Former University of Maine men’s basketball standout Alasdair Fraser is going home to continue his professional basketball career.
The former two-time All-America East honoree, a 6-foot-7-inch forward from Falkirk, Scotland, has signed a two-year contract to play for the Glasgow Rocks of the British Basketball League, the team confirmed Tuesday.
The signing with Scotland’s only professional men’s basketball team also initiates a two-year sponsorship deal with the University of the West of Scotland, which has come on board as Fraser’s official player sponsor.
“I am really looking forward to the next two seasons with the Rocks,” said Fraser in a news release. “This seemed like the perfect time to come home to play with the Rocks especially with them setting up a new partnership with the University of the West of Scotland.
“This will give me the opportunity to complete my master’s degree while playing in front of family and friends who have not been able to see as many games while I have been playing abroad. Looking forward to what will, hopefully, be a successful couple of years on and off court.”
This will mark Fraser’s second stint with the Rocks. He also played in Glasgow during the 2014-15 season after spending the 2013-14 season with the Oettinger Rockets in Germany’s first division.
The 24-year-old Fraser played in the Netherlands during the 2015-16 season and last winter returned to Germany where he averaged 10.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game for the German Pro A team Erdgas Ehingen.
“I am really excited that we have been able to sign Ali for the next two years,” said newly appointed Glasgow head coach Tony Garbelotto. “He was my number one target when I took the job and I think we have added another high-level player to our already talented Scottish core.
“He is an extremely hard-working and effective player who can play both inside and out and I am really looking forward to working with him.”
Prior to his professional career Fraser played under coach Ted Woodward at the University of Maine where as a junior he averaged 13.5 points, 8.1 rebounds per game during the 2012-13 season to earn All-America East second-team recognition for the second straight year.
Fraser ranked fourth among AE rebounders and eighth in the league in scoring that season along with fifth in field-goal percentage (.489), second in blocked shots (1.2) and sixth in average minutes played (33.3). He was third in offensive rebounds at 2.6 per contest.
The Glasgow Rocks’ season begins Oct. 1.
