Ex-LMU Hoops Star Emanuel Terry Signs 2-Year EuroLeague Pact
BELGRADE, Serbia – The second-best basketball league in the world, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, will now feature a former Railsplitter hoops star. On Thursday, former Lincoln Memorial University men's basketball All-American Emanuel Terry penned a two-year contract with Košarkaški klub Crvena Zvezda, commonly referred to as KK Crvena Zvezda mts, based in Belgrade, Serbia.
The 6-foot-9 high-riser inked his third professional overseas contract after spending time in the NBA. He is the first Railsplitter to compete for a EuroLeague team.
Going undrafted in 2018, Terry was signed by the Denver Nuggets for their NBA Summer League squad where he averaged 7.4 points and five rebounds while shooting 61 percent from the floor. Following his strong showing, the Cleveland, Alabama (Cleveland HS), native was invited to compete for a spot on the Nuggets' training camp roster before heading to the Cleveland Cavaliers' NBA G League affiliate, the Canton Charge. While in Ohio, Terry played in 20 games for the Charge, averaging 8.1 points and 6.4 rebounds. He finished up his G League stint with the Sioux Falls Skyforce where he boosted his numbers to 16.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game in nine outings.
During the 2018-19 season, the versatile forward signed two 10-day NBA contracts with the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat. Making his NBA debut on Jan. 27, 2019, Terry registered five points, three rebounds, two steals and an assist in eight minutes of action for the Suns against the Los Angeles Lakers. He also played in one other game with Phoenix before getting on the court with the Heat versus the Detroit Pistons.
Playing in the NBA Summer League for the second-straight year in Las Vegas, Terry suited up for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019. Averaging 6.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in five games, Terry shot 59 percent from the field.
Beginning his overseas career, Terry was on a one-year contract with Teksüt Bandırma of the Basketball Super League in Bandırma, Turkey, before joining Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League in Israel. While in Turkey, Terry posted 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals in 20 games. Prior to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the 2018 South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year was averaging 9.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 59 percent.
LMU's first student-athlete to be named SAC Male Athlete of the Year, Terry had a remarkable career in Harrogate. Following his remarkable 2017-18 season, Terry was tabbed SAC Defensive Player of the Year and Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) Southeast Region Player of the Year, not to mention gathering consensus All-America honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Basketball Times, D2CCA and Division II Bulletin. Most impressively, Terry claimed the 2018 Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award, which is given annually to the finest player within all of Small College Basketball (Division II, Division III, NAIA).
Compiling an astounding 126-14 record donning the Blue and Gray, Terry is the program's all-time leader in field-goal percentage (.704) and blocked shots (228). He averaged a double-double of 16.9 points and 10.3 rebounds his senior year.
The EuroLeague's 2020-21 season gets underway Thursday, Oct. 1 with the Red and White tipping off against Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul Friday, Oct. 2.
Recent All-NBA First Team selection Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks was a star in the EuroLeague before heading to the NBA. To learn more about the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, visit euroleague.net. To learn more about Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade, visit the team's official website.
