Luke Schenscher

Infobox Euroleague Player

name = Luke Schenscher
nickname =
position = Center
height_ft = 7
height_in = 1
weight_lbs = 265
league =
team = Adelaide 36ers
nationality = Australian
birth_date = birth date and age|1982|12|31
birth_place = Hope Forest, South Australia
highschool = Australian Institute of Sport
college = Georgia Tech
draft = Not drafted | draft_year = 2005
career_start = 2005
former_teams = Fort Worth Flyers
Chicago Bulls
Portland Trail Blazers (2007)
Brose Baskets

Luke Dean Schenscher (born December 31 1982) is an Australian basketball player.

Early career

The son of German migrants, Schenscher was born and raised in Hope Forest, South Australia, and played three years of basketball with the Australian Institute of Sport. He became the first high school player to represent the Boomers, the Australian men's basketball team.

He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech, from 2001 to 2005, starting a majority of his career at the center position, and in the 2003–04 season along with Portland Trail Blazer Jarrett Jack was a member of the Yellow Jackets team which played in the NCAA championship game against the Connecticut Huskies where he received all Final Four Team honors.

Professional career

After college, Schenscher attempted to make an NBA roster, and was a member of the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings 2005–06 pre-season rosters. He signed to the Fort Worth Flyers to play in the NBA D-League, ranking in the top 50 players for points per game and top 20 for rebounds per game. He signed a 10-day contract with the Chicago Bulls on March 5, 2006. [http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/schenscher_060304.html Bulls Sign Luke Schenscher to 10-Day Contract] . Retrieved March 6, 2006.] He played 12 minutes, scored 4 points and grabbed 1 rebound in his first game. He earned a second 10-day contract as soon as the first expired.

It was widely believed Schenscher was to sign with the South Dragons to play in the National Basketball League as the team's first contracted player for the 2006–07 season. [cite news | last=Howell | first=Stephen | title=Dragons set to sign 'Big Red' | date=December 24, 2005 | publisher=The Age | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/basketball/dragons-set-to-sign-big-red/2005/12/22/1135032136833.html] This did not happen and Joe Ingles was signed by the Dragons while Schenscher was with Chicago. On July 17, 2006 power forward Darius Songaila left Chicago to join the Washington Wizards in a $23m deal, opening up the possibility of Schenscher having a more prominent role on the Bulls, however on October 30, 2006, one day before the beginning of the 2006-07 NBA season, the Bulls waived him. [Chicago Bulls (2006). [http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/schenscher_waived_061030.html Bulls Waive Luke Schenscher] . Retrieved October 31, 2006.] He returned to the Flyers for the 2006-07 D-League season.

In March 2007, Schenscher was signed to a 10-day contract by the Portland Trail Blazers, who at that time had lost several big men (Joel Przybilla, Raef LaFrentz) to injury. On March 24, his stay with the Trail Blazers was extended with a second 10-day contract. [The Oregonian (2007). [http://blog.oregonlive.com/sportsupdates/2007/03/quick_timberwolves_put_salt_in.html Quick: Randolph's return spoiled by Garnett, Timberwolves] . Retrieved March 29, 2007.] At the end of the second 10-day contract the Trail Blazers decided to sign Schenscher for the remainder of the season. [ Associated Press (2007) [http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/Trail_Blazers_Sign_Center_Luke-219011-1218.html Trail Blazers Sign Center Luke Schenscher for Remainder of Season] . Retrieved April 4, 2007]

During the 2007 offseason, he signed a one-year contract with the reigning German champions, Brose Baskets. [cite web|url=http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/14671/180/item |title=Brose Baskets signs Aussie center Luke Schenscher |publisher="Euroleague.net" |date=2007-07-27 |accessdate=2007-08-24] As the son of German emigrants, he is eligible for a German passport and therefore not subject to any restrictions on non-EU nationals in the German league. Later, he was waived due to his injury.

On April 15, 2008, The Adelaide 36ers confirmed that they had agreed to terms with Schensher for a one year deal.cite web|url=http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=74743 |title=Adelaide 36ers agree to terms with Luke Schenscher|publisher="www.nbl.com.au" |date=2008-04-15 |accessdate=2008-04-15] Adelaide coach Scott Ninnis was ecstatic with the signing of Schensher: "I've received nothing but positive remarks from the public about the current direction of the club, and I am certain there are exciting times ahead. Luke only compliments the group we already have in place and anytime you add a player over 7 feet tall with NBA experience, he's going to have an impact".

References

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/luke_schenscher/ NBA.com Profile - Luke Schenscher]
* [http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/luke_schenscher/index.html D-League profile]
* [http://ramblinwreck.collegesports.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/schenscher_luke00.html Georgia Tech profile]
* [http://www.aussiebball.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=117 Luke Schenscher Profile]
* [http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=74743]