Stone signs pro contract with team in Turkey

~ The Former Redhawk will report to his team by Aug. 30

Former Southeast Missouri State forward Tyler Stone's professional basketball career will officially begin after he signed a contract to play for Besiktas Integral Forex in Turkey.

"First and foremost, you know, my dream was to play in the NBA, and it still is," Stone said. "Sometimes you just have to take a different route and just have to work to get where you want to be. I'm not making a long-term commitment -- it's a 10-month deal. I'm going to develop. It's a great opportunity, it's really, really good money -- a six-figure deal for a rookie is pretty good -- so I just decided to go with that and develop. I'm still trying to make my way to the NBA but I'm taking a route that fits me."

Stone had played in three games with the Indiana Pacers in the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League in Orlando before signing. He averaged 4.3 points and had four rebounds for the Pacers.

He is expected to report to the team by August 30 and joins former Tennessee State guard Patrick Miller on Besiktas Integral Forex.

"I just want to take as much as I can from it and try to come back and fulfil my dream to play in the NBA," Stone said.

Stone, who started three years at Southeast after transferring from the University of Missouri, was a first-team all-OVC selection as a senior and was second-team all-conference twice. He led the Redhawks with 19.3 points and 9.5 rebounds as a senior.

Former Southeast players Leon Powell, Calvin Williams, Roy Booker and Jaycen Herring are all currently on international basketball teams.