Former Coastal Carolina standout Gillis signs overseas pro deal

Former Coastal Carolina basketball standout Warren Gillis has signed a professional contract with the Glasgow Rocks of the British Basketball League, the United Kingdom’s top basketball division.

Gillis played a leading role in returning the Chants to the NCAA tournament after a 21-year wait, keying back-to-back appearances the last two years, and now he’s ready to launch the next chapter of his basketball career.

“It’s always a great feeling to see your hard work pay off, whether it’s winning games here or to go to the next level and be able to play for money, it’s a fun opportunity,” he said Tuesday.

Gillis, who averaged a team-high 13.4 points per game last season and finished with consecutive 22-point performances in the Big South championship game and in the NCAA tournament against Wisconsin, ranks 10th on the Chants’ career scoring list with 1,352 points, second in program history in games played (125), second in free throws (305) and sixth in steals (164).

The 6-foot-3 guard signed with an agent from Octagon Europe to see what opportunities would exist for him overseas and found his fit in Scotland.

“He has been in communication with a bunch of teams over there and he saw that was a good fit, a good starting position for me to start my career,” Gillis said. “He talked to me about it and I liked what I heard.”

Gillis is still awaiting his visa and is expected to report to Scotland by September 1. The Glasgow Rocks, coached by former Tulane player Sterling Davis, went 21-15 last season to place fifth in the BBL.

They open their new season Sept. 18.

“I’m hoping to start off good and then open up some more opportunities for myself and then take it from there,” he said.

Said Ellis: “What a great opportunity. That is a beautiful country. So happy for him. He’s got a contract for the year. I’m just excited these guys are getting an opportunity. That just excites me that our guys continue to get these opportunities.”

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Former Coastal Carolina standout Gillis signs overseas pro deal."