Mert Shumpert

Mert Preston Shumpert

Position	Shooting Guard Small Forward
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight	200 lb (91 kg)
League	Beko Basketbol Ligi Euroleague
Team	Galatasaray
Number	9
Born	August 20, 1979 (1979-08-20) (age 32) Muncie, Indiana United States
Nationality	American / Turkish
College	Syracuse (1998–2002)
Draft	Undrafted
Pro career	2002–present
Career history	BC Besançon (2002-2003) Agricola Gloria (2003-2004) Villaggio Solidago Livorno (2004-2005) Armani Jeans Milano (2005-2006) Climamio Bologna (2006) Benetton Treviso (2006-2007) Beşiktaş Cola Turka (2007-2008) Efes Pilsen (2008-2010) Galatasaray (2010- )

Mert Shumpert or Preston Anthony Shumpert (born August 20, 1979 in Muncie, Indiana Turkish: Mert Shumpert) is an American-Turkish^[1] professional basketball player currently playing for Turkish club Galatasaray.^[2] Shumpert is also a former college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange from Fort Walton Beach, Florida who was a two-time All Big East selection.

College

Shumpert appeared in 32 games in his freshman year with averages of 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds.

Shumpert earned the spot of sixth man in his sophomore year, and led the team in 3-point percentage with a 42.9 percent clip. He also made four starts, and averaged 10.4 points per game.

In his junior season, Shumpert became a full-time starter and blossomed as one of the most prolific scorers in the Big East. He averaged 19.5 points that season, and was named the Big East's Most Improved Player, and was also a first-team All Big East selection.

In the early part of his senior season, Shumpert fulfilled expectations, as Syracuse jumped up to a 14-2 record and a No. 10 overall ranking. Shumpert led the way, scoring 30 or more points on seven occasions, including a career high 37 against Albany. Shumpert finished with career averages of 14.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.

Professional career

Undrafted by the NBA, Shumpert decided to go play overseas, first starting in France for the 2002-03 season, signed by BC Besançon, in the French Pro-B. Following his stint in France, Shumpert has bounced around in the Italian professional leagues, including stints with Agricola Gloria M.T. (Serie A2, 2003–04), Villaggio Solidago Livorno (04-05), where he played in 2005 the Italian All Star Game, and Armani Jeans Milano (05-06).^[3]

He started 2006-07 season with Climamio Bologna, before transferring in December to Benetton Treviso [1], starting 22 games and averaging 13.6 points, while helping them to the Italian National Cup.^[4] Shumpert came to Turkey to play for Beşiktaş Cola Turka in the 2007-08 season.^[5] After a very productive season in both Turkish league and ULEB Cup, he decided to follow coach Ergin Ataman and join Efes Pilsen.^[6] In August 2010 he signed with Galatasaray.^[7]

References

1. ^ Preston to be Mert
2. ^ Shumpert at Galatasaray
3. ^ http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=tre&pcode=KNH
4. ^ http://195.56.77.208/team/tbd.phtml?club=TV&type=d2&from=2006&g1=2006-07-01_201&g2=2007-06-17_202&type2=m&type3=t
5. ^ http://www.maksimum.com/spor/h/besiktas_cola_turkaya_iki_yabanci.php
6. ^ Shumpert 2 yıl Efes'te
7. ^ Preston Shumpert Galatasaray Cafe Crown'da (Turkish)

External links

• Orangehoops.org Preston Shumpert Profile
• Euroleague Profile
• TBLStat.net Profile

Persondata
Name	Shumpert, Preston
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	August 20, 1979
Place of birth	Muncie, Indiana
Date of death
Place of death