Dyck Becomes Latest Hoops Alum To Ink Pro Deal With Overseas Club

6-Foot-5 Guard/Forward Headed To Switzerland

AMHERST, N.Y. - Former Daemen College basketball star Torrence Dyck (Rochester, N.Y./San Jacinto College), who wrapped up a stellar two-year stint for the Wildcats last winter, will continue his career at the professional level as he's inked his first pro contract with BC Boncourt Red Team of the National Basketball League in Switzerland. By signing, Dyck joins a growing list of former Wildcats who have taken their talents overseas in recent years, including his former teammate Gerald Beverly (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) who signed with Telekom Baskets in Germany last summer.

Based in Boncourt, Switzerland on the country's northern border with France, BC Boncourt Red Team finished seventh out of 10 teams in the league last season, compiling a 9-18 record. According to eurobasket.com, Dyck is one of four Americans currently signed to the team, joining former Division I players Julian Norfleet (6-2, Guard, Mt. St. Mary's), Craig Brown (6-5, Guard, Rutgers) and Jonathan Arledge (6-9, Forward, George Mason). The trio led the team in scoring last season, combining to average 43.6 points per game.

"Signing my first professional contract this week turned my dream into a reality," Dyck said. "It's been a long journey for me, including attending junior colleges in Florida and Texas before finding a place I could call home at Daemen. Choosing to attend Daemen was one of the best decisions I have ever made. None of this would have been possible without the coaching staff and Athletic Department. I'd like to thank coach MacDonald personally for pushing me to my limit, not only to be the best player I could be, but also the best person I could be. Right now, I just want to focus on getting better and I'm looking forward to the challenges that playing professional basketball will present."

Dyck led Daemen to a 19-10 record last season and helped the Wildcats advance to the East Coast Conference Tournament finals in the team's first-ever postseason appearance at the NCAA Division II level. For the season, Dyck led the ECC and ranked fifth in the East Region in scoring at 21.9 points while adding 6.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. His scoring prowess was good enough to rank second all-time at Daemen for points per game in a single season.

Dyck scored in double figures in all but one game, posting 18 games of 20 or more points and four 30-point outings, and his seven double-doubles tied for the team lead. For his efforts, Dyck earned first-team All-ECC, second-team All-Region and honorable-mention All-American honors, and was named Daemen's 2015-16 Male Athlete of the Year.

A two-time ECC Player of the Week (Jan. 11-18; Dec. 7-15), Dyck was also tabbed the Division II National Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association for the week ending January 17 after exploding for 30.7 points per game during three Wildcat victories. His signature performance of the season, and perhaps of his career, came during that week when he scored 18 of his career-high 35 points in the final six minutes of Daemen's incredible come-from-behind victory at Roberts Wesleyan College on January 12. He scored a driving layup with four seconds remaining to complete the comeback, as Daemen rallied from a 22-point second-half deficit to win 98-96.

He ended his senior campaign by being named to the all-tournament team at the ECC Championships. Dyck scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Daemen past Mercy College in the semifinal round with a 103-102 overtime victory. He scored 22 points and nabbed six boards in the tournament finals where Daemen's season ended with a loss to top-seeded Saint Thomas Aquinas College.

Dyck concluded his career as Daemen's all-time record holder for points per game, averaging 20.7 points in 51 career games. He totaled 1,056 points, becoming just the fourth two-year player in team history to surpass the 1,000-point milestone, and the first since Russell John who played from 1990-92.

"We are really happy for Torrence as he begins the next chapter of his basketball career," said Daemen head coach Mike MacDonald who has now coached 15 players that have signed pro contracts with European clubs, including his time as the head coach at both Canisius College and Medaille College. "Playing professionally has been a goal of his for a while now, and to see him fulfill that dream is awesome. We are really excited to follow his career like we did with Gerald last year. To watch Torrence come back from a difficult injury at the end of his junior year and turn into one of the best players in the country this past season has been great. Torrence has the ability to be a great pro."

In addition to Dyck and the afore-mentioned Beverly, former Daemen players such as Ajay Rutledge (Rochester, N.Y./Finger Lakes CC), Jorge Ebanks (Staten Island, N.Y./Finger Lakes CC), Moustapha Baidy (Memphis, Tenn./Erie CC) and Dom Mazzocchi (Geneva, N.Y./Finger Lakes CC) have spent time playing overseas in countries like Mexico, Ireland, Singapore, Portugal, England, France and Malta.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Torrence Dyck: G/F; 6' 5"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#4 Torrence Dyck
: 6' 5"; Senior
: G/F

Players Mentioned

#4 Torrence Dyck

Players Mentioned

#4 Torrence Dyck