Courtesy of Norfolk State Athletic Communications
Former Norfolk State basketball star Joe Bryant Jr. has fullfilled a lifelong dream of playing professional basketball, signing with WKS Slask II Wroclaw earlier this week.
The team is located in Wroclaw, Poland, serving as the first-league base of 18-time Polish champions WKS Slask Wroclaw. The squad currently completes in the Pekao S.A. 1 Liga Mezczyzn.
“It’s amazing to see the growth of Joe Bryant Jr.,” Norfolk State men’s basketball head coach Robert Jones said. “To go from a kid who barely played as a freshman to now being a pro, Joe truly took the stairs on his journey and not the elevator. We wish him well in Poland.”
Bryant becomes the third former Norfolk State player to ink a professional contract this offseason. In July, Kris Bankston signed with Hapoel Beer Sheva B.C. (Israel) and Dana Tate, Jr. joined Federação Portuguesa de Basquetebol (Portugal).
The two-time MEAC Player of the Year wasted no time getting to work in Poland, posting 16 points in his league debut. He added six rebounds and three assists in 22 minutes of action.
Bryant was named BOXTOROW HBCU Division I National Player of the Year for the second straight season in 2022-23, averaging 17.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. He led the Spartans to a pair of MEAC Tournament titles in his career, earning MEAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2021 and 2022.
