Former Rogers State University point guard Lance Sullivan has signed a contract to play professional basketball, inking a two-year deal with KK Mornar Bar of Bar, Montenegro.
 

"This is a very exciting time for me and I want to thank God for blessing me with this opportunity," Sullivan said. "I have been playing basketball since I was a little kid and so to have the opportunity to be paid to play and travel around the world is truly a dream come true."

 

The Columbus, Ohio, native is the first RSU basketball player to sign with a professional team. Sullivan's RSU teammate Sylvester Spicer is expected to sign a professional contract later this month.
 

KK Mornar Bar is a member of the Opportunity League, the top basketball division in Montenegro's National Basketball Federation. Sullivan spent two weeks this summer touring the area and playing for scouts of European basketball leagues. He signed a two-year contract to play a pair of nine-month seasons (Sept.-May), and will leave the U.S. Aug. 26, to begin training.
 

"I'm blessed, thankful and feel greatly honored to be the first Hillcat to become a professional basketball player," Sullivan stated. "There have been a number of great players come through RSU over the last few years and so it's very humbling for me to get to be the first. I'm sure Spice will follow suit in the next few weeks."
 

Sullivan, set the RSU single-season assist record while earning all-conference honors for the Hillcats in 2009-10. The senior transfer averaged 13 points, five rebounds and four assists per game while helping the Cats to their second consecutive appearance in the Sooner Athletic Conference Championship game.
 

"We are very happy for Lance and the opportunity he has been given to continue his basketball career at the next level," said Justin Barkley, RSU head basketball coach. "He is an outstanding young man who has worked very hard to earn this opportunity. Hopefully he is the first of many Hillcats who will go on to play professional basketball in the future."
 

Prior to joining RSU, Sullivan earned honorable mention All-America honors as a junior at Langston University in 2008-09. He poured in 19 points per game to go along with four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Sullivan was named first-team all-conference and ranked eighth in the NAIA in steals and 20th in points per game. He also spent two years as a starter at NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri State where he averaged 11 points and three assists per contest.
 

For more information on Hillcat Basketball visit www.rsuhillcats.com.