HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Following his standout year with the Northern Kentucky men's basketball program, point guard Xaiver Rhodes will get his professional career underway after signing with BC Prievidza of the Nike Slovak Basketball League, the top men's league in Slovakia.
Rhodes made a huge impact in his only year with the Norse as the guiding hand of the NKU offense after transferring from Florida Southern College. In 34 games, Rhodes averaged 7.7 points, 3.6 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest. He also shot 44.1 percent from the field and 38.2 from beyond the arc. He finished the year second in the Horizon League with a 2.0 assist/turnover ratio and in total steals (67), was third in the conference in steals per game and tied for ninth in swipes per contest.
For his collegiate career, the Lee's Summit, Missouri native finished with 1,072 points, 441 assists, 342 boards and 176 steals overall. To go with his Horizon League Championship and NCAA appearance with the Norse in 2022-23, Rhodes also won the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2018-19 with Northwest Missouri State.
Top highlights from his year with NKU included hitting an insanely clutch three-pointer as the shot clock expired to put the Norse ahead 59-53 with just 1:50 remaining in the Horizon League Championship and his ankle breaking crossover and pull up jumper in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against top-seeded Houston.
"He was part of two excellent college programs," BC Prievidza sports director Matthias Haufer said. "I first noticed him at Florida Southern University, which has one of the best teams in NCAA Division II. And then he played at Northern Kentucky University, where he won the Horizon League title and helped the team advance to the NCAA Division I March Madness main event."
"Xavier has some specific qualities that you can't learn," Haufer added. "It is simple, you either have it in you or you don't. He is quite explosive and athletic for [the] point guard position, hard to shut down in transition and when driving under the basket. At the same time, he also showed good perception and with his skills, he has an impact defensively. Of course, he is a young player and still has a lot to work on, but he has a lot of potential and seems really determined to turn that potential into productivity."
Head coach Jankovic was also very pleased with the signing and added, "We are really happy to sign Xavier as the starting quarterback [of our offense]. He is a young, hardworking, ambitious and dynamic player who is determined to do everything for his team and to win. Our goal is to form a team with a winning mentality and fighting character. I believe that Xavier is exactly the type of player we need."
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