MILWAUKEE - Former University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee basketball player J.J. Panoske signed to play professional basketball overseas with the Kangoeroes Basket Willebroek in Belgium.
"It's always been my dream to play basketball and get paid," said Panoske, a 2011 Brodhead High School graduate. "It was one of my goals before I even went to college."
Panoske signed a nine-month contract and will be paid $2,000 to $3,000 a month. He will play in the Belgium Scooore League, which has about a 25-game regular-season schedule and a playoff tournament at the end of the regular season.
"Not many people can call basketball a job," he said. "It's time to get paid for it now. I will be able to double it next year and the year after that double it again if I take care of business. You have to do what the coach says. They don't put up with someone with a bad attitude. You have to work your way up."
Panoske will leave Aug. 15 for Belgium where he has a three-week training camp that starts Aug. 16.
Panoske averaged 10.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season in helping lead UW-Milwaukee to a 20-13 finish and fifth place in the Horizon League.
Panoske broke two records at UW-Milwaukee. He set a school record for blocks in a single season (54) and blocks in a career (154). He tied a school record for the most games played in a career (125).
"It's always good to see something that you have been good at pay off," he said of the blocked shots records. "Those records are great. It's something I really tried to bring to Milwaukee."
Panoske scored 826 points and grabbed 472 rebounds in his career with the Panthers. He finished third in the Horizon League last year in blocked shots per game (1.6) and seventh in field goal percentage (51 percent). He displayed an ability to hit the 3-point shot , making 41 percent from behind the arc.
Panoske has been working on his post moves, foot work, jump shot and 3-point shot. He averaged 22 minutes a game playing for UW-Milwaukee last season, but he is working on cardio and strength training so he can take the toll of playing a possible 30-game season.
"I have dropped down to 235 (pounds) from 250," Panoske said. "It's a lot more fast-paced game. The Americans get paid the most money and score most of the points. They will probably want me to expand my game and play 35 minutes a game. It will be a transition."
When he's not playing basketball, Panoske is looking forward to traveling and sight-seeing.
"This year I really want to see Brussels," Panoske said. "It will depend on where we play, but it would be nice to see Italy. I will not be taking it all for granted."
"It's always been my dream to play basketball and get paid," said Panoske, a 2011 Brodhead High School graduate. "It was one of my goals before I even went to college."
Panoske signed a nine-month contract and will be paid $2,000 to $3,000 a month. He will play in the Belgium Scooore League, which has about a 25-game regular-season schedule and a playoff tournament at the end of the regular season.
"Not many people can call basketball a job," he said. "It's time to get paid for it now. I will be able to double it next year and the year after that double it again if I take care of business. You have to do what the coach says. They don't put up with someone with a bad attitude. You have to work your way up."
Panoske will leave Aug. 15 for Belgium where he has a three-week training camp that starts Aug. 16.
Panoske averaged 10.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game last season in helping lead UW-Milwaukee to a 20-13 finish and fifth place in the Horizon League.
Panoske broke two records at UW-Milwaukee. He set a school record for blocks in a single season (54) and blocks in a career (154). He tied a school record for the most games played in a career (125).
"It's always good to see something that you have been good at pay off," he said of the blocked shots records. "Those records are great. It's something I really tried to bring to Milwaukee."
Panoske scored 826 points and grabbed 472 rebounds in his career with the Panthers. He finished third in the Horizon League last year in blocked shots per game (1.6) and seventh in field goal percentage (51 percent). He displayed an ability to hit the 3-point shot , making 41 percent from behind the arc.
Panoske has been working on his post moves, foot work, jump shot and 3-point shot. He averaged 22 minutes a game playing for UW-Milwaukee last season, but he is working on cardio and strength training so he can take the toll of playing a possible 30-game season.
"I have dropped down to 235 (pounds) from 250," Panoske said. "It's a lot more fast-paced game. The Americans get paid the most money and score most of the points. They will probably want me to expand my game and play 35 minutes a game. It will be a transition."
When he's not playing basketball, Panoske is looking forward to traveling and sight-seeing.
"This year I really want to see Brussels," Panoske said. "It will depend on where we play, but it would be nice to see Italy. I will not be taking it all for granted."
