group F of the FIBA EuroCup in 2006.

 

Other former Huskers who are signed to play professionally around the globe this year include Cookie Belcher (Bnei Hasharon-- Israel--Premier League), Andrew Drevo (Nanterre--France--Pro B) and Venson Hamilton (Real Madrid--Spain--ACB). Steffon Bradford, Kimani Ffriend, Nate Johnson, Marcus Neal, Tony Farmer and Larry Florence each played professionally as recently as last season.