Football
Associated Press 18y

Former North Dakota standout joins Turkish team

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Jerome Beasley, a former University of
North Dakota standout who spent a season and a half with the Miami
Heat, is headed for Istanbul.

Beasley has signed a contract to play with Ulker, a Turkish team
that competes in the heavily scouted Euroleague.

"My ultimate goal is to get back to the NBA," Beasley said.
"I want to be a dominant player over there and win. Hopefully,
this is a one-year obstacle for me and I'll get back to the NBA. I
plan on doing that. Nothing is going to stop me."

After his two dominating seasons at UND, Beasley was a
second-round draft pick by Miami in 2003. He spent the 2003-04
season with Miami and part of the 2004-05 year with the Heat before
he was released.

Beasley, who was the national Division II player of the year in
his final season at UND, later hooked on with Sioux Falls of the
CBA and helped lead the Skyforce to the league championship.

He played with USA Basketball in the Tournament of the Americas
in August. Since then, he has been working out in Grand Forks, in
hopes of signing with an NBA or European team. Beasley said he also
has been playing pickup games with former Sioux standouts Kyle
Behrens and Mario Porter.

He's even had help from his wife, Sarah. "She's there to push
me," Beasley said.

Beasley's agent said the deal with the Turkish team could lead
to bigger things.

"This is a great opportunity for Jerome because the Euroleague
is heavily scouted by the NBA," said Mike Naiditch, who has
represented Beasley since he left UND. "Jerome's game is suited
for European basketball. Scoring is at a premium there and that's
what Jerome does really well. There will be a lot of pressure on
his team. They've upgraded their roster."

The Ulker team already includes three players with NBA
experience, Jeff Trepagnier, Marcus Haislip and Ibrahim Kutluay.

Naiditch said there has been NBA interest in Beasley, but not
enough to land him a guaranteed contract.

"Jerome is one of those late risers," Naiditch said. "He
might need a little more time. He needs the experience. And there
are many players who have gone to Europe and later made it in the
NBA."

Beasley hopes to continue that trend.

"I'll be thrown in with the wolves, but mentally and physically
I'm ready," Beasley said. "I'm looking forward to this."<

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Information from: Grand Forks Herald,
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/

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