CUXHAVEN, Germany ? Former Tarleton Texan Eric Williams has signed a professional basketball contract to play with the Cuxhaven Bascats in Germany.  
 
Williams, a native of Long Beach, Calif.,  is the 21st player from Tarleton to sign a professional contract since 2000.  
 
“Eric Williams had us convinced from the beginning,” said head coach Vilmantas Matkevicius on the team's website.  “Above all, he has a quick game coupled with an intensive defensive presence.”
 
The site also said he was a powerful, full-bodied athlete.  

“We are very proud of Eric and excited about this tremendous opportunity for him,” said Tarleton associate head coach Chris Reisman. “To sign in the PRO-A Division in Germany coming from a DII school rarely happens. Most times you have to work your way up by performing well in a lower division or different country.”
 
The Texan led Tarleton to an 18-10 record in 2008-09 and the program's eighth straight Lone Star Conference tournament appearance.  Williams helped the Texans to a 43-17 record in his two seasons with the purple and white.  
 
The Texan led the team in both scoring and rebounding with 12.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest.  He recorded 11 double-doubles this season and scored in double figures in 23 of the 28 games in 2008-09.  Williams had 14 games rebounding in double figures as well while leading the team in scoring in seven games and in rebounding 21 times.  He was named a first team All-Lone Star Conference South Division selection this season.
 
Williams finished the season as the second-leading rebounder in the LSC, just .4 rebounds per game behind the leader.  However, Williams was tops in the conference with 3.8 offensive rebounds per game while pulling down 6.4 defensive boards per game ? third in the LSC.  Williams' rebounding total was the highest in the South Division by three rebounds.  The senior was also tied for third in minutes played per game after averaging 35.4 minutes per contest.

“Eric will be missed and very hard to replace, but Cuxhaven is getting an excellent player that has a lot of potential to continue to raise his level of play,” Reisman said. “Eric didn't take plays off and came to work every day while at Tarleton. That drive and work-ethic are the foundation for this opportunity. We wish him all the best.”

A link to Williams highlight video can be found here.