Former UIndy athletes continue playing
Many collegiate athletes dream of one day making it to the professional leagues, however this is not a common reality among Division II athletes.
Although no recent graduate from the University of Indianapolis has made it to the big-leagues, many of its former players play overseas at the professional level or domestically at the semi-pro level.
Following a successful basketball career at the University of Indianapolis, class of 2005 graduate Amanda Davidson headed overseas to play professionally.
“While I was growing up, my main goal was to someday play overseas,” Davidson said. “I think the first time I really realized it was possible was going to a pro combine in Florida. It really sank in when I got the first contact with a coach overseas.”
Davidson is currently playing for a professional German basketball team, the Marburg Blue Dolphins.
She credited UIndy for helping her reach where she is today, including former head coach Teri Moran.
Davidson said Moran pushed her to be the best player she could be.
“When you have coaches that believe in you and push you, your confidence and your game gets to that next level, and these coaches did that,” Davidson said.
Basketball player David Logan ‘05 led the NCAA in scoring his senior year with a 28.6 point average. His performance earned him the NCAA Division II Player of the Year Award and All-America honors. He finished his collegiate career as the all-time leading scorer in UIndy and GLVC history, with 2,352 points.
Professionally, Logan recently led Asseco Prokom, a Polish professional basketball team, to the Polish League title. Logan was named MVP of the finals. He is now signed with Caja Laboral, a Spanish professional basketball club.
Deandre Brock ‘08, a former Greyhound basketball player, played overseas in Germany for Spot Up Medien Baskets Braunschweig.
“It was always a dream of mine to play after college,” Brock said. “I realized that I had what it took probably my sophomore year. It actually took a few months after I left UIndy to get the call from Germany.”
Brock went on to say that he credits the coaching staff and his teammates who helped him reach this level. To him, they were an extended family that he will never forget.
Eventually, he would like to get into coaching and share the knowledge he has of the game with younger athletes.
“There is nothing like getting paid for something you would do for free,” said Brock.
Former UIndy pitching standout Andrew Werner ‘09 agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres this year.
“I went undrafted out of UIndy, but after a really good year with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League, the Padres showed interest,” Werner said. “I went and worked out for them and when they told me they were signing me I almost lost it, definitely one of the best moments of my life.”
Werner will report to the Padres’ spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., this month before possibly being assigned to an affiliate.
“I would credit my whole team at UIndy, especially the guys on the team,” Werner said. “We were all really close, but we had so many good pitchers it made you push yourself if you wanted to get innings.”
According to an article in The Indianapolis Star submitted by UIndy President Beverley Pitts, each year, one-sixth of UIndy’s students will have the opportunity to participate in Greyhound athletics.
In the same article, Pitts acknowledged the “Life in the Balance” measure of the NCAA. It includes a reduction in the length of sport’s seasons in order to provide a more holistic educational experience and avoid sports seasons that dominate athletes’ academic schedules.
According to the NCAA website, Division II provides a healthy environment that leads to the student-athlete’s total personal development, while still presenting the athlete with the opportunity to go professional.
