Austin Luke signs with VEF Riga in Latvia

Following his graduation from Belmont, former Bruin basketball player Austin Luke has signed with the Latvian professional team VEF Riga.

“Playing pro ball has been a dream of mine ever since I started playing,” Luke said. “I’ve gotten to do amazing things through the game, and I am content with that. I am very excited to play at this level, but it’s not something that had to happen.”

Luke ended his four years at Belmont with 681 assists — the most of any player in Belmont’s NCAA Division I era. He also ranked second for assists in Ohio Valley Conference history.

Luke was elected to the All-OVC First Team two years in a row and played on three OVC regular season championship teams.

The 2018 graduate learned a lot about playing for a team during his time at Belmont, he said.

“I think the thing I will take with me the most is the idea of playing for something bigger than yourself,” said Luke. “The name on the front of your jersey at Belmont has substance. Every time you put It on, you are expected to win.  And as a team, every single guy is fully invested in that goal.”

Luke was the third 2018 Belmont graduate to sign a contract to play professionally overseas — after Amanze Egekeze and Sierra Jones, who signed contracts in Japan and Spain.

He knows moving to a foreign country will be an adjustment, but he’s excited for all the things he’ll get to experience, he said.

“I’m not sure what to expect. But I get to play basketball for a job and travel the world. So while I am nervous, I am also more excited than anything for this amazing opportunity.”