Carson Desrosiers Signs with Finnish Team Kataja Basket Club

Carson Desrosiers has signed a professional basketball contract and will be taking his talents (and hair stylings) to Finland. The 7-footer from New Hampshire will play for Kataja Basket Club in Joensuu, Finland. Kataja plays in the Korisliiga which is the best league in Finland and is comprised of the top 11 teams in the country. The league has been in existence for 75 years Kataja is the defending champion after defeating Bisons Loimaa 3-2 in the best of 5 series. That was the first Korisliiga title in the franchise’s history after being runner up in 2014 and finishing 3rd in 2013. Winning also qualifed them for the 2015-16 Eurocup regular season. Eurocup is one level below Euroleague which is considered the top tier European basketball league in the world.

Desrosiers will give Kataja a different level of size next season as they only had 1 player above 6’7 on their roster and that was 6’10 former Notre Dame big man Tom Knight. Despite only playing 2 season at Providence Desrosiers managed to put his name on some all-time record lists as a Friar. Each of his seasons were in the top 10 all-time for blocked shots and the total blocked shots add up to 7th most all-time ahead of names like Randall Hanke, Bilal Dixon, Bob Misevicius and Bruce Campbell. He managed to do it in just 66 career games. Of the top 11 players on the career blocked shots list, Desrosiers ranks 2nd best in blocks/game behind only Marvin Barnes who has the most total blocks, the best blocks/game average and all 3 of his seasons at Providence in the top 10 all-time in blocked shots.

Desrosiers was a productive player on a Big East championship team in the 2013-14 season and took on a larger role in the 2014-15 season as a full-time starter. He finished 2nd in total blocks and blocks/game in the Big East both seasons behind former St. John’s big Chris Obekpa. He also finished 25h nationally in total blocks and blocks/game last season. He was also a large part on back to back NCAA Tournament teams for the Friars. Though he never became the outside shooter many thought he would be coming out of Central Catholic high school he developed a gritty game down low and was one of the best rim-protectors in the Big East in his 2 years in the league. Desrosiers’ game and style should play well in Europe and if he can get more consistent with his outside shooting he has the potential for a very long career overseas.

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Mike Hopkins

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