DEVENDORF CRUISING: Bay City's Only Pro Cager Plugging Along in Ukraine
April 14, 2013
By: Dave Rogers
Few Bay City sports stars have made such a splash as Eric Devendorf, shown on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2007.
The heady days when he made the cover of Sports Illustrated in 2007 as a Syracuse star are fading into history, but Bay City's Eric Devendorf can still light it up on a basketball court.
And long gone are the days when he lit up the Saginaw Valley league, averaging 30.6 points a game for Bay City Central.
Central fans still recall his heroic performances that put him on both the McDonald's and Parade Magazine All American teams. That was heady territory where no local lad had ever tread.
Of course now his fan base is not the huge Orange Crush of Syracuse, it is located in a remote area of the former Soviet Union, the Ukraine.
But for injuries and some rocky personal problems at Syracuse, and the fact that he tried to turn pro too early, Devendorf likely would be a household name as an NBA star today.
Devendorf is making his mark far from the basketball mad crowds of the U.S. But he is still relatively young (he turns 26 on April 21) and, who knows what fateful turn his career still may take . . .?
The Ukraine is no tiny country, however. It is home to 46 million people, 77.8 percent of whom are ethnic Ukrainians, with sizable minorities of Russians (17%), Belarusians and Romanians.
The Ukraine has been independent since the breakup of the former Soviet Union in 1991. The country remains a globally important market and is the world's third-largest grain exporter.
Chances are he won't get the call to replace the injured Kobe Bryant at the NBA, but Devendorf faithful still think he could play with the big boys if he got the chance.
After completing apprenticeships in New Zealand and Australia and a horrendous experience in Turkey, as well as with Reno Bighorns and Idaho Stampede in the NBA-D league, the persistent Devendorf seems to have found a home with the Russkies.
Devendorf, Bay City's only professional basketball player, has completed a 39-game season with a Ukrainian Super-league team.
The Bay Cityan has settled into a journeyman role with the DniproAzot team that finished the season with a 15-24 record.
The former Syracuse flash had a highlight game when his eleventh ranked DniproAzot won a double-overtime thriller edging 9th ranked Mykolaiv by one point 86-85 on Feb. 1.
Ukrainian commentators wrote: "Americans were the main players on the court. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Eric Devendorf (193-87, college: Syracuse) who helped to win the game recording 25 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
Devo, a 6-4, 180 pound guard, picked up his scoring somewhat during the season, finishing with an 11.3 points per game average in about 21 minutes per game.
He fired an amazing 49.5 percent on two point shots and 41.8 percent on three pointers. Free throws continue to plague the former Orangeman as he struggled to a 70.3 average in that category.
Devendorf averages two rebounds a game, not his strong point, and his defensive skills have always been suspect.
But his offensive skills are tops and he describes himself as a "slasher," finding the open spot and getting to the bucket for the easy dog shot.
Lots of folks still hope to see the Devendorf skills once more a little closer to home. Some see him as a cross between Jason Kidd and Jeremy Lin.
In case he doesn't show up on a basketball floor near you, an autographed copy of the Nov. 19, 2007 SI featuring Devo and Georgetown star Roy Hibbert can be had for $139 online from Autograph Warehouse.
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