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Russell advances pro career, keeps GCU connection
8/7/2024 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog
Lopes backcourt great enters 8th European season in new home — Turkey
A year before Grand Canyon basketball could play a Division I postseason game and well before the Lopes' run of three NCAA tournament appearances in four years, DeWayne Russell laid the groundwork that put points on the scoreboard and injected energy into The Biggest Party in College Basketball.
Russell was — and is — the standard bearer for GCU basketball.
Then, all 5 feet 11 inches of Russell lifted the Lopes program with 22 wins per season (2014-17) and indelible moments such as a 42-point masterpiece against Louisville and a finals appearance in the College 3-Point Championship finals at GCU.
Now, Russell continues the Lopes' most successful professional career, in which he has starred in France, Italy and two German cities before leaving a Phoenix respite this week for his eighth professional season's stop – Turkey.
But he remains every bit a Lope.
With a GCU culture that keeps players connected like Legos, Russell spends his summers working out and imparting knowledge on current Lopes at GCU Basketball Facility. He talked smack last season in Germany to fellow Americans about his Lopes' 30-win season and NCAA tournament win. He even traded in his familiar uniform No. 0 to wear late Lopes favorite Oscar Frayer's No. 4.
"It's gone by so fast that I can't even believe when I say I've done it for eight years," Russell said before a recent workout at GCU with Lopes assistant coach Peyton Prudhomme. "I'm really grateful that I've been able to stay around the game this long. Hopefully, I can squeeze another five or six years out."
At 30 years old, Russell may have to stretch more before competing but it is no stretch that he remains in his playing prime. He was Basketball Bundesliga's Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 when he led the German league in points per game (20.3) and assists per game (7.6).
Last season, Russell repeated leading the league in assists (6.3) as his acumen for using the pick and roll and reading defensive coverages improve with experience.
Just as quick with a drive or stepback and always expanding his arsenal of mid-range shots, Russell will move to Turkey this season in Izmir, the nation's third-largest city of 3 million residents.In June, he continued his lucrative career by signing with Aliaga Petkimspor (known as Petkim) of Basketbol Super Ligi, the top division of the Turkish league where former GCU player Roberts Blumbergs also will play this season for Galatasaray.
"I just wanted to challenge myself," said Russell, who will be Petkim's starting point guard and oldest player. "It was time for something new. It's a step up with a league that's a little better. And my brother's playing in the same league, so we get to be close to each other."
His brother, 26-year-old Fatts (Daron), will be on a club in the same city, setting up at least two matchups with the potential for up to five on-court meetings. Off the court, the families will meet even more often. Living 10 minutes apart will allow his brother to spend more time with Russell, his wife, Alexis (a former GCU soccer player and track and field athlete), and their 3-year-old daughter, Indie.
"The most important thing is I always want to set a standard for my daughter to chase her dreams, no matter how hard it is or what she has to do," Russell said. "That's what I did. It was hard for me to leave the country and establish myself in different cultures, but I did it because I love my dream and I love basketball."
Russell found his pro path the hard way, getting his chance on a short-term tryout contract in the French B league because the club had a point guard injury early in the 2017-18 season. Russell quickly elevated to the German league in 2018 for two years in Crailsheim, played two seasons in Italy for Treviso and returned to Germany for Oldenburg the past two seasons.
When the Russells return to their Valley roots each summer, their stay is limited to two months or less. GCU fifth-year head coach Bryce Drew has kept an open door for Russell and other Lopes basketball alumni to work out at the basketball complex. In return, Russell offers even more as an example for the Lopes.
The current coaching staff has made Russell feel like family, but he keeps a connection to his GCU past too by visiting each summer with President Brian Mueller. During a meeting on Russell's 2014 recruiting visit, Mueller laid out his vision for GCU and its basketball program that has come to fruition. Russell provided a program bridge to get there.
"I told him (Russell) yesterday that I think he's going to be a great coach," said Jordan Jackson, GCU's associate director of sports performance who has become close to "Weezy" over the past four summers.
"His energy is great. He has played the game for a long time. Even though he's not from this era, he knows these guys and takes the time to talk to these guys and encourages them. For these guys to see someone who went here, is still working, is still playing professionally and is making a lot of money, that's good motivation and inspiration."
When Russell follows the Lopes from overseas, he marvels at how much the players improve from when he saw them regularly in GCU summer workouts.
"I'm so proud of them," Russell said of the Lopes. "They probably don't even know. It's important for us as players that played here to establish a culture where we are cheering and helping the next generation up."
Russell was — and is — the standard bearer for GCU basketball.
