WALLACE TO PLAY PRO HOOPS IN ESTONIA

By Mike LeBoeuf, Sports Editor


OSWEGO — After excelling at the high school and college levels, Oswego’s Ashley Wallace will take her basketball game to the European pro ranks.

Wallace, who graduated this spring from Pace University, has signed a pro contract to play for Estonia in the Baltic League. She will leave Wednesday to begin this new chapter in her basketball career.

“I’m not really too nervous about going over there,” Wallace said. “I just don’t like leaving my friends and family.”

The opportunity to play professionally in Europe came as a surprise to Wallace. She attended an evaluation camp in Florida. Then recently during action in one of her four summer basketball leagues, Wallace met a young woman who played in Germany. She spoke with the player’s agent, Iska Waterloh, and wound up signing with her.

Wallace played some games in Germany in an atmosphere similar to AAU teams. It was a chance for top players to showcase their talents.

“There were coaches there from Greece, Germany, Denmark, Finland, all over Europe,” Wallace said.

There were about 40 players there, most from North America. “Nobody in Europe has any idea who we are,” Wallace said.

The first night consisted of a practice session. Then Wallace played in two games in each of the next two days.

After the first day’s games, the Estonia coach introduced herself to Wallace. “She said she liked the way I was playing,” Wallace said.

A 6-foot forward/center, Wallace played even better the next day. When the games were over, terms for a contract with Estonia were worked out. Wallace signed a one-year deal paying her approximately $900 (U.S. funds) a month. She said she will receive additional money to coach youth players.

The only American on her team, Wallace knows she will have to adjust her game to adapt to the European style. Defense will be the biggest challenge, she said, as tall players in Europe are known as good shooters who can also pass well and handle the basketball. That’s a sharp contrast to the more physical, low-post play to which she is accustomed.

Offensively, Wallace expects that her skills near the basket will serve her well.

She was the first Oswego High School basketball player to ever surpass the career 1,000-point plateau. She led the Bucs to a league championship, earned All-CNY first-team honors, and was a fifth-team all-state selection.

Wallace also scored over 1,000 points in her career at Pace, which is an NCAA Division II basketball program. As a senior, she averaged over 14 points and six rebounds per game, leading Pace to a 24-9 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Pace reached the Northeast Regional semifinals before being eliminated.

She was a second-team all-conference selection, and was 10th in the nation in field-goal percentage (56.5 percent).

“At Oswego, I always just wanted to make it to the next level. At college, I hoped I’d have the opportunity to go on,” Wallace said.

Now she has her chance in the Baltic League. Estonia’s opponents in the league will include Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine. “It’s a good league to go and make a name for yourself,” Wallace said.

She will live in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, right on the Baltic Sea. When she arrives, she will begin with practices and conditioning in preparation for the season.

Wallace said that with a one-year deal, she’s not locked into anything long term. So if she doesn’t like it, she can simply do something else.

But for now, she’s looking forward to testing her skills as a professional in Europe. It’s a busy season, but she expects to be home for the holidays as there is a 10-day break for Christmas. Her friends and relatives are backing her decision.

“My family is definitely excited and supportive,” Wallace said. “It’s a great opportunity.”