ELEY SIGNS TO PLAY IN TURKEY

Bud Eley, Southeast Missouri State University's all-time leader in rebounding and blocked shots, has gone a long way to play professional basketball.

The 6-foot-10 Eley, the 1999 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and also the league's Male Athlete of the Year, recently signed a contract with the Istanbul team of Turkey's top league.

Eley arrived in Istanbul Sunday and practiced with his new team Monday. The league is scheduled to begin its season next month.

Ron Hunt, Eley's legal guardian who has served as the center's main adviser over the years, said he spoke with Eley Monday.

"It was a long flight but Bud sounds good and he seems to like it over there," said Hunt from Detroit, where he lives and Eley grew up.

Although Hunt did not get into specific financial terms, he said Eley's contract was guaranteed and he will be making quite a bit of money.

"It's much more than ($100,000)," Hunt said. "He deserves it. He's worked really hard.

"Bud had offers from teams in France and Spain, but the offer from Turkey was the best."

Eley was not selected in this year's NBA draft but he attended an Indianapolis Pacers' tryout camp and was selected to play for the Pacers' summer league team.

Eley did well enough in the summer league that he was invited to the Pacers' veterans camp in October. But Hunt said he advised Eley to take the sure thing.

"The Pacers thought Rik Smits might retire and they really liked Bud," said Hunt. "But Smits decided to come back and they'd already drafted a couple of big kids.

"They wanted to invite him back for veterans camp, but like I told Bud, these people (from Turkey) have made you an excellent offer. Do you want to risk not making it (in the NBA)?

"Bud's goal was to play in the league (NBA), but I thought this was just an excellent deal for a rookie player and for a kid who didn't get drafted."