QUINCY (WGEM) – From the outhouse to the penthouse?
From worst to first?
Or as Tanner Stuckman said with a grin, “Call me LeBron James. Switching teams to win a championship!”
It’s been a whirlwind December for the former Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy University professional basketball player.
On Dec. 1, despite being one of their top scorers and rebounders, the Caledonia Gladiators of the British Basketball League in a shocking move released Stuckman in the aftermath of a coaching change.
At the time Stuckman was averaging 13 points and four rebounds per game for Caledonia which was 1-4 and has since plummeted to 1-9 since.
Before returning to the U.S. on Dec. 15, the first-place London Lions began initial inquiries about Stuckman’s availability.
“But the market wasn’t good and teams weren’t looking to pick anyone up that first two weeks of December,” Stuckman said.
In limbo, Stuckman and his wife Olivia returned to Quincy just in time to celebrate Christmas with family and friends.
“If there was a silver lining, that was it,” Stuckman said. “We felt we needed to take full advantage of that opportunity because realistically that may not happen again until I retire.”
Then on Dec. 27, Stuckman got a call from his agent informing him that the first-place London Lions had called and offered a contract.
Stuckman agreed to the deal and on Wednesday flew to London to join his new team — which is in first place with an 8-2 record.
Just like that, Stuckman picked up seven games in the standings.
“Man, talk about a late Christmas present,” Stuckman said with a laugh.
Overall with Caledonia, Stuckman also played in about 18 games including three different international basketball events including the FIBA European Cup averaging 11 points and three rebounds per game.
Now, though, he’s looking forward to a new chapter.
“I’m super excited and honored that London chose me for its 4-man position,” said Stuckman, who will reside with other team members in the Wembley Park area of London.
“They really needed a true stretch 4 and I really liked what I’ve seen of them.”
England now joins Finland, Portugal, Canada, Spain and Scotland as countries the 6-foot-8 Stuckman has played professionally.
An All-GLVC first-team selection at QU in 2021 after scoring 1,275 points in his career, Stuckman started his overseas journey at KaU Koris Karkkilla in Finland, averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds.
After a brief stint in Portugal, he played two years with the Windsor Express of the National Basketball Canada.
During the 2021-22 season with the Express, Stuckman averaged nine points and four rebounds per game and during the 2022-23 campaign he averaged 13 points and six rebounds per game.
During the 2023-24 season, Stuckman averaged eight points and three rebounds for Oviedo Club Balencesto in Oviedo, Spain.
Stuckman’s first seven games with London will be on the road. His first time playing in front of the home fans will be … drum roll … Feb. 16 against Caledonia.
“I look forward to it,” Stuckman said. “But there’s nothing special about it. I just want to win. It will be business as usual.”
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