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Willie Deane, who in the past two seasons, played for the Russian League Club Spartak-Primorie, averaged nearly 17 points and 3 assists a game in both the 2006 and 2007 seasons and led the team from far away Vladivstok to a .500 record last season in the Russian League signs with Lukoil Academic today.

His new agent, Craig McKenzie of Higher Vision Sports AMG, states, “We’ve watched Willie’s progress for a long time and though he was released by the NBA’s Washington Wizards--it says a lot that he got the NBA opportunity. There is no doubt in my mind that with his work ethic he will be known as one of the best point guards in Europe one day soon. He is a very strong and athletic player and has an uncanny way of scoring. More integrally, Willie is a team player.”


Upon being released the player waited a week at home to go through offers. The player only desired to play for either a euroleague or uleb cup team. When Lukoil Academic approached the player the negotiations did not take long. The Player signed a lucrative ULEB CUP play only contract where he can play so long as the Club remains in the ULEB CUP and he has sole option to leave to go to another Club after Lukoil Academic is finished playing in the Cup. The player can also stay to play in the Bulgarian league if he so decides.

"Willie was ready to play right away, so we could not wait on other interested euroleague teams. This contract gives Willie the flexibility to show what he can do and then either win a Bulgarian Championship or move on to another team. I believe he will do quite well," said his agent Craig McKenzie for BulgarianBasket.com.