Pack Begins Professional Basketball Journey
9/10/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Former Maryland guard Richaud Pack has signed a contract to play professionally with Etha, a team in the Cyprus League in Europe. Pack will leave September 21 for the start of the ultra-competitive European league season that will run until March.
Pack, 22, made the most of his one year in College Park, helping lead the team to a Maryland record 26 regular-season wins. Pack who played in 35 games (with 27 starts), and averaged 5.8 points and 3.3 rebounds, held the distinction of being the team's top defender. He said his experience playing for head coach Mark Turgeon will help him make a seamless transition to professional basketball.
“The thing that I take away from my experience at Maryland is that in order to be successful you need to have great camaraderie and chemistry with your teammates. It makes a big difference and was a huge part of why we were so successful,” said Pack, who is also nearing the completion of a master's degree in business administration.
Pack will be one of two Americans on the Etha's team. He will play alongside Trae Golden, who finished his collegiate career this past spring at Georgia Tech.
“It's a great gateway league. It feeds into Israel, Turkey and Greece, which are three of the top 10 leagues in the world,” Pack said.
Pack is excited about the opportunity to continue his basketball career and make the transition to the shooting guard position. Ironically, Pack won't have to look too far to find a familiar face and friend halfway across the world. Former teammate Evan Smotrycz has also accepted an offer to play in the European league with Kravnos BC and will live less than 20 minutes away, according to Pack.
“We're excited about it,” Pack said. “Evan and I were real close last year and we talked a lot throughout the process. It's great to have a friend and former teammate so close to me as I make this transition.”
Asked what Pack will miss the most, he laughed. “Of course, my mother.” Pack said his mother, Kaija, who was a constant presence at Maryland home and away games, plans to attend a minimum of three games during the six-month season.
As the Terps begin a new season, head coach Mark Turgeon reflected upon the immediate impact Pack had on his lone season in College Park. “Richaud was unbelievably consistent,” Turgeon said. “He was a tremendous teammate and leader. We really leaned on him throughout the season. He had a great approach to basketball and his academics. I'm really very proud of him.”
