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BURLINGTON, Vt. – Former Vermont Catamount Brian Voelkel has signed a contract with the Collie Crane Hire South West Slammers in Bunbury, Australia. He is the third player from the Class of 2014 to continue their basketball career at the professional level overseas, joining Clancy Rugg and Candon Rusin.
Voelkel will leave for Australia in February for the season that runs from February to August.
Voelkel graduated from Vermont as the school's all-time leader in rebounds (1,168) and assists (679). He is the only player in NCAA Division I men's basketball history with over 1,000 rebounds and 600 assists. He also left UVM as an all-time leader in games played (134) and consecutive games played (129).
Voelkel, the 2014 America East Defensive Player of the Year, helped the Catamounts win the America East Regular Season Title last year.
A two-time America East All-Conference First Team selection, Voelkel was the ninth player in America East history to reach the 1,000-rebound milestone and finished third among the all-time leaders. He also ranked fifth among the league's all-time assist leaders.
Voelkel, who was also named to the 2014 NABC Division I All-District Team, posted the first triple-double in conference tournament history last season. In Vermont's 77-60 quarterfinal win over New Hampshire, he finished the game with 10 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.
CATS IN THE PROS UPDATE
Joey Accaoui '11 - Tadamon (Lebanon-Division A) ... Season has not started yet
Marqus Blakely '10 - San Mig Coffe Mixers (Philippines-Season is April-September) ... Led team to the Grand Slam in the Philippine Basketball Association ... Team won all three conference tournaments last season ... Averaged 19.2 ppg, 15.6 rpg
Taylor Coppenrath '05 - Ford Burgos (Spain-LEB Gold) ... Team is 5-4 ... Averaging 12.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg ... Started all 9 games
Chris Holm '07 - Shiga Lakestarts (Japan-BJ League) ... Team is 11-3 ... Averaging 9.5 ppg, 11.6 rpg ... Started all 14 games
Clancy Rugg '14 - Musel Pikes (Luxembourg-Total League) ... Team is 6-5 ... Averaging 18.3 ppg, 12.0 rpg ... Started all 11 games
Candon Rusin '14 - Patrioti Levice (Slovakia-SBL) ... Team is 6-10 ... Played in four games ... Averaged 12 points, and shot 41.7 3FG%
Brian Voelkel '14 - Southwest Slammers (Australia) ... Season begins in February
