HAMBURG, Germany -- Former Samford basketball player Michael Bradley officially achieved one of his life-long dreams Tuesday as the Bulldogs' 6-foot-10 center signed a professional contract to play with SC Rist Wedel.
 
"I'm extremely happy, blessed, and thankful for this great opportunity," said Bradley. "I've dreamed of playing overseas for as long as I can remember, but there have been many instances that made me question if I would ever get the opportunity, like when I broke my ankle and then had the stress fracture in my foot the following year.
 
"There were so many things that blurred that vision, but God has brought me so far along on this journey that the least I could always do is work hard and not lose faith through any setback or obstacle."

 
Bradley, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, became the most recent addition to the SC Rist Wedel team and is expected to bring size and athleticism to the Bundesliga Pro B squad. The athletic, silky-smooth big man joined Rist from Samford University, where he averaged 6.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season.
 
"His great potential is highlighted by the combination of size, length, and athleticism," said Rist head coach Michael Claxton. "Mike is a true center with the ability to impact the game from many different angles."
 
Bradley started his collegiate career at the University of Connecticut, but didn't play a single game for the Huskies. He redshirted his first year and missed the second due to an injury.
 
After transferring to Vincennes University, he saw action in nine games as a sophomore, recovering from an injury late in the season.
 
"I'm very proud of Mike for all his hard work during his time here," said Samford head coach Scott Padgett. "He went through a lot of change and turmoil during his college career and did a great job of always staying focused and working hard.
 
"Mike also sacrificed a lot of individual success for the best interest of the team. I really look forward to following him on his journey and no one deserves success more than Mike. I believe he will be the first of many Bulldogs to come that will have the opportunity to play basketball professionally."
 
During Bradley's first season at Samford, he earned playing time in 28 of the team's 33 games and registered a huge outing against Western Carolina, where he scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 93-86 victory.
 
As a senior, Bradley led the Samford Bulldogs in rebounds per game, registered a season-high 16 points, while recording three double-doubles on the year.
 
"I didn't come into my own until my last year due to injuries and setbacks," said Bradley.
 
In 2014-15, Samford's center started in 23 games and led the Bulldogs in rebounds, blocked shots and shooting percentage. With 5.4 boards per game throughout the season, he was ranked 14th in the Southern Conference and scored in double figures eight times as a senior.
 
"Talks with Coach Claxton have been great," Bradley said. "His interest and confidence in me and my game was one of the biggest reasons I decided to sign. He's also American so I think that will help with my transition."
 
Bradley joins fellow countryman Isaac Gordon on the Rist roster. A 26-year-old guard from Los Angeles, California, Gordon spent his collegiate career at Mercer University and the University of Texas-El Paso. After a three-year stint with Irish Superleague side Templeogue BC, Gordon signed with SC Rist in July.
 
SC Rist Wedel, located in the suburbs of Hamburg (Germany's second largest city), was founded in 1968 and is one of the biggest basketball clubs in all of Germany. Besides a men's team that competes in the Pro B league, the club runs a women's team and more than 20 youth teams.
 
Under the guidance of Claxton, the Rist men's squad reached the Pro B finals last season.