Fells signs pro contract to play basketball in Belgium

Darren Fells, who led the UC Irvine men’s basketball team in rebounding the past three seasons, has signed a professional contract to play in Belgium.

The Fullerton High product will be playing for Leuven in the Division I league. Former Anteater standout Jerry Green also competes in that league, for Oostende.

“I’m both excited and a bit nervous, as this is the first time I will be living outside this area and the country,” Fells said in a press release. “Basketball-wise, I am very excited with the opportunity. It’s a new situation that I hope to make the most of at the professional level.”

The 6-foot-7 Fells led the Big West Conference as a senior this past season in field-goal percentage (.569) and offensive rebounds at 2.78 per game. He was third in rebounding (7.2), fourth in steals (1.59) and ninth in scoring (14.4). He was named to the All-Big West second team and was selected to the All-Big West Tournament team after averaging 16.3 points and 9.8 rebounds, as the ’Eaters advanced to the championship game.

Fells ranks third in career rebounds at UCI with 780, seventh in steals (103) and 10th in scoring with 1,252 points. He became the fifth player in the 43-year history of the UCI program to record 1,000 points and 700 rebounds in a career. During his four seasons at UCI, he played in 123 games, with 103 starts.

Fells plans to leave for Belgium in August.

— From staff reports