The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536961
JULY/AUGUST 2025 ■ 47 Williams has had just one agent for his pro career — Jamie Knox, who also played at North Carolina State. "I met him around State. He's based in North Carolina now," Williams said of Knox. Williams noted that basketball in Eu- rope is a throwback to decades ago in the United States. "It's very physical. It's more like '80s and '90s NBA basketball," he said. "Guys may not be as skilled, but they are men- tally tough in Europe and other places I've played. You learn to adapt to it." Williams said he wants to continue playing "until my body says I can't." "There are a lot more years behind me than in front of me," he said. "I want to keep playing, because I know that once it stops, you can't start again." While Williams achieved his dream, Bryce is still working toward that goal and has not given up. It is not unheard of for American college stars to go un- drafted by the NBA, play overseas, and then get a chance later in their careers to play in the league. But it's not the most convenient path to the top league in the world. Some of the strongest leagues in Eu- rope are in Italy, France, Spain, Tur- key, Russia, Israel and Greece. Even in "launching pad" countries such as Po- land and Hungary, former college stars can make at least six figures. The top Americans in Poland last season made about $150,000. And nearly all Ameri- cans with a Division I pedigree are pro- vided the free use of an apartment and a car in most of the top leagues in Europe. "My goal always was the NBA — and it still is today," Bryce said. He realizes that roster spots are pre- cious in the NBA, and many Europe- ans and other non-Americans are taken each year in a draft of just two rounds. Even if he doesn't reach the league, Bryce has accomplished something that few hoopsters experience — seeing the world thanks to basketball. ■ Editor's note: Virginia native David Driver is the au- thor of "Hoop Dreams in Europe: American Basketball Players Building Careers Overseas," available on Ama- zon and at daytondavid.com. He lived in Hungary for three years, now lives in Poland and has interviewed American basketball players in more than 15 coun- tries. Driver is the former sports editor of papers in Baltimore and Virginia and has contributed in the past to several Coman publications. Wolfpack Women Excel In Europe And Beyond Overseas opportunities are not as numerous for top-flight American women as they are for American men who want to play pro basketball abroad. But there are still plenty of former Division I female standouts with top leagues in Europe, and NC State has contributed to those numbers. In the recent past, many WNBA players — after a summer season in North America — had to supplement their income by heading overseas to play with pro clubs in the winter, with many of those teams located in Europe. The salaries and perks have improved for WNBA players in recent years, but many former Power Five standouts — along with those from smaller Division I conferences — are able to continue their careers overseas. Former Wolfpack stars who played overseas this past season, according to Eurobasket.com, included Esra McGoldrick and Camille Hobby (Australia), Amira Collins (Mexico), Marissa Kas - tanek (Poland), Markeisha Gatling (Spain), Elissa Cunane (Czechia), Dominique Wilson (Latvia) and Chelsea Nelson (China). Also, Aislinn Konig recently played in Spain, while Kiara Leslie was in Puerto Rico in 2024. McGoldrick, whose time in Raleigh ended in 2019, was averaging around 12 points per con- test in early June in Australia. She also has played in her native New Zealand. Collins, from Maryland, previously played in Spain and Slovakia. Kaayla Chones, an All-ACC performer with NC State, had a long career overseas. After play- ing in the WNBA with the Washington Mystics and Seattle Storm from 2004-06, she played in Spain, Italy, France, Hungary and Israel. Chones was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. Her father, Jim Chones, played for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA. "I think it's a little bit more physical than playing in the States," Chones said. "I knew it was competitive and physical. I came prepared for that." Chones played in Hungary in 2006, just weeks after suiting up for the Mystics. — David Driver Former Pack center D.J. Funderburk played in the top Polish league this past season. The 6-foot-10 forward has also played in Croatia, France, Italy, Israel and Russia. PHOTO BY PIOTR KIEPLIN/KK WLOCLAWEK