Throughout his exceptional high school and college career, Chris Warren dreamed of taking his basketball talents to the professional level.
On Wednesday, the former Ole Miss point guard was granted such an opportunity when he signed with the Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s National Basketball League.
Warren joins a long list of Rebels who have extended their careers into the professional ranks, including 11 former players who were active in 2010-11.
One of the top seniors in all of college basketball in 2011, Warren was the first import player signed by the NBL’s 36ers for the upcoming season. The nine-team NBL is the top pro basketball league in Australia. The league’s leading scorer last year was former Mississippi State and Arkansas guard Gary Ervin.
“I am really excited to be playing in Australia,” Warren was quoted in the team’s press release. “I have heard great things about the country and the league. I have spoken to (36ers) Coach (Marty) Clarke several times and the club sounds fantastic. Meeting the guys will be great, and once I pull on my Adelaide 36ers uniform it will be about what I can do to help the team win. I hope the Adelaide supporters are ready for an exciting year.”
The Orlando, Fla., native was a two-time All-SEC performer for the Rebels, including first-team accolades as a senior. Last year, he ranked second in the SEC with 19.1 points per game and led all NCAA players with a school and SEC record 92.8 free-throw percentage. Among his many achievements, Warren became the fourth player in Southeastern Conference history with 2,000 points and 400 assists, joining LSU’s Pete Maravich, Tennessee’s Allan Houston and Georgia’s Litterial Green.
“Chris displays a great game sense, an ability to score against top flight players, and both leadership and composure of a quality point guard,” 36ers coach Marty Clarke said of his new player. “Our due diligence has been extensive with numerous conversations with his college coach, opposition coaches and scouts. He is a dynamic player who we believe will help bring on-court success and enhance our commitment to creating an elite mindset within the team. We believe his game style fits our philosophies and will bring great excitement to our fans.”
