Photo of the Day:  Thursday, September 2, 2010

Former Racer Tony Easley To Start Professional Career In Poland

Former Murray State student-athlete Tony Easley is now a professional basketball player after signing recently to play the coming season in the Polish A-league with Polina Azbud Warszawa.   “You bet, I am excited to get this opportunity,” Easley said while taking a break from a pick-up game at the Regional Special Events Center. “You never think that you’ll get the chance to play pro ball, but you always hope.”   “This is a blessing and I’m excited to start a new chapter in my life,” Easley added.   When Easley arrived at Murray State from Auburn, Ala., in 2005, he was a slight center that only needed some time to grow into a college basketball player.   “My time at Murray State means so much to me, Easley said. “Look, I was cut in the 9th grade, so to get the chance to come to MSU and have the career I’ve had, it’s amazing.”   Easley helped the Racers to a 31-5 season in 2009-10, which included their first NCAA Tournament win since 1988 over Vanderbilt and a near miss against eventual national runner-up Butler.   He hasn’t let up since the season ended, with daily workouts to increase his value as a professional.   “I’ve haven’t take much time off,” Easley said. “I was a post player for MSU, but in the pros I believe I’ll play some at small forward. Since the season ended, I’ve worked on my ball handling and perimeter shooting, because I’ll have to do that because I won’t be playing with my back to the basket as much.”   Easley played with tons of enthusiasm and was a Murray State fan favorite.   “So many people influenced me, so I owe Murray State and I’ll keep working hard, but I’m going to miss the place very much.”   When Murray State Head Coach Billy Kennedy arrived in 2006, he quickly saw Easley as a potential impact player.   “Tony has been a cornerstone for our program for four years,” Kennedy said. “He developed into a special player.”   Kennedy also enjoyed having Easley’s leadership in the Racer program.

“I’m excited for Tony,” Kennedy added. “He has worked hard for five years to get this opportunity. Tony has been a great ambassador for Murray State on the court and in the community and we are going to miss his presence.”   The prospect of going to a foreign land where he’ll have to learn a new language and the Polish way of life may be daunting for Easley, but he’s ready for the challenge.   “I do worry about it,” Easley joked. “Hey, I mean I don’t speak English all that well any way, let alone the Polish language!”   Easley won’t be alone as there will probably be at least two other Americans on the team. Last season, Brandon Hughes (Michigan), Eddie Miller (Fresno State) and Josh Alexander (Stephen F. Austin) were on the squad.   The team was 12-14 last season and finished seventh in the standings and Miller led the team in scoring with 17.6 points per game.   Easley, who set the MSU single-season record for blocked shots with 95 and fell one block short of the MSU career record with 159, hopes to have the same rejection rate in Poland.   “The rules are different for international basketball,” Easley said, who will play for Polina Head Coach Wojoiech Kaminski. “There is much more contact allowed and you can take the ball off the rim even if it’s in the cylinder. “   After such a quiet start as a redshirt in the 2005-06 season, Tony Easley ended his Murray State career with some impressive numbers.   His 923 points and 613 rebounds place him among the best MSU centers in addition of being one of the best shot-blockers. He had a career-high seven blocked shots against Southeast Missouri (Feb. 16) and had a streak of 33 straight games with at least one blocked shot in the 2009-10 season. Easley’s career-high scoring game was a 19-point effort against Jacksonville State (Feb. 13), his career-best rebound game was against Lyon College (Nov. 15, 2008) with 12.   At the end of the 2009-10 season, Easley was named to the All-OVC Second Team and the All-OVC Tournament Team.

Source: GoRacers.com