DU Former Athletes Play PROFESSIONALLY Overseas

As I was watching the Bulls game last night with a friend, my inner journo came alive! I thought of my friends that graduated from DU last year now playing professional basketball overseas. Three of the five starters on 2007-2008 men's basketball team are now getting paid to play professional basketball. Mike Haiduc plays in Denmark. Jose Garcia plays in Mexico. Rashim Lettsome plays in the Virgin Islands. How cool is that??

Haiduc goes up for the rebound wearing his red Denmark jersey.



The 6'8" center from Chicago has received post-season recognition, numerous awards and was named to the 2007-2008 Northern Athletics Conference All-Conference 2nd team. Haiduc is a three-time all-conference player in the NAC.

Garcia, in his Dominican jersey, scored a total of 691 points in only two seasons as a DU Star.




The 6'2" guard from Kenosha, Wis. currently plays for a team in Mexico. Garcia ranked in the top 20 in the conference in scoring. He averaged 12.8 points per game. Garcia left Dominican as the all-time leading three-point shooter. Garcia, like Haiduc, also received post-season recognition.
Lettsome was nominated numerous times for the NAC's student athlete of the week while he played for Dominican.




Now, 6'1" Lettsome plays for the US Virgin Islands men's national basketball team. The point guard spoke with me on the phone last night about where he and his former teammates are.

"I'm really proud of Mike and Jose because we've worked really hard to be able to play at this level. I still keep in touch with former coaches and players because they've been with me all the way. I still wear my Dominican University Basketball t-shirt and people (including the media) always ask me about DU. It's cool!" Lettsome plans on playing with the Virgin Islands for the time being but hopes to move forward and play in Europe or a semi-pro US team. With his current team, the Eagles, Lettsome played tournaments this summer in Argentina, Brazil, China and the US. The Eagles qualified for the 2008 Olympic games. Lettsome hopes that the Virgin Islands will get another chance to win a medal at the 2012 games.

From left to right: Haiduc, Garcia, (Andre) Smith, Lettsome and (Kendall) Moore.

Former player, Andre Smith, was one of the starters last year. Smith said he talks to his international former teammates every other day. "I'm very, very proud of them. I still tell them to play hard."
As for this year's men's basketball team??? Smith, now assisting with coaching and managing, says the season looks promising. "We have a young team this year. Although we had more experience as a team last year, our talent this year looks really good."

Who knows? Maybe players from this season will play professionally overseas next year!! CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE, JOSE, SHIM AND ALL OTHER FORMER DU ATHLETES THAT REACHED FOR THE STARS AND ARE NOW PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY!

CHECK OUT THE DECEMBER 3RD ISSUE OF THE DOMINICAN STAR FOR MORE ON THE GUYS!!!!!!!!!!