Ever wonder where some of your favorite college hoop stars are balling these days? Just because you don’t see them on an NBA roster or on ESPN’s Top 10 Plays of the Week doesn’t mean they’re not putting in work in some other league around the world. Every year only a very select few reach their dreams of walking up to the stage, shaking David Sterns hand & putting on that official NBA fitted. For the other thousands of ballplayers it means either getting a “real” job or packing your bags and going to some other country to chase that hoop dream & cash a check while doing it. Every week we will feature one of those ball players still chasing that dream…

This week we spotlight Kevin Pittsnogle. You remember him right? 7-0 kid from West Virginia banging three-point bombs for WVU in the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2006. This past week Kevin played his first game of the season in Puerto Rico Baloncesto Superior Nacional League. He led Los Conquistadores de Guaynabo to a 73-71 win over the Leones de Ponce. Kevin went for 15 points (5-10 from the 3-point line) and pulled down 11 boards.

The league itself is tough, both in schedule and in style of play. While most countries play two games per week (usually on weekends), teams in Kevin’s new league usually play three and four games per week. So basically while it takes other countries six or seven months to play a 30-game season, the P.R. league plays a 30-game season in just two or three months.

And the comp is solid, too. In my rookie season in the Nacional League, Loyd Daniels, Marcus Liberty, Anthony Bonner, Anthony Goldwire, Richard Dumas and Stacey King were some of the American players in the mix.

All of the American players are given cars to drive while they are in Puerto Rico. They are also given the choice of living in a house/condo or a hotel. All of the car and living expenses are picked up by the teams and American players usually make anywhere from 2K to 5K a week (no taxes). The pay is based upon the school you attended (hence if you went to a “major” school you’d be paid better) and if you have any NBA experience.

Professional players are treated like NBA players down there. Games are televised and players regularly grace the back page of the newspaper, much like A-Rod or Steph would on the Daily News or The Post here in New York City. As with most oversees leagues, when you’re winning you’re the toast of the town. Restaurant owners won’t let you pay for a meal in their spots and will many time send you over as many complimentary drinks as you can handle.

So while Puerto Rico isn’t exactly the NBA, getting paid to hoop on an island that I’ve often heard people refer to as “paradise” doesn’t seem like a bad alternative at all.

– PR

Update: Pittsnogle had his second game last night and blew up for 33 points (7-12 from three) and 11 boards in a W.