RICHMOND, Ky. – Three former Eastern Kentucky University basketball players have signed professional contracts to compete this fall in Europe – Spencer Perrin, Justin Stommes and Josh Taylor.

Perrin, a native of Danville, Ky., competed for the Colonels each of the last two seasons. As a senior in 2010-11, the forward led the team and ranked 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference in rebounding at 5.5 rpg. Perrin has signed a one-year deal to play for KK Lirija in Macedonia. KK Lirija finished fifth in the FYR-Macedonia Superleague (top division) last year.

Stommes, a native of Cold Spring, Minn., was a four-year starter at EKU who completed his career this past winter. He left Eastern as the program’s 15th all-time leading scorer (1,277 career points). The 6-7 guard has agreed to a deal in the German “A” league with the Paderborn Baskets. The Baskets finished seventh out of 16 teams in the “A” league last year with a 14-14 overall record.

Taylor, a second team All-OVC forward in 2009-10, has also signed a deal to play in Germany. The native of Pittsburgh, Pa., helped the Colonels reach the 2007 NCAA tournament by hitting the game-winning jumper in that season’s OVC championship game against Austin Peay. Taylor will play for Hertener Loewen in the German “B” league. Hertener Loewen posted a 16-6 record in the North division of the “B” league a year ago.

Colonel fans can follow the progress of all three basketball players through www.eurobasket.com. The European basketball leagues begin competition in September and run through April.

Click here for a recent story on Justin Stommes in the St. Cloud (Minn.) Times!

Click here for a recent story on Spencer Perrin in the Danville Advocate-Messenger!