Searle heading overseas

Jamie Searle’s basketball career has found new life.

The 25-year-old Belleville, Ont. native is heading overseas to play in southeast England for the Medway Park Crusaders, a professional team in the English Basketball League.

Searle, who served as an assistant coach under coach Scott Morrison last season with the Lakehead Thunderwolves, spent five seasons at LU, averaging 13.8 points in his final season.

Searle led the Wolves to a pair of national championship berths in his Thunderwolves tenure, a career that began with the woeful 1-21 2006-07 season.

“I am really looking forward to this experience to live overseas. It’s going to be a great experience to play with some of the best players from all over the world,” Searle said in a release on the Crusaders web site, calling it the chance of a lifetime.

“I know it’s going to make me a better player and a better coach, which is my long term goal – when my body won’t let me play anymore. I can’t wait to learn new drills and listen to ideas from players and coaches from a different country. I am ready to learn and listen and try to take in everything I can.”

Searle won’t be alone in England.

Defensive whiz Cole Hobin, who graduated from the national champion Carleton Ravens last spring, will also join the Crusaders next season.