This from the web NEC site...via Halifax Nova Scotia local paper in Canada I believe
Corey Hallett finished school at Monmouth University last Friday, signed a contract on Wednesday, flew home on Thursday and will board a plane this morning bound for New Zealand.
Welcome to the whirlwind life of a professional basketball player.
"I couldn’t be any happier right now," said the six-foot-10 Shelburne native. "Getting paid to play basketball, that’s the greatest job in the world."
Hallett will kick off his pro hoops career next week with the Auckland Stars of New Zealand’s National Basketball League.
It was a lightning turn of events for Hallett, who had just finished his career with the Monmouth Hawks and was planning to try his luck in Europe in the fall.
But his agent called and said the league-leading Auckland squad had just lost their American import players and was looking for someone with Hallett’s size and skills.
Hallett inked a deal on Wednesday, flew home Thursday to update his passport and is on a plane to Auckland via Los Angeles today.
"Everything was just perfect timing, and I’m going into a winning situation," he said.
"It’s something every kid dreams of, to be a pro athlete. Wednesday when I signed my contract was a pretty exciting day."
Hallett played three seasons in New Jersey at Monmouth, transferring after his freshman year at Central Michigan. He averaged 21.5 minutes, 3.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in his senior year at the NCAA Division I school.
The Hawks had a disappointing year, finishing 12-18 and missing the Northeastern Conference playoffs a year after winning the conference.
But Hallett said he’ll carry plenty of fond memories from a college career that included two trips to the NCAA tournament.
"Overall it was a fantastic experience I don’t regret at all," he said. "It was sad leaving school. It just happened so quick I haven’t even had time to think about it. I’m sure when I’m on a plane from Los Angeles to New Zealand I’ll have time to think about it."
Hallett will spend two months in the New Zealand league, which ends its regular season on June 15.
He’s still hoping to play in Europe or possibly Australia in the fall, but he’ll see where his stint with Auckland takes him.
"A lot can depend on how I play in New Zealand," he said.
( http://thechronicleherald.ca/Sports/
Welcome to the whirlwind life of a professional basketball player.
"I couldn’t be any happier right now," said the six-foot-10 Shelburne native. "Getting paid to play basketball, that’s the greatest job in the world."
Hallett will kick off his pro hoops career next week with the Auckland Stars of New Zealand’s National Basketball League.
It was a lightning turn of events for Hallett, who had just finished his career with the Monmouth Hawks and was planning to try his luck in Europe in the fall.
But his agent called and said the league-leading Auckland squad had just lost their American import players and was looking for someone with Hallett’s size and skills.
Hallett inked a deal on Wednesday, flew home Thursday to update his passport and is on a plane to Auckland via Los Angeles today.
"Everything was just perfect timing, and I’m going into a winning situation," he said.
"It’s something every kid dreams of, to be a pro athlete. Wednesday when I signed my contract was a pretty exciting day."
Hallett played three seasons in New Jersey at Monmouth, transferring after his freshman year at Central Michigan. He averaged 21.5 minutes, 3.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in his senior year at the NCAA Division I school.
The Hawks had a disappointing year, finishing 12-18 and missing the Northeastern Conference playoffs a year after winning the conference.
But Hallett said he’ll carry plenty of fond memories from a college career that included two trips to the NCAA tournament.
"Overall it was a fantastic experience I don’t regret at all," he said. "It was sad leaving school. It just happened so quick I haven’t even had time to think about it. I’m sure when I’m on a plane from Los Angeles to New Zealand I’ll have time to think about it."
Hallett will spend two months in the New Zealand league, which ends its regular season on June 15.
He’s still hoping to play in Europe or possibly Australia in the fall, but he’ll see where his stint with Auckland takes him.
"A lot can depend on how I play in New Zealand," he said.
( http://thechronicleherald.ca/Sports/
posted by Tony Graham at 9:22 PM
22 Comments:
Congrats to Corey. Isn't Kevin Owens in that area as well?
I hope rebounds aren't important in New Zealand.
Hook'em Hawks.
Not sure where "O Dog" is barking!
Mucho congrats to a great kid!! Corey was a very enthuiastic Hawk player!! Sorry his senior year ended the way it did. I wish him all the best in the pros!!
Unbelievable. 3.2 pts and 3.1 rebounds gets you a pro deal these days? Not too shabby. I pray my kid is 6'10 155!
I totally can see how any pro team would take Corey.
Corey may not have had quite the career I thought he would...
That said I have never met a more enthusiastic and well intentioned guy in the MU program.
It was a pleasure to know him.
to very last anon which I am not running - if you want to vent to me, fine. But who feels better by running that here at this stage ? - outside of you perhaps...
I dont see how this is possible.
Tony give Corey credit he never gave up.Hey ask coach Calz for his thoughts on Corey they were great friends and Calz always said Corey was an outstanding kid.What about Bunch any word on where he might play next year?
I go give Corey credit. He tried hard, worked hard in practice. He did his best. That's all you can ask for.
Re Bunch..haven't heard.
To the poster asking about Owens: He played the 2006-07 season in the Australian Basketball League for the Cairns Taipans. Played 33 regular season games averaging 12 points and 9 rebounds per game. In 4 playoff games averaged 8 points and 5 rebounds. Seems like he had a decent season for them. Not sure if he's returning there for the next season. He had previously played for the Roanoke Dazzle in the National Basketball Developmental League. Sure have missed his type of hustle here at Monmouth.
Kevin Owens was a hustler? I must have been watching the wrong game.
Re: Kevin Owens. Let's see, he was a 1,000 point scorer..helped MU go to the NCAAs..another really great kid ...and now someone takes a verbal shot at him...
Hard to believe.
Hallett played his 1st game for the Auckland Stars today (Sat). He played just under 31 min. and scored 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, & 0 TOs. Their next game is next Saturday. It seems that 2 of the 'import' players they had got into a contract dispute and left the team so that opened up the roster. Glad his agent was quick with his contacts. Corey deserves a chance to prove his skills as do other MU players.
Corey had 5 rebounds. Unreal, he never had that many for MU!
If you people looked back a while, Hallett was the leading scorer for MU during their Spain swing some years ago. Perhaps the "european" style game (and before I get harped on - I am aware NZ is not in Europe) is more suited to Hallett's style of play. Hard to get the rebounds when so many three's were being jacked up this year.
to the last poster about Corey leading the team in scoring in Spain. COngrats that made absolutely zero sense. Im glad someone though is looking for a some way to justify how this kid is a pro player.
Corey, Spain, leading scorer. That is meaningful to Corey being a pro how? How does that shed any light onto this mystery my dear watson? MU still played MU ball. And...dun dun dun...Corey averaged 3 count em 3 points per game! Holy Moses we got a baller!
i think what anon was getting at (thought i am not entirely sure...) is that maybe MU did not use corey to his full potential - I mean let's face it the kid did not have a the green light to shot all too often so there was no chance for consistency. Or maybe they just meant that he better fits the system down there? not entirely sure, but just by take on it - either way congrats on New Zealand and play well. It looks good that Monmouth is able to have so many players play pro ....
Just looked up the boxscore from Corey's second game played on Saturday, 5/19. He had 6 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist & 1 TO. Their next game is Thursday 5/24. Hope he settles in with the team and gets aggressive in the scoring.
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