The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

ZANE Knowles is headed to Greece for the latest stop on his pro basketball journey.

Knowles agreed to terms with PAOK Thessaloniki in the Greek A1 Basketball League, the first tier level in the country.

It consists of 14 teams and runs from October to June, with teams playing 26 games each during the regular season, and the top eight teams then competing in the playoffs.

The league has always been ranked as one of the top 3-5 level national domestic leagues in European basketball since league rankings began.

PAOK finished fifth last season and competes in the 8,500 seat PAOK Sports Arena, the second-largest venue in the league.

Knowles, the veteran forward and national team standout, spent last season with a pair of clubs across two leagues in France.

He concluded the year with Chartes Basket Masculins of the NM1 League and averaged 9.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

He also spent time with Etoile Charleville-Mezieres of the French ProB League.

In 27 games with the club last season, he averaged 9.1 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

Knowles spent his first professional season with Siarka Tarnobrzeg and King Wilki Morskie Szczecin of the Polish Basketball League or Tauron Basket Liga, the highest level of pro basketball in the country.

He has played also professionally in Japan (Tokyo Cinq Reves and Wakayama Trians). He averaged 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 24 total appearances.

Coming out of Texas A and M Corpus Christi, Knowles was drafted by the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G-League in third round (68th overall).

Knowles participated in the G-League’s Star’s Open Tryouts before being cut in training camp and eventually signing in Poland. He spent his freshman year at Grambling, where he was hampered by several injuries. He played in just 15 games and averaged 1.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per outing.

After completing a stint at Pearl River Community College (12.6 points, 8.4 rebounds per game), Knowles completed his final two years of eligibility with the Texas A and M Corpus Christi Islanders.

As a junior he averaged 5.3 points and four rebounds per game and as a senior, increased those numbers to 7.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.