Emmanuel Mudiay has signed a multi-year deal with Under Armour, the company announced Tuesday.
The onetime SMU pledge is set to travel to China this month to begin preparing for his first professional season with the Guandong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. He signed a reported $1.2 million deal in China.
Many draft experts project the 6-foot-5 Mudiay to be a top five NBA Draft pick in 2015 because of his combination of size, speed and natural feel for the game.
“With Emmanuel joining our roster, Under Armour Basketball has added one of the game’s best young players to our team,” said Matt Mirchin, EVP, Global Marketing, Under Armour. “For such a young player, Emmanuel has a complete game, is a leader and plays with a toughness that stands out the moment you see him step on the court. When you combine that with his commitment to training and his positive attitude, he has the potential to be a special player for a long time. We’re proud to now be a part of his journey.”
“Joining the Under Armour team is an important step in the pursuit of my ultimate dream to compete at the game’s highest level,” said Mudiay, a native of the Congo. “Knowing their dedication to making athletes better and how well their footwear performs made them the perfect partner.”
