Herb Pope Signs in Israel
7/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. - Former Seton Hall men's basketball star Herb Pope (Aliquippa, Pa.) signed a contract to play professionally with Bnei Hasharon Herzliya of the Israel Basketball Super League, the highest division of basketball in Israel.
Pope joins former teammate Jordan Theodore as the second Pirate to sign a professional contract overseas in the last week.
"Herb has had to overcome a number of obstacles in his quest to become a professional basketball player," said Seton Hall Head Coach Kevin Willard. "I am extremely happy that he has been able to realize this dream. We wish nothing but the best of luck to Herb and his family moving forward."
Pope will go down in history as one of the greatest frontcourt players to ever wear a Seton Hall uniform. Last season, he averaged a double-double with a career-best 15.1 points per game and a BIG EAST second-best 10.4 rebounds per game. An All-BIG EAST Third Team selection, he ranked fourth in the conference in blocks and 12th in scoring. Pope finished the season as the BIG EAST's active career leader with 36 double-doubles, 17 of which were tallied last season. A starter in 33 games as a senior, he scored a career-high 32 points in the championship game of the Charleston Classic on Nov. 20 and was named BIG EAST Player of the Week for his efforts. He graduates as one of only six Pirates all-time with more than 1,100 career points and 900 career rebounds, a feat he accomplished in only three seasons.
Pope joins 15 other former Pirates who played last season or are currently playing professionally overseas: John Allen (Poland), Andre Barrett (France), Donald Copeland (Puerto Rico), Marcus Cousin (Venezuela), John Garcia (Dominican Republic), Paul Gause (England), Jeremy Hazell (Venezuela), Duane Jordan (Australia), Rimas Kaukenas (Italy), Brian Laing (Israel), Jamar Nutter (Chile), Augustine Okosun (Qatar), Eniel Polynice (Mexico), Jeff Robinson (Austria) and Jordan Theodore (Turkey).
The Hall will square off with the University of Missouri - Kansas City at Walsh Gym on Friday, November 9th to open the 2012-13 season. For information on season ticket packages, please call 973-275-HALL.
