Gallup Inks Deal with TBB Trier, Bundesliga Top Tier Germany
Published on August 9, 2011 under International Basketball League (IBL)
Albany Legends News Release
The Albany Legends professional basketball franchise has announced today that shooting guard E.J. Gallup has secured employment overseas in the top league in Germany. Gallup today signed with TBB Trier, a team in the first division (Bundesliga League), immediately becoming the team's sharpest shooting threat.
Gallup, the Legend's starting shooting guard and most veteran player this season, has had several offers to play overseas following his tremendous resurgence onto the professional scene. He shot close to 56% from the 3 point arc this season and topped all Legends' players with a .536 fg % for the season. He had times where he hit 6,7, and 8 NBA-distance 3-point shots in games, and most of them consecutively and under pressure. Gallup finished the IBL season top 20 in scoring, earning 2nd place honors on the team, and was nominated as an IBL All-Star by the coaches. He also was key in many of the home and road wins for the Legends this spring.
"He is pretty reliable," Legends Coach Ben Smith stated. "...when you need instant offense, you can pretty much rely on the fact that he can knock down a 3 or give you some good looks to stretch defenses."
Gallup, known for his shooting prowess, also impressed the coaching staff with his defense as the season grew longer. "He definitely improved, out of necessity, on his foot-speed and his overall conditioning. Towards the beginning of the season, we (the coaching staff) would joke with him about not shutting guys down... as we went along, he started to really develop. He had games where he was 5-7 from the 3, 4-5 elsewhere from the floor, 3 for 3 from the line, and on top of it added 4 steals, 6 assists and 6 rebounds.... All that in 27 or 28 minutes of a 48 minute game... He proved he was a complete player."
"This league (the IBL) is full of fast guards and athletic players that can get by you quickly. He needed to step up and shut some guys down at times, and he did just that. Not once did he get outscored by his direct matchup, and that says a lot... he wasn't concerned just about his own stats, he was concerned about the team victory." Smith continued, "E.J. quickly became someone we could all look to for on-floor leadership, not so much just with his words, but through his actions. He is a true pro, and the guys at TBB Trier are lucky to have landed him... he will not disappoint."
Gallup, set to depart on Saturday, is excited about his return. "One of the most important parts of this last season for me was to let the overseas agents and coaches know I was still out there, still playing. " He said. "It wasn't about stats for me, just about showing a minute line, and that I could still handle myself and every aspect of each game professionally. Now, to have achieved that, and to play back in a league I once played in, in front of six to eight thousand fans a night... it's going to be great."
"E.J. set a goal and achieved it... something we all looked forward to at the beginning of this IBL season. " Smith said. "As a teammate, he was counted on in clutch situations and rarely let us down. He was a veteran through and through, and was always poised in times where others may have buckled. We are just overwhelmed with pride to have had the opportunity to work with him, help him develop, and continue on to bigger things. We as an organization wish him the best of luck in Germany."
International Basketball League Stories from August 9, 2011
- Gallup Inks Deal with TBB Trier, Bundesliga Top Tier Germany - Albany Legends
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