Former Aggie Troy Gillenwater signs deal with professional team overseas
LAS CRUCES – Troy Gillenwater still has high hopes for the New Mexico State men’s basketball team.
“I think the sky is the limit for this year,” said Gillenwater, who left Las Cruces after three years to pursue a professional career. “Wendell (McKines) had a great summer and Hamidu (Rahman) got better and there a lot of young guys. We lose me and Gordo (Castillo) but we still have the core of the team with Wendell, Hamidu and Hernst (Laroche) who have all been to the NCAA Tournament. Those guys know what it takes to get back.”
Gillenwater will have to keep up with the Aggies from overseas this year.
Gillenwater signed earlier this week with a Top 5 Cyprus League club Apollon Limassol. He said he leaves for Cyprus on Sept. 10 and league play starts later this month.
“I’m excited about getting out there and getting back playing,” said Gillenwater, who left college averaging 15.2 points per game. “It’s going to be a little different than playing at New Mexico State. It’s going to be a culture change but I’m just adapting and hoping to play the best I can.”
NMSU announced that Gillenwater was forgoing his senior season in May. In June, Gillenwater took his name out of the NBA Draft prior to the NBA’s withdrawal deadline but after the NCAA’s early deadline in May – a decision that kept Gillenwater eligible for next year’s draft.
“This is just a big year,” Gillenwater said. “I can go over there and better myself as a player and come back into the 2012 draft and hopefully get drafted, which has been the goal since Day 1. I have just been working out and trying to prepare myself. I’m playing against grown men. There are a lot of older guys and I know it will be more physical.”
