EUROLEAGUE STAR SIGNS FOR WORCESTER UNI
02/04/2010

The headline is true - if slightly misleading....the Euroleague's second leading scorer, Linas Kleiza, has joined the University of Worcester!

The 6' 8" forward - who plays for Greek powerhouse Olympiakos, having left the Denver Nuggets - has signed up to the uni's MSc in European Basketball Coaching.

Now, before you shit the bed, we should point out that the vast majority of the course is done online...so Kleiza will not be suiting up either for the university team or the Wolves's BBL squad any time soon.

"Strictly speaking, he would be eligible to play for the BUCS team," the university's head of sport, Mick Donovan, told 24/7. "But even if that was a possiblity, we wouldn't be able to afford his insurance!"

Donovan says the two year course has attracted a huge amount of interest, partly as a result of being officially endorsed by FIBA.

It will begin with two weeks of lectures and seminars in Lithuania this summer, before participtants go off to complete their studies on the net.

Donovan told 24/7 that many top figures in European basketball have expressed an interest in presenting at seminars - and said that he'd had over 120 people expressing interest in the course..way more than the 30-odd places that will actually be available.

Regarding Kleiza, he told Worcester News: "Linas is exactly the type of person who this course has been designed for. I'm sure that he will make a major contribution while also developing as a student".

Kleiza, who played college basketball with the University of Missouri Tigers and was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers before joining Denver, said: "My main commitment is clearly to basketball but the opportunity to study on such an exciting course is very attractive. To gain a masters degree would be very rewarding.

"It will open many doors when I do finish playing. It will also be interesting to reflect in an academic setting upon my own experiences in the game which I love so much."

On the subject of Worcester's chances in the BUSA finals this year, Donovan said he hoped they would be competitive again - pointing out that they've already beaten strong rivals Leeds Met this season.