Former Northwestern basketball player Mike Capocci might have been overshadowed during his college career by fellow swingmen Kevin Coble and John Shurna, but that's not to say he isn't good enough to play professionally — in England.
Capocci scored six points in his first career game Saturday night for the Durham Wildcats, the newest addition to the British Basketball League. The 11-team BBL, founded in 1987, is the United Kingdom's premier basketball league.
The 23-year-old Capocci joined Durham in early September, according to the team's website. And although the 6-foot-6 forward averaged only two points per game and started only 11 games during his four years at Northwestern, his signing has drawn its fair share of excitement from local English media.
The Northern Echo, a regional newspaper covering North East England, gave lavish praise to the former NU economics major after he inked his deal.
"American star Mike Capocci has swapped one pack of Wildcats for another after signing for County Durham's new boys in the British Basketball League...
The 23-year-old battled for court time with NBA prospect John Shurna during a celebrated college career with NCAA Division One Northwestern Wildcats, and is set to be one of Durham's star performers as they celebrate their arrival at the top tier of the British game."
Capocci is also pursuing his master's degree at Durham University, according to the Wildcats' website. He joins fellow 2011 graduate Michael "Juice" Thompson overseas, as the point guard signed with the Frankfurt-based Fraport Skyliners in late August.