Eric Devendorf Switches Teams in New Zealand After Police Incident

Now Playing for the Wellington Saints, Bay City's All-Time Star Starts Over

April 15, 2010
By: Dave Rogers

No matter what Bay City bad boy basketballer Eric Devendorf does, it makes headlines.

Controversial Devendorf recently was released from his contract with the Waikato Pistons in New Zealand, after being questioned in a Napier police station.

He was immediately picked up by another team in the same league, the Wellington Saints, and will take the court tonight in the TBS Bank Arena.

Said the caption under Devendorf's picture on a New Zealand sports blog: "SINNER OR SAINT: American college basketball's bad boy Eric Devendorf wants a new start with the Wellington Saints after trouble in the United States and with the Waikato Pistons."

"This is kind of a start-over for me and I'll try to take this league as a stepping stone and try to make the most of it and go on to bigger and better things," said Devendorf.

In a Napier bar after a game on Friday night, Devendorf apparently came to the defense of a former Syracuse University team-mate, Josh Pace, who plays for the Bay Hawks.

Even though the incident was only some kind of verbal confrontation, police ran him in, although no charges were filed.

Despite scoring 49 points in his first game as a Piston and averaging 24.4 per game, Coach Dean Vickerman said he wanted another player who would run the offense in a different way.

Manager John Davey of the Waikaito team said an incident that started with a mild altercation in a bar had nothing to do with Devendorf's release.

However, Mr. Davey added: "knowing his history he should have walked away."

Fans will remember that in the U.S. NBA-D League coaches refused to take a chance on the high-powered, emotional guard. That's why he ended up in New Zealand, hoping to play himself to the top and perhaps work back to an NBA team.

New Zealand sportswriters said Devendorf had "struggled to make an impact in his most recent outings."

The controversial former Syracuse University star was involved in an incident at a Napier bar following Waikato's 78-73 loss to the Bay Hawks on Friday night.

Off-court problems plagued Devendorf in college. He was suspended at Syracuse in late 2008 for allegedly hitting a female student during a traffic incident and was sentenced to 40 hours' community service. He was already on disciplinary probation at the university from an earlier incident.

Davey praised Devendorf as "as good a shooter as I've seen come here." But he said the league-leading Pistons will seek a "spectacular point guard" replacement for Devendorf.

"Undoubtedly Eric is as good a shooter as I've seen come here," Davey said. Devendorf averaged 24.4 points per game with the Pistons.

"What we were asking him [Eric] to do was maybe outside his comfort zone."

The Pistons' first choice to replace Devendorf, Oliver Lafayette, NBA Development League star, has reportedly been signed by the Boston Celtics.

Sam Worthington of the Dominion Post interviewed Devendorf at home recently as he played with his daughter, Madelyn, 22 months.

"I love the game and this is how I make my money and take care of my family so I've gotta go hard with it."

Devendorf's family is girlfriend of five years Fatriyah who is expecting another daughter in August.

Devendorf said the New Zealand adventure marked the first time out of the United States for all of them, commenting:

"I just love having my family out here with me. The transition coming to a different country is pretty tough but not a lot of people get the chance to come over to a different country and get paid for playing basketball. It's just a blessing and a great opportunity." ###