Gage Daye '12 signs with Australian professional club

^{By:  Andrew Mees, Director of College and Athletics Communications           communications@bloomfield.edu}

Former Bloomfield College men’s basketball guard Gage Daye ’12 has signed a contract to play for the Wagga Heat Basketball Association of Australia’s Waratah State League for the upcoming 2014 season, Deacons head coach Gerald Holmes announced today.

“Gage is without question one of the best players we have had during my time here, and he continues to be one of our hardest workers long after his playing days at Bloomfield concluded,” Holmes said.  “The example he continues to set for the players in our program, especially as an assistant coach, speaks volumes about the type of person he has become.  I have no doubt he will continue to be successful whenever he gets the opportunity to play at the professional level.”

One of the premier players in program history, Daye became the school's all-time leading scorer during his senior season, surpassing Andre Dabney's career mark and amassing 2,518 career points.  A first team All-America selection by Daktronics, Basketball Times Magazine and the Division II Bulletin as a senior, the two-time CACC Player of the Year led Bloomfield to its first CACC Tournament championship since 2006 during his senior campaign in 2010-2011, and to the first NCAA Tournament Elite Eight in program history.  His incredible play in the postseason saw the 6'2 sharpshooter earn CACC Tournament and East Regional Tournament MVP honors.  During his brilliant career, Daye also earned Daktronics East Region Player of the Year honors, and well as an All-Met Player of the year selection. 

The season will mark Daye’s third campaign in the professional ranks, after stints with the NBA Developmental League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants in 2011 and the British Basketball League’s Sheffield Sharks in 2012.  After averaging just over nine points per game during his stint with the Mad Ants, he posted averages 17.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and four assists per contest during his lone season in Sheffield.

The Newark, N.J. native continues to make an impact at his alma mater, as well as within his community.  An assistant coach at Bloomfield for two seasons and a donor to the school’s athletic department, Daye also organizes youth basketball skills camps in the surrounding area while pursuing his Master’s Degree in Athletic Administration.

“I am truly blessed to be receiving this opportunity, and for everything that I have been able to do during my time at Bloomfield College,” he said.  “This is truly a special place, which is why I felt it was so important for me to start giving back with more than just my involvement in the basketball program.  Bloomfield has helped me to reach my potential, and continue to strive for more.”