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UPDATE: Newer reporting from Lupo and Ella Brockway of The Daily Northwestern has the deal as not yet finalized. We will continue to update you on the situation.
Update: Deal has actually not yet been finalized. Both sides still talking, per @sportando. https://t.co/iL6s0IZWsb
— Ella Brockway (@ellabrockway) July 14, 2019
According to Nicola Lupo of Sportnado.com, former Northwestern legend Dererk Pardon has signed a deal in Belgium to join Spirou Charleroi, a club in the Pro Basketball League (PBL).
The former NU center joins a distinguished list of Northwestern basketball alumni to sign a deal in the PBL. The list includes Drew Crawford, Sanjay Lumpkin, Alex Olah, and Bryant Mcintosh. Former NU guard Tre Demps also played professionally in Belgium but for the Belgian Scooore League.
After not being selected in the 2019 NBA draft, Pardon signed with the Orlando Magic for the summer league. He has appeared in three games so far during the summer.
Pardon was in a tough spot, with former Duke center Amile Jefferson starting over him and playing exceptionally well, averaging 16.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game to this point. Nonetheless, Pardon still averaged nearly six points and two rebounds in 13 minutes per contest during his three games in Las Vegas.
After Alex Olah graduated in 2016, Dererk Pardon served as a staple at center in Northwestern’s starting lineup. He provided a ton of production thanks to his elite inside scoring and offensive rebounding. Pardon also shined defensively as a rim protector, using his length to develop into an impressive shot-blocker despite height limitations. During his All-Big Ten senior season, he averaged 14 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Fans will always remember Pardon for ‘The Shot,’ his last-second layup to beat Michigan which sent Northwestern to its first ever NCAA tournament, along with his six clutch free throws in the final five minutes to help secure Northwestern’s first round tournament victory over Vanderbilt.
Now that Pardon has signed, NU fans will turn their attention to Vic Law’s next move. Law also played with the Orlando Magic in the summer league and averaged nearly six points a game and one steal over his three games in Las Vegas.