Stiemsma to play pro ball in Turkey
August 15, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Former Wisconsin men's basketball player Greg Stiemsma has signed a contract to play with Oyak Renault, a first-division team in Turkey.
"It's great to see an unselfish, team-oriented young man rewarded with such a great opportunity," said Stiemsma's Chicago-based agent, Mike Naiditch.
Stiemsma recently capped off his playing career at Wisconsin by helping the Badgers claim the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships last season. Over his four-year collegiate career (2004-08) he appeared in 95 games and ranks fifth in school history with 96 career blocks. Stiemsma led the Badgers with 40 blocks and posted averages of 3.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in 2007-08. The Randolph, Wis. native saved his best individual performance for last, scoring a career-high 14 points with seven rebounds in Wisconsin's second-round win over vs. Kansas State in the 2008 NCAA tournament.
Stiemsma chose Oyak Renault over recent offers from teams in Korea and the Czech Republic. Oyak Renault is based in Bursa, Turkey and plays in the Turkish Basketball League. Their home arena is the Bursa Ataturk Sport Hall.
