MOUNT VERNON — Troy DeVries’ world basketball tour has another stop.
The former Mount Vernon High School star has signed a contract to play with Plus Pujol Lleida in Spain’s Liga Española de Balconesto (LEB) Gold League, one of the highest levels of European basketball.
DeVries leaves Sunday to begin training camp. The season is about a month away.
“I’m really excited,” DeVries said. “The Lord has really blessed me, given me great opportunities. I keep getting these jobs.”
Since finishing his career at the University of New Mexico, DeVries has bounced all over the globe playing basketball. He spent a year in Germany and two seasons in Australia.
After finishing his latest season in Australia, he signed on with a team from the Ukraine for that team’s playoffs, finishing in mid-May. He later attended a basketball camp in Spain, an appearance that may have helped him get noticed by Plus Pujol Lleida, a team based in the western portion of the country.
“Honestly, I am so blessed,” DeVries said. “I think it’s the greatest job in the world. I cannot complain. The only hard thing is being away from close friends and family.”
DeVries was a starter on two Mount Vernon teams that reached the state finals, including the undefeated championship team of 2001.
He played one season at Portland State, but transfered to New Mexico during his sophomore year. He left college basketball as one of the Mountain West Conference’s all-time best 3-point shooters.
