WEDEL, Germany – Former University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball player Harrison Cleary, the NSIC's all-time leading scorer, and UMN Crookston's all-time leading scorer, signed a professional contract to play for Sportclub Rist Wedel in Wedel, Germany. The professional team plays in ProB, the third-tier division in Germany.

Cleary is entering his third season of professional basketball. He played last season with Aquimisa Carbajosa of LEB Silver, the third-tier of professional basketball in Spain. Cleary started seven games before suffering an injury. He averaged 15.1 points and 2.1 assists per game. In his first season of professional basketball in 2020-21, Cleary split time with AB Castello and CB Almansa.

Cleary was one of three former Golden Eagles competing in Spain last season. Javier Nicolau played last season for Safir Fruits Alginet in LEB Silver. Nicolau had a great season, tallying 11.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Nicolau has also signed a new contract this season. He is set to play the 2022-23 season with Reina Yogur Clavijo CB of LEB Silver. Nicolau is entering his third season of professional basketball. He spent his first season in 2020-21 with CB Benicarlo of LEB Silver.

Ibu-Jassey Demba competed last season for Aquimisa Carbajosa, where he was a teammate of Cleary. He started 11 games, averaging 3.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per tilt.

In addition to the trio, Minnesota Crookston had several other former players compete in professional leagues. George Blaj-Voinescu competed for Craiova in Romanian Liga Nationala. Giorgi Koguashvili played for Vera in the Georgia Superleague. Morgan Carter played for the Derby Trailblazers in British NDL D1. Tyler West, Jr. is currently competing for the Salem Capitals in the TBL, while Aaron Wall played for the Elkhart Mavericks in the MBL.