Then, all 5 feet 11 inches of Russell lifted the Lopes program with 22 wins per season (2014-17) and indelible moments such as a 42-point masterpiece against Louisville and a finals appearance in the College 3-Point Championship finals at GCU.
Now, Russell continues the Lopes' most successful professional career, in which he has starred in France, Italy and two German cities before leaving a Phoenix respite this week for his eighth professional season's stop – Turkey.But he remains every bit a Lope.
With a GCU culture that keeps players connected like Legos, Russell spends his summers working out and imparting knowledge on current Lopes at GCU Basketball Facility. He talked smack last season in Germany to fellow Americans about his Lopes' 30-win season and NCAA tournament win. He even traded in his familiar uniform No. 0 to wear late Lopes favorite Oscar Frayer's No. 4.
"It's gone by so fast that I can't even believe when I say I've done it for eight years," Russell said before a recent workout at GCU with Lopes assistant coach Peyton Prudhomme. "I'm really grateful that I've been able to stay around the game this long. Hopefully, I can squeeze another five or six years out."At 30 years old, Russell may have to stretch more before competing but it is no stretch that he remains in his playing prime. He was Basketball Bundesliga's Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 when he led the German league in points per game (20.3) and assists per game (7.6).
Last season, Russell repeated leading the league in assists (6.3) as his acumen for using the pick and roll and reading defensive coverages improve with experience.
Just as quick with a drive or stepback and always expanding his arsenal of mid-range shots, Russell will move to Turkey this season in Izmir, the nation's third-largest city of 3 million residents.In June, he continued his lucrative career by signing with Aliaga Petkimspor (known as Petkim) of Basketbol Super Ligi, the top division of the Turkish league where former GCU player Roberts Blumbergs also will play this season for Galatasaray.
"I just wanted to challenge myself," said Russell, who will be Petkim's starting point guard and oldest player. "It was time for something new. It's a step up with a league that's a little better. And my brother's playing in the same league, so we get to be close to each other."
His brother, 26-year-old Fatts (Daron), will be on a club in the same city, setting up at least two matchups with the potential for up to five on-court meetings. Off the court, the families will meet even more often. Living 10 minutes apart will allow his brother to spend more time with Russell, his wife, Alexis (a former GCU soccer player and track and field athlete), and their 3-year-old daughter, Indie."The most important thing is I always want to set a standard for my daughter to chase her dreams, no matter how hard it is or what she has to do," Russell said. "That's what I did. It was hard for me to leave the country and establish myself in different cultures, but I did it because I love my dream and I love basketball."
Russell found his pro path the hard way, getting his chance on a short-term tryout contract in the French B league because the club had a point guard injury early in the 2017-18 season. Russell quickly elevated to the German league in 2018 for two years in Crailsheim, played two seasons in Italy for Treviso and returned to Germany for Oldenburg the past two seasons.
When the Russells return to their Valley roots each summer, their stay is limited to two months or less. GCU fifth-year head coach Bryce Drew has kept an open door for Russell and other Lopes basketball alumni to work out at the basketball complex. In return, Russell offers even more as an example for the Lopes.
The current coaching staff has made Russell feel like family, but he keeps a connection to his GCU past too by visiting each summer with President Brian Mueller. During a meeting on Russell's 2014 recruiting visit, Mueller laid out his vision for GCU and its basketball program that has come to fruition. Russell provided a program bridge to get there."I told him (Russell) yesterday that I think he's going to be a great coach," said Jordan Jackson, GCU's associate director of sports performance who has become close to "Weezy" over the past four summers.
"His energy is great. He has played the game for a long time. Even though he's not from this era, he knows these guys and takes the time to talk to these guys and encourages them. For these guys to see someone who went here, is still working, is still playing professionally and is making a lot of money, that's good motivation and inspiration."
When Russell follows the Lopes from overseas, he marvels at how much the players improve from when he saw them regularly in GCU summer workouts.
"I'm so proud of them," Russell said of the Lopes. "They probably don't even know. It's important for us as players that played here to establish a culture where we are cheering and helping the next generation up."
🎙| Ailemize hoş geldin DEWAYNE RUSSELL!
— Aliağa Petkimspor (@Petkimspor) June 20, 2024
Geçtiğimiz sezon Almanya temsilcisi EWE Baskets Oldenburg forması giyen ve BCL'de 18.5 sayı, 8.2 asist ortalaması tutturan point guard DeWayne Russell, #BirlikteHedefe yolculuğumuz için aramıza katıldı.
Welcome! @weezyRussell00 pic.twitter.com/xpX4lFAj3q
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