Harborfields Grad Goes Pro Overseas

Photo courtesy of Sebastian Bartholomeaus
Chris Brady, center, and his coach, Simon Cote, left, are pictured earlier this month after Brady signed a professional basketball contract with Germany’s Hanau White Wings.

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Harborfields High School graduate Chris Brady has signed a contract with German professional basketball team Hanau White Wings.

Brady, a 14-year resident of Greenlawn, played basketball at Harborfields, winning a state Class A championship with the Tornadoes in 2012.

After graduation in 2013, Brady continued his basketball career at Monmouth University in New Jersey. He played four seasons at Monmouth from 2013-2017, leading the Hawks to two Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season championships in 2016 and 2017. The 6-foot-10 center averaged nine points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game through his senior season.

Brady’s offensive and defensive talent, as well as his 7-foot-3-inch wingspan, attracted the attention of Hanau scouts.

After signing his contract, Brady moved to Germany two weeks ago to join his new teammates.

The transition to Germany has been a new experience for Brady, but he said he enjoys living in Hanau, a city of around 100,000 that’s located 20 miles east of Frankfurt.

“I love it here,” Brady said. “Most people have a basic understanding of English so there is not a bad language barrier.”

Brady, who said his love for the sport began when he was a child, is grateful for the opportunity to play basketball professionally.

“Most people don’t get this chance,” Brady said.

He attributes his success to the support of his mother.

“Being a pro was a dream of mine since I was a little kid,” Brady said. “It all started with me and my mom.”

As his basketball skills developed, Brady received encouragement from his coaches who helped him realize his full potential.

“I am confident in myself,” Brady said. “My coaches told me, ‘You have a chance to make money playing basketball.’”

With the White Wings, Brady will compete in the Pro A league, the second division of German basketball. The team’s first game is slated for Sept. 23 against the Hamburg Towers.

Brady is confident his new team will give him a platform from which “teams around the world can watch me.”