July 20, 2009

PITTSBURGH - Former Duquesne University guard Gary Tucker (Pensacola, Fla./Southern Union College) has signed a contract to play basketball professionally with Science City Jena of the German Pro A League.

Tucker, who averaged 8.4 points per game in two seasons with the Dukes, reached an agreement earlier this month. He will be the fourth Ron Everhart-coached Duquesne player to play professionally overseas joining former teammates Kieron Achara (UPIM Fortitudo Bologna - Italy), Reggie Jackson (Newcastle Eagles - Great Britain) and Shawn James (Bnei-Hasharon - Israel) who all competed overseas this past season.

Tucker played in 58 of a possible 59 games in two seasons at Duquesne (2006-07 & 2007-08). He started 29 times, including 18 as a senior. The Pensacola, Fla. native improved his scoring average from 7.3 ppg. as a junior to 9.4 ppg. as a senior in helping the Dukes post their first winning record (17-13) since 1993-94.

A transfer from Southern Union College in Wadley, Ala., Tucker played alongside his junior college backcourtmate, Jackson, at DU. The 6-1 Tucker established himself as one of the most exciting players in the Atlantic 10 with an acrobatic repertoire of dunks - many coming off alley-oop passes from Jackson. Tucker, who tied Jackson for second on the team with 32 3-pointers made in 2008, finished his career with 16 dunks, including 12 as a senior.

Tucker, who was part of Everhart's first recruiting class, completed his undergraduate degree in sociology in December 2008.

Science City Jena, which is based in Jena, Germany, finished sixth in the 16-team Pro A standings with an 18-12 record last season. The Pro A League is the second-highest classification in German professional basketball. Jena began play in the second division in 2001 and was a consistent top-five finisher for four of five seasons before being promoted to the top division, the BBL, for the 2007-08 season.