Oct. 4, 2006

By Jim Gries, Oskaloosa Herald sports editor

OSKALOOSA, Iowa - Although it is not the NBA, former William Penn University (Iowa) basketball player Norman Prather is living out a dream when he takes to the court this year. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound native of Caruthersville, Mo., will board a plane later Friday to begin his professional career in Denmark.

Prather averaged 17.1 points and 7.5 rebounds a game for the Statesmen last season, signed a one-year deal with Verloose in the Danish League. Verloose is a team consisting mainly of first-year players of the international game and league rules state that all teams can have only two U.S. players on its roster.

The team got interested in Prather, who was a first-team all-Midwest Classic Conference selection and was an NAIA honorable mention choice, after William Penn coaches John Henry and Brandon Lenhart sent Verloose's coaches a videotape of Prather's exploits.

"At first, I intended to play in Europe after it was brought to me, but then after a while through the summer, I didn't hear anything about it until a week or so ago," he said.

"They wanted me to come and I said OK. I was happy and I look forward to going.

"I was excited when I heard they were interested in me coming. When they finally sent me the deal, I was ready to go."

While playing in the NBA is Prather's ultimate dream, he said he would not mind playing his career in Europe.

He said he can get a better contract next season if he does well on the court. "Getting paid for playing basketball is the best thing I can do."

The eight-month season begins Sunday, but Prather probably won't play until he gets adjusted to the time difference.

He will have some time to adjust to the international game, but is confident he can make a successful transition to it.

"It will be different, a little faster and not as physical like over here," Prather said. "I will probably play both guard and forward, wherever they need me really. I think I'm a good fit and I can adjust to it."

He added the international game is dominated by good guards and not many big men muscle their way in the lane like the game in America.

Prather said Verloose had been one of the more accomplished teams in Denmark, winning several league championships. But the team has struggled recently and hopes to rebound soon.

Another thing that will be much different for Prather is living in a foreign country.

"It's going to be different," he said. "There are a lot of things I can't do there that I can do over here. I'll meet new people and it will be a good experience for me.

"It's also going to be hard not knowing anyone, not being able to pick up the phone and call somebody. I don't know how the food is over there. I've got friends there and they said the food isn't very good over there."

Who knows, if Prather excels in Denmark, people in the U.S. could see him on an NBA court near them in the future.