Portuguese Ruben Pley leaves Joventut to sign with St John’s University

Young center Ruben Pley has left Joventut Badalona to sign a contract with NCAA club St. John’s University, coached by Rick Pitino, the American organization confirmed on Friday. The player left with Joventut’s permission, who retained his rights and gave him a one-year loan.

“Joventut Badalona will not let go of Ruben Prey, nor his contract with the team. We are giving the player the possibility to take a year off and then return. We are pioneers in that this is a positive thing for him because we are showing the player one thing and the other is compatibility,” Peña’s coach Dani Millet explained to La Tertulia de la Televisió de Badalona.

The Portuguese, who averaged three points and three rebounds this season for La Peña, will not continue at the behest of coach Dani Millet and will instead go to a college league in the United States, following in the footsteps of other black and white players, such as Konrad Martínez and Iker Garmendia.

Already his new coach, the historic Rick Pitino, spoke about the move, emphasizing that “the play will strengthen our offense, add height, but above all it will add speed. It will be the fastest team we’ve ever had.”

Pray arrived in Badalona in the summer of 2020 and has since become one of the inland pearls of the green and black quarry, his rapid progress also attracting attention from American universities, finally resulting in an offer from St. John’s University.