PAULINO SIGNS PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT WITH SEATTLE MOUNTAINEERS OF THE ABA

Aurora, N.Y. ─ Wells College men's basketball player Juan Paulino (Bronx, N.Y./Finger Lakes C.C.) is moving on to play professional basketball. The 6-7 center recently inked a deal to play with the Seattle Mountaineers of the American Basketball Association (ABA). Paulino is coming off an outstanding senior season at Wells in which he led all of NCAA Division III in rebounds per game (16.5) and field goal percentage (.699), while averaging 17.1 points per game. "We are extremely pleased to sign a player of Juan's ability and he will help sure up our rebounding concerns," stated Mountaineers Head Coach Don Sims.  

The Mountaineers, which play in the ABA's Pacific Northwest Division, finished the 2009-2010 season with a 16-11 record. The Mountaineers open the ABA season in early November with several exhibition games, before embarking on a three game Midwest road trip to Indiana and Michigan against Nationally ranked ABA teams. The full Mountaineer schedule is set to be released on August 2.

Paulino finished his career at Wells averaging 16 ppg and 15.8 rpg, earning NEAC Player of the Week five times, while holding 15 school records. Four separate times he finished with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game. In his senior season he helped lead the Express to a 21-7 record, and their second straight North Eastern Athletic Conference championship appearance.  He earned D3Hoops.com National Team of the Week Honors, and was a NEAC 1st Team All-Conference and D3Hoops.com 2nd Team All-East Region selection, while tallying 24 double-doubles, including 17 straight to end the season.