This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Former BYU superstar Jimmer Fredette is taking his act overseas.
After bouncing around in the NBA and the NBA development league the past five years, Jimmermania will head to China, various news outlets reported on Tuesday morning.
Fredette, who played for the Denver Nuggets' summer league team last month, will sign with the Shanghai Sharks, a professional team owned by former NBA star Yao Ming.
"Jimmer will be playing in China this season," noted @jimmerosity, the Fredette Family Foundation's twitter account.
Fredette, 27, had an offer to attend the Nuggets' training camp this fall, but apparently will give it a shot in China instead.
Will he ever return to the NBA?
Possibly, because the season in China ends in March, giving the former Wooden and Naismith award winner time to join an NBA team later in its season.
Fredette, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, played for four teams in the NBA and averaged 6.0 points per game. He saw time with the New York Knicks last season, but played a total of 18 minutes in six games before being sent back to the Knicks' D-league team in Winchester.
He also played for the Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans.
Yao Ming bought the Sharks in 2009. The team competes in the Chinese Basketball Association, and its season starts in late October.