MORGANTOWN — Several former West Virginia men’s basketball players signed professional contracts.
Devin Ebanks (2009-’10) signed with Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket in France. Last year, Ebanks played at Soundreef Mens Sana 1871 Siena in Italy and averaged 21.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest.
Gary Browne (2012-’15) inked a contract with Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona in Israel. Last year, he played for Atleticos de San German in Puerto Rico, where he averaged 19.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.
Devin Williams (2014-’16) enters his third season of professional basketball by signing with Demir Insaat Buyukcekmece Basket in Turkey. Last season, Williams played for Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico, where he averaged 13.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Williams also played for the Maine Red Claws last year in the NBA G League and averaged 11.8 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. Williams will team up with former Mountaineer Deniz Kilicli (2010-’13) this season.
Alex Ruoff (2006-’09) signed to play with the Mittledeutscher Basketball Club in Germany after playing last season with Joventut Badalona in Spain. He only played in the preseason last season due to injury.
Brandon Watkins (2014-’17) will play for the Dresden Titans in Germany this season. Last year, Watkins played for teams in Poland, Cyprus and Germany.
Gymnastics
For the second straight season and the fourth time since 1987, a program-best 10 gymnasts were named Scholastic all-Americans by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women (NACGC/W).
Including the last two seasons, 10 Mountaineers also were honored in 2007 and 2011. Since 1987, WVU gymnasts have earned 140 NACGC/W Scholastic all-America awards.
As a team, WVU ranked No. 28 nationally and tops among Big 12 schools with a team grade point average (GPA) of 3.5233.
“I’m very proud of our scholastic achievements for the academic year,” coach Jason Butts said. “Student-athletes bear the extra challenge of balancing their time commitments between academics and athletics. These 10 gymnasts showed tremendous dedication in the classroom and the gym last year, and I’m very proud to see them represent WVU on a national stage.”
A trio of Mountaineers collected their third career honors — graduate Robyn Bernard (exercise physiology) and seniors Kirah Koshinski (communications studies) and Jaquie Tun (graphic design).
To qualify for the NACGC/W Scholastic All-America award, a gymnast must have a GPA of 3.50 for either the preceding academic year or have a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher at the nominating institution.
