IT’S BACK to the pro ranks for Barbados’ best.
André Lockhart is making his return to Europe, and the familiar courts of Germany, after signing a one-year contract to play for BG Leitershofen/Stadtbergen in the upcoming Regionalliga season.
The star national playmaker disclosed details of the move before going through one of his workout sessions at the Wildey Gymnasium yesterday.
“I was online and reached out to a coach from the team and he decided that he was very interested so he asked me for more of my profile then everything was okay from there,” said the 28-year-old point guard.
It will mark his second stint in Germany after Lockhart initially played just three games last year for BG Biggessee – where he averaged 23.3 points – before eventually moving on to Dusseldorf Giants for the remainder of the German season.
Lockhart also appeared in the British Basketball League (BBL) with the Essex Leopards earlier this year but doesn’t foresee a return to the UK anytime soon.
“The season is supposed to go from September to April so I don’t have plans on returning to England as such, though I wouldn’t say I would not want to but it’s not in the plans,” explained Lockhart.
“I’m actually extremely excited to go back to Germany because of the different culture and just getting to travel the world and with every new season is a brand new start because every team starts at 0-0.
“The reason why I’m more excited now than in my last stint is because the team that I was at was fighting for relegation but now this team is looking at promotion after getting demoted last season. So if I play well I may get re-signed with them and move up to the second league in Germany,” he added.
BG Leitershofen/Stadtbergen, otherwise known as the TOPSTAR Kangaroos, are actually the fourth pro outfit that Lockhart will be plying his trade for following a previous stint with BBL club Newcastle Eagles in the 2010-2011 season.
But the uncertainty over Lockhart’s future really lies at the domestic level, as the floor general is but a month removed from announcing his contentious departure from hometown club Lakers after falling out with head coach Francis Williams.
“That is a tough question because it more depends on when I come back home who is in what position,” said Lockhart when asked which club he intends to play for next season.
“I don’t have a set date obviously on when I’m coming back so I don’t know who will be in the play-offs or in the play-off hunt or even what stage the Premier League will be at by then.
“But non-play-off teams probably won’t be an option and Lakers certainly won’t be either.”
