Kaleb Warner

Men's Basketball Brian Kortz

Kaleb Warner has landed a chance to showcase his skills in professional basketball overseas

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Settling into the same location for even a year was a challenge for Kaleb Warner throughout his collegiate basketball career. In fact, the Seattle, Wash., native visited four different states after leaving high school, but ended up finishing his collegiate career and degree at Western Oregon University which fit him perfectly. He was then able to make the trek overseas to continue his dream of playing professionally that is now set to move into a real life dream this coming season.

While Warner has been overseas playing basketball for the past season, he was basically playing it as a club sport. Having to find various work overseas while continuing his dream. All of that hard work paid off as he was able to sign with Gelderland which plays in the same Dutch Basketball League that former teammate Dalven Brushier just signed to play in this year as well. The path was certainly anything but easy, but throughout his stops, Warner impressed. As a true freshman, he played at Division I Pacific in California seeing action in six games. He then moved to North Idaho College where he averaged over seven points and three rebounds a game, shooting over 43 percent from the field and over 36 percent from three-point range. A visit to Division II awaited as a junior when he went to Kansas City to play for Rockhurst where he led the team at over 15 points per game and was second on the team averaging over four rebounds a game. He shot over 45 percent from the floor and hit over 38 percent from downtown. Then came his senior season in Monmouth where the 6-foot-7 forward was one of four players to play all 33 games during the 2018-19 season. He averaged over 11 points and pulled down 129 total rebounds, reaching double-digits in scoring in 18 games.

"The journey was just as hard as it sounds. To go to that many schools was mentally stressful and spiritually challenging, but having a caring and loving support system around me, I was able to obtain a degree from a great school. I was also able to create a path to carry on playing the sport I love," Warner said. 

Having adjusted to so many different schools and programs throughout his college career would make the challenge of trying to play overseas seem almost like second nature. Not only did his college career help with a move overseas, Warner had the extra help of family that lived in Europe to make it an easier transition.

"The only experiences that have made this adjustment easier is having family here. Being overseas is tough because you don't understand the language and culture, so how to go about life is different. Personally, I like the culture and the language is super challenging, but it is nice to experience it," Warner said.

The adjustment to life overseas has been evolving for Warner and continues to improve each day. While having visited the country before, it was a new change being in other locations in which he was playing last year for the Dreamfield in Nijmegen in the Netherlands. Being focused on the goal at hand kept Warner pushing for the ultimate prize.

"I have adjusted to living here by getting to know my environment. I have visited the country before, but never in the area where I was able to play. Also, being in a country where English isn't too hard to get by with makes the adjustment easier," Warner said.

With COVID causing the shutdown in mid-March, that kept Warner from leaving the country and ending up back home, giving him even more time over this past year to get used to living in the Netherlands.

"Living in a new country always has some minor language challenges and food options, but I did adapt quickly given that my mom lives here. That allowed me to visit the culture and country before. I've missed my dad and my friends back home, but I am chasing something that I truly worked about a decade for, so being healthy is always a priority and having my mom here makes home not feel too far," Warner said.

Warner really had to keep thinking about the dream during his first season overseas. While he was playing for Dreamfield, the team was a promotional team and wasn't technically considered professional basketball. That didn't stop him from putting up impressive stats that helped him catch the attention of other professional teams when he averaged 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.

"Well my first year playing for Dreamfield in Nijmegen was for the promotion team, which is the league under the Dutch Basketball League and not considered professional basketball. So, I truly just played a year overseas by finding various work. With the club's aspirations to get to the highest level in Dutch Basketball and our success as a promotion team, that helped get me looks from other clubs," Warner said.

The goal was always to play at the highest level possible once his career came to an end at WOU. It was an added bonus when he was able to go to Europe to go to an area he was pretty familiar with.

"I have wanted to play professionally since I got to college. I wanted to really end up anywhere in Europe and particularly Western Europe, which is where I am so it is a match made in heaven!" Warner said.

It will still be another adjustment for Warner going into this coming season playing for Gelderland in the Dutch Basketball League which will be another level above what Warner played in this past season. But given his track record of adjusting to see many previous situations in new locations before, this looks to be another one right up his alley.

"Since I have not played at the top level in Holland which is the Dutch Basketball League, playing in the promotional division was challenging with the rules and how players played there. I'm looking forward to getting the chance to play for an American Coach in Matthew Otten which adds to the similarities I have had in the states," Warner said.

Gelderland is one of the newer teams, having been in existence for five years and played in Gelderland, a province of over 2 million located in the central/east part of the country. Gelderland recently started the process to move to the Dutch Basketball League that began in mid-May and will have them set to make the transition to the league this coming season. Currently, the team practices and plays in Bemmel, a spot that will be familiar for Warner as that was where the Dreamfield promotional team also played this past season where he played for Coach Otten. Knowing that it is all starting to sink in that he is moving into officially playing professional basketball for a living, Warner is ready to relish the opportunity. 

"Being my first real year of being "payed to play" it is just a wonderful feeling. I am beyond words because when you dream of life and experiences that "could be" and then they happen. All of that just makes you know that the hard work and dedication that you always thought you would put in, even when you do not want to work, but you do and then get rewarded? That's a good feeling!" Warner said.

While the name of the team will change this coming year, it's basically the same situation for Warner other than moving leagues and getting paid to play.

"Long story short, it's the same club, but just at a higher level this coming year. I get to play for the same coach, in the same city and in the same country, but now I get to play on the biggest stage for basketball in Holland. I get to play some veteran pros and work to make a name for myself," Warner said.

While there have been a lot of unknowns for the coming seasons with a lot of sports, Warner is ready to start play here shortly with his new team and get everything going again.

"I am very ready and anxious to get going. It's a really exciting time in my life and I'm ready to run with the opportunity and make it a marathon. I'm ready to compete and to walk on the floor of every practice and game knowing that I belong. I don't really have any specific expectations other than to have a good group of teammates who are ready to battle," Warner said.

Warner has stayed busy over the past few months in preparation for the season.

"I have added some new routines in my daily life such as push-ups, sit-ups to strengthen my upper body. I have added in some sand workouts, along with mixed weights and playing as much outside basketball as I can," Warner said.

Even though he remains many miles away, he still remains grounded from the time he spent at WOU and how much that has helped him since leaving in his daily life.

"I remember the good teachers, great strength coach, awesome athletic department and a band of brothers that I will never forget from playing at WOU. I decided to attend WOU because Oregon is my mother's home state and I have a lot of family on my mother's side that live in the area. Also, having my grandma attend my games was important, as well as having my father drive about four hours from Seattle to watch me during my last season was great," Warner said.

Having proved that he can play with the best, Warner will now see what's next as his career continues to improve each and every day.
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Players Mentioned

Dalven Brushier

#20 Dalven Brushier

G
6' 3"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Dalven Brushier

#20 Dalven Brushier

6' 3"
Senior
G