Seth Compas, a 2018 Wissahickon High School grad who went on to play basketball for Montgomery County Community College, has been signed to the Berlin Braves 2000 professional basketball team in Germany.
“We are happy to welcome the latest addition to the Braves family: Seth Compas,” the team wrote on Facebook. “Seth is an athletic guard from out of the States, who brings athletic wing play on both offense and defense. We’re excited to have him on board as we make our push in the second half of the season! Welcome to the family.” Before his first game, the team announced Compas was averaging 15.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1 assist.
While the only German words he knows at this point are guten tag and gesundheit, the 6-foot-3-inch shooting guard from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa said the word excited doesn’t even begin to describe how he’s feeling about the news.
“It’s very exciting,” the 24-year-old Blue Bell native said. “I can’t put it into words. It’s a no-brainer. I’ve always wanted to play professionally.”
About a month ago, Compas said his agent called to say that the Braves were interested in signing him. Compas was unaware of the team at the time but knew there are thousands of teams around the world that are passionate about basketball. After a discussion with his family, who all told him to jump at the opportunity, he agreed and hopped on a flight to Berlin two days later.
“Since I’ve been here it’s a huge culture change,” he said from his apartment in Berlin. The team provided housing and paid for his flight. “The cost of living here is very cheap. The experience so far has been great.”
The only American on his team, Compas said everyone speaks English and his teammates come from around the world.
“My roommate is from Germany with South African roots,” he said. “I have teammates from Ukraine, Argentina– there’s a lot of diversity.”
Compas is under contract until the end of the season in April unless the team makes the playoffs, in which case he’d continue through at least the beginning of May.
As his time with the team gets underway, Compas couldn’t help but reflect on his journey up to this point.
“My dad introduced me to basketball,” he said, “and played a pivotal role into my basketball career.”
Interestingly, Compas didn’t play for his high school team and was among the first team of players for then-new Mustangs Men’s Basketball Head Coach Nyere Miller. Compas played on the 2020 men’s basketball team that was crowned Region XIX champions. The team traveled to Rochester, Minn., to compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) championship tournament before losing in the opening round.
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Photos: MCCC