Former WWU, Slam Standout Wilkins Signs with Moroccan Team
Published on February 20, 2014 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Bellingham Slam News Release
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Former Bellingham Slam guard Rico Wilkins has signed a contract to play professionally in Morocco, the team announced today.
Wilkins will be joining Wydad AC, a team located in Casablanca, Morocco's largest city. Founded in 1937, Wydad AC is one of Morocco's most storied basketball clubs and has won 10 Moroccan League championships.
The 5-foot-11 native of Dallas, Texas, completed his rookie season with the Slam last July, helping lead the team to their second of back-to-back International Basketball League championships.
Fresh off his senior season at Western Washington, in 2013 Wilkins quickly impressed during his first season as a pro, averaging 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game. His scoring ranked him third on an up-tempo Slam team which averaged 125 points per game.
Wilkins was particularly impressive in the Slam's two games in the IBL playoffs, where he put up a combined 51 points and was the runner-up for Championship game Most Valuable Player honors.
At the conclusion of the season, Wilkins was named the IBL's Sixth Man of the Year by the basketball website USbasket.com, becoming the first Bellingham player ever to earn that award.
Prior to joining the Slam, Wilkins competed for three seasons at Western Washington, helping the Vikings win the NCAA National Championship in 2012 as a junior, before reaching the NCAA Division-II Final Four again as a senior.
Wilkins joined former Viking Zach Henifin, now playing professionally in Australia, as the only two players to win NCAA and IBL championships.
International Basketball League Stories from February 20, 2014
- Former WWU, Slam Standout Wilkins Signs with Moroccan Team - Bellingham Slam
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