Aug. 12, 2008

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Former Bucknell basketball star John Griffin has signed a professional contract with the German club team Crailsheim Proveo Merlins, the organization announced Tuesday.

Griffin, who was a co-captain and the team's leading scorer last season, departs for Germany on Friday to begin working out with his new team in the small town of Crailshaim, located about midway between Frankfurt and Munich. The Proveo Merlins compete in the German Bundesliga's B Division. The team finished 20-10 and in fifth place in its league in 2007-08.

Griffin's former Bison teammate and native German Chris McNaughton is currently practicing with the German A2 National Team and will be passing through Crailsheim later this month before returning to his pro team in Spain. Griffin and McNaughton, who teamed up together to help lead Bucknell to two Patriot League titles and a pair of NCAA Tournament victories, will be on opposite benches this time.

At Bucknell, Griffin was a four-year letterman and two-year starter at guard. He played in a school-record 127 games, never missing a contest in four years. A First Team All-Patriot League selection in 2008, Griffin scored 1,084 career points, 25th on Bucknell’s career list.He also made 200 career 3-point field goals, second in school history, and tied the single-season record with 79 3-pointers in 2007-08.

In his four years at Bucknell, Griffin played in three Patriot League championship games, winning two, and perhaps his most famous moment came this past March when he made a 40-foot shot at the final buzzer to beat Navy 87-86 in triple overtime in the PL quarterfinals. He was part of a senior class that won 85 games, second-most in school history.