Posted: 8/28/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Brad Vest Illinois' Shaun Pruitt reacts to being fouled late in the second half of the game against Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. on Jan. 19.

Shaun Pruitt's senior season at Illinois didn't go exactly as planned. The former Illini led the team with 12.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, but his struggles at the free throw line continued. League coaches did not name him to an All-Big Ten team, and the center was even benched for a game after a verbal altercation with the coaching staff following the Illini's 74-67 loss at Purdue Jan. 19.

But the biggest letdown for Pruitt was the Illini's 16-19 record. Setting a school-record for most losses in a season haunts Pruitt after winning 86 games in his first three years at Illinois.

Now, the 6-foot-10 center is on a mission to regain his winning ways after signing a one-year contract with the Czech Republic club, BK Prostejov.

"I want to have a good team," Pruitt said. "I mean, I've never lost like I did last year, and I don't think that had anything to do with me as a person, even though I was the go-to player. I don't think it should all fall on my shoulders. I love winning as a team and I think some people misunderstand me after seeing last year. I've been a winner and a team-oriented guy, so I want to be able to get back to that."

Signing the dotted line with BK Prostejov was the end of a long summer for Pruitt. After going undrafted, Pruitt began to receive offers from several European clubs. Pruitt, his family and agent Mike Naiditch of Naiditch Entertainment sifted through offers searching for four key components: a good paycheck, a good coach, playing time and a chance to compete against good competition.

Offers came in from several European teams, Naiditch said, including an "aggressive offer" from a Spanish team and an offer from Hapoel Gilboa Galil Elyon in the Israeli Basketball Super League, the same team that signed former Illini teammate Brian Randle. But according to Naiditch, BK Prostejov offered "the most money by far" and gave Pruitt the opportunity to play in the European Cup against some of the best European competition.

Continued...

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