Werner to Italy

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Former Florida Gators forward Dan Werner is set to begin his professional career overseas.

Werner, a 6-foot-8 forward from Middletown, N.J.,  has signed a four-year deal with Virtus Bologna in the Italian Series A League.

In playing in the top pro league in Italy, Werner will get a chance to begin his career for the same club that produced current San Antonio Spurs standout Manu Ginobili and former NBA big man Marko Jaric.

Last season, Virtus Bologna had five Americans on the club, including former Miami power forward LeRoy Hurd and former UNC-Wilmington standout Brett Blizzard. Former Kansas standout Keith Langford led Virtus Bologna to the Series A title in 2009.

Werner graduated from UF last month with a degree in event management. He earned a national championship ring as a freshman reserve on UF’s 2007 national title team.

13 COMMENTS

  1. Good for Dan. Hard worker, good attitude, smart guy. Hope he comes back to work for Billy one day. And Bryan, you must be a young guy. I’ve been watching the Gators for 40 years. I can remember a lot of players worse than Dan Werner.

  2. I have been following the hoops team for over 30 years and Pam and Bryan are both right. There were much worse players than Dan but not many, if any, that had the level of potential that Dan possessed and failed on almost every occasion to reach it. Certainly none who stayed for 4 years. Dan seems like a great person but was a terribly disappointing basketball player whenever it mattered and certianly one of the most frustrating to watch.

  3. This is very good news!! One of the hardest workers in his four years at UF and an excellent role model and teammate. He passed up a chance to start on Senior Day becuase he felt he might mess up the chemistry. Total selfless player who did everything he could to help the team. I know he didn’t have the senior season he had hoped, but he will always be a favorite of mine. I wish him success in Italy, and with his work ethic, that shouldn’t be a problem!

  4. I sort of agree with Bryan. Atleast in recent memory Werner has player for UF, atleast since the title runs. He was just really slow and unathletic as a PF. And didnt really have a post game. He made a lot of mistakes as well. Its definately the last guy I thought I see go pro. But Im always proud of Gator players. So goo luck to him. GO GATORS