McGaughey, Tagarelli Sign Pro Contracts in Europe

QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University men's basketball program has seen two of its recently-graduated players sign professional contracts to continue their basketball careers in Europe.

Forward Evan McGaughey (Carthage, Ill./Illini West) will play in the German ProA League for MLP Academics Heidelberg. His frontcourt-mate Joseph Tagarelli (Waunakee, Wis./Kirkwood CC) also recently signed a deal with Team Solent Kestrels in Division I of the National Basketball League in Southampton, England.

"This is a proud day for our men's basketball program," said QU head coach Marty Bell. "Evan and Joe have been two of the best to ever play for the Hawks and they are both outstanding men. I am thrilled they have the opportunity to continue playing basketball. I look forward to following their professional careers and seeing what they can accomplish overseas."

The Hawks have now had 12 players sign contracts at the professional level, including recent graduates Godson Eneogwe and Ja'mil Jones. Alumni Billy Baptist and Courtney Belger also continue to compete at the professional level.

Both McGaughey and Tagarelli will report to their respective teams in August with their seasons starting in September. It will be the first time either has been to Europe.

"I am excited to get going," said Tagarelli. "It was a stressful few weeks, but now I'm ready to go."

Tagarelli was named to the NABC all-district team and the D2CCA All-Midwest Region first team as a senior when he led the Great Lakes Valley Conference in scoring (19.8) and was third in rebounding (8.2). Tagarelli set QU's single-season scoring mark with 632 points as the Hawks advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament and matched the second-highest win total in program history (25) in 2016-17.

"Quincy helped give me this opportunity," said Tagarelli. "QU helped make me accountable. It's not really something you think about as it's happening, but at the end you're a changed person. I'm thankful for that."

In addition to becoming a professional, Solent Kestrels will also give Tagarelli the chance to earn his Master's degree at one of its sponsor schools.

McGaughey was named to the All-GLVC first team two straight seasons and had one of the best inside-out games in the country. The 6-foot-8 forward shot 59 percent from the floor and 52 percent from 3-point range, leading the GLVC in the latter category. He ranks fourth on Quincy's all-time scoring list at 1,574 points.

"It will be a lot to get used to going from Carthage to Quincy to halfway across the world," McGaughey said. "I'm definitely excited now and I'm sure I'll be more nervous once it gets closer."

McGaughey spent five years in the men's basketball program, redshirting his first year before becoming a key standout over the next four seasons.

"Redshirting that first year was the best decision I've ever made, just allowing me to get stronger faster and pick up the speed of the game," McGaughey said. "Playing in the GLVC really prepared me. A lot of people know about our league around the world. A lot of teams keep an eye on us."

He will join fellow GLVC alumni and former Bellarmine guard Vance Hall on the Heidelberg roster. McGaughey also said he has talked with several former Hawks, including Belger and Joel Box, who have played professionally about their experiences. He has also reached out to former Truman State forward Mike Carlson, who is playing overseas.

"I'm just taking it on a year-by-year basis," McGaughey said. "There's a three-to-five-year plan, but right now most of it is targeting short term goals and reaching where I want to go."

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Players Mentioned

#24 Godson Eneogwe: G/F; 6' 6"; Senior

#42 Evan McGaughey: F; 6' 8"; Redshirt Senior

#5 Joseph Tagarelli: F; 6' 5"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#24 Godson Eneogwe
: 6' 6"; Senior
: G/F

#42 Evan McGaughey
: 6' 8"; Redshirt Senior
: F

#5 Joseph Tagarelli
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Senior
: F

Players Mentioned

#24 Godson Eneogwe

#42 Evan McGaughey

#5 Joseph Tagarelli

Players Mentioned

#24 Godson Eneogwe

#42 Evan McGaughey

#5 Joseph Tagarelli