Italy looks to be a hot spot for NBA players looking for work during the NBA work stoppage.

According to Tom Markowski of the Detroit News, former Oakland basketball start Keith Benson will be heading to the island of Sardinia to play professional basketball with Italian team Sassari. This was confirmed by Oakland basketball head coach Greg Kampe.

“We’re delighted for Keith,” said Kampe. “I know he has worked hard in the past couple of months with our strength coach Todd Wohlfeil and he has his weight up to 233, with a goal of 240.”

Benson who was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of this year’s NBA draft did receive an out clause in his contract with Sassari if and when the NBA gets back to work in the upcoming season.

Benson, who was a former two-time Summit player of the year was the first player in Oakland basketball history to be drafted to an NBA team.

Source: Detroit News