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AUCKLAND, New Zealand-Former Alaska-Anchorage standout Jeremiah Trueman has signed a professional contract with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League, the club announced recently.
A 6-9 center originally from Stratford, New Zealand, Trueman was the Seawolves' 2008-09 MVP after averaging 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.
"We're thrilled at this opportunity for Jeremiah," said UAA head coach Rusty Osborne. "When he transferred here two years ago, his goals were the win a championship, graduate, and go on to a professional career. Now he has done all three, and that speaks to his determined nature and high character."
As a senior last year, Trueman was the only player in NCAA Division II to rank in the top 25 of the national stats in both field-goal (.597) and free-throw (.870) percentage. He was an All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honorable mention pick, and claimed UAA's Most Inspirational Player and Jim Hajdukovich (physical toughness, endurance, court awareness) team awards.
"(Trueman is) another young New Zealander who I'm really looking forward to seeing grow," said Breakers head coach Andrej Lemanis in the team's press release. "Whilst I have watched plenty of tape, you never truly know what a returning college player will give until you see him in your environment. What I am certain of is his work ethic and personal qualities fit perfectly with our values and this is a great place to start. Given these attributes, what I have seen of him play, and the experience he has on the team from which to learn, I'm confident Jeremiah will grow into a quality player and another long-term Breaker."
At 22, Trueman is the youngest of the 10 players currently on the Breakers' veteran roster.
The Breakers play in the eight-team Australian National Basketball League, the region's top league. They finished third in the 2008-09 regular-season standings, losing in the semifinal round.
The 28-game NBL regular season begins in late September and runs through mid-February.
(Source Alaska-Anchorage) | 
