UNC Basketball: Former Tar Heel signs new contract in Europe

A former UNC basketball player has signed a new contract to play professionally overseas.

Justin Pierce, a member of the 2019-20 North Carolina basketball program, has signed a new contract to play professionally overseas. The former Tar Heel forward will be playing with the VfL Kircheim Knights of the German Pro A League. The club is based out of Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany, and participates in the country’s second-highest level of professional basketball.

Pierce is entering his second season in Europe after spending the past year with Kobrat Basketball of the Korisliiga League in Finland. That’s where Pierce headed after his lone season in Chapel Hill, one that saw him average just five points and four rebounds per game in 32 appearances. Unlike his prior two seasons at William and Mary, Pierce struggled in just about every aspect of the game, but none more than with his efficiency in shooting the basketball. After connecting on 34.5 percent of his shots from beyond the arc from 2016 to 2019, Pierce was just a 22.5 percent three-point shooter for the Tar Heels.

Pierce’s game saw a marked uptick over the past year in Finland, however, proving to be a difference-maker for Kobrat as he averaged 16.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. His team reached the postseason for just the second time in club history, though Pierce missed their first round loss to Helsinki due to injury.

Now, Pierce will try to make his presence felt in a new country and with a new organization in hopes of making it to the Basketball Bundesliga, Germany’s most prolific basketball league. If he can stay healthy and continue to develop his game — he’s still just 23 years of age — then the Glen Ellyn, Illinois native has an opportunity to do just that.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on Justin Pierce, and UNC basketball alumni across the globe.