Ex-Tribe Star Sumner Signs Basketball Contract in Finland

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Former William and Mary men’s basketball standout Danny Sumner signed a professional contract Tuesday to play with Karhu Kauhajoki in Finland’s top division, the Korisliiga. Sumner becomes the fifth former Tribe player under head coach Tony Shaver to sign to play professionally overseas, joining Adam Hess ´04, Zeb Cope ´04, Adam Payton ´07 and Laimis Kisielius ´08.

Sumner, who was a three-year starter for the Tribe, finished 22nd on the Green and Gold career scoring list with 1,146 points. His 135 career 3-pointers made rank ninth in school annals, while he played in the fourth most games in school history at 117. During his final three seasons with the Tribe, Sumner averaged doubles figures, including a career-best 13.4 per contest in 2009 on his way to earning team MVP honors. The 6-foot-7 wing was a two-time CAA All-Championship selection and averaged 3.4 rebounds per contest over his career.

Sumner was a part of the seventh-winningest senior class in Tribe history. The College produced 65 wins, including the third-most in school history (22) last season. Sumner captained the Tribe to only its second-ever NIT appearance, and was a driving force behind the College reaching the CAA Championship Game in both 2008 and 2010.

Kauhajoki is a small town in Western Finland with a population of roughly 15,000. Last season, they finished 14-30 after earning promotion into the Korisliiga. Karhu Kauhajoki won the First Division championship in 2009 for the second time in team history to earn a promotion to Finland’s top division.

After graduating from the College, Sumner had a series of three workouts with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks before heading overseas to play. He also generated interest from teams in Germany, Belgium and Israel, before eventually signing in Finland. Karhu Kauhajoki begins training camp this week, before opening the season against reigning Korisliiga League Champion Pyrintö on Sept. 6.