News - Dallas Lauderdale to play Rookie Season in Poland !

(Former Buckeye Dallas Lauderdale getting hyped!)

The summer transfer season is definitely starting to heat up. This is currently one of the toughest basketball markets in sometime, so it is especially exciting to read about former Buckeyes landing in good situations. David Lighty signed on with a powerful Italian Team that will play in the Euroleague (Europe's highest level), Je'Kel Foster's new club has one of the biggest budgets in Germany, and they are slated to play in the Eurocup (Europe's 2nd highest level). The latest international reports are about another Ohio State rookie to be, Dallas Lauderdale.

Multiple media outlets out of Poland are reporting that former Buckeye Dallas Lauderdale will play for Polish League runner-up PGE Turow! Lauderdale steadily improved in each of his years at Ohio State. He would leave as one of the best shot blockers in the University's history. Dallas will now introduce is awesome defensive skills to a host of unwary slashers and post players in Europe

PGE Turow's Official Website - Lauderdale in Turow

Official Website of the Polish League - PGE Turow (Lauderdale)

Poland - When we wrote about the pro prospects of Lauderdale, we tabbed him as a player who could start out in a mid-level European league and work his way up. In a list of the top 25 European domestic leagues, we would rank the Polish league at around 11 or 12. Fellow Buckeye George Reese has been one of the league's top players in recent years..Brent Darby played in Poland in the 20o4 season as well. In our opinion, Polish PLK is a decent location (considering the current market) for Dallas to begin his pro career. There are better leagues of course, but in our view the particular squad that he is reportedly headed to is what makes the situation appealing.

PGE Turow/Euroleague - If these reports come into fruition, Dallas will play for PGE Turow, a squad based in the south western Polish town called Zgorzelec. Turow finished 2nd in last year's Regular Season standings and lost in the finals of the Polish League Playoffs by just one game to powerhouse Prokom. This is clearly a club on the rise.

Furthermore, Turow competed in the Eurocup last season and is slated to participate in the Euroleague qualifications in late September! So despite playing in a mid-level type of league, Dallas may still end up competing on the highest level (like his teammate & friend David Lighty) if Turow can advance in. If Turow doesn't advance to the Euroleague, they will play in the Eurocup again. (so either way they will be playing two schedules, Polish League and a European schedule) We like that Dallas will be able to travel out of Poland every now and then and play teams from other leagues (and simply see other countries). - We'll have more on Lauderdale & Turow in upcoming posts!

Euroleague.net - Team Focus - PGE Turow