College basketball careers only last so long. Four years really fly by, too. If you’re lucky (and skilled), you’ll get a shot at the next level.
Lucky for SMU, two players from the 2014-15 team have that shot. Center Yanick Moreira earned an invite to play with the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA Summer League. The Clippers posted a 1-4 record but didn’t come away empty, signing Moreira to a partially guaranteed contract, according to a report by Sportando.
A native of Angola, Moreira spent two years at SMU after transferring from South Plains Community College in Lubbock, Texas. He followed up a senior season for SMU that earned him second team all-conference honors by averaging 9.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in the summer league. His signature game came in a double overtime win over Oklahoma City in which he played 37 minutes and recorded 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting with four blocks.
He will report to Clippers training camp in September.
Moreira’s former teammate, guard Ryan Manuel, latched on with the San Antonio Spurs Summer League team after four years at SMU. Unfortunately, he did not see any game action and the Spurs did not offer him a contract afterward. He’ll look to play overseas if he can’t land a contract from another NBA team.
