The University of North Carolina has produced 76 NBA players.

CSU Fullerton has produced 11 NBA players.

Sacramento State? Zero NBA players.

OK, so Sac State may not be a basketball powerhouse like the North Carolina Tar Heels or even its foes in Orange County, but Sac State has 21 men’s basketball players who have played professionally overseas since 1997.

Third-year Hornets head coach Brian Katz said it has nice to be able to have such success stories in the basketball program, but education still remains the top priority.

“Obviously the No. 1 reason to be here first is to graduate,” Katz said. “Beyond graduation, the next thing a lot of kids, not all kids, want is to have the opportunity to play pro ball overseas. That’s definitely a bonus for us and something that we feel good about because it’s something that a lot of these student-athletes want beyond completion of their eligibility and graduating.”

Center Justin Eller spent three seasons playing for the Hornets and is now overseas in Leverkusen, Germany, playing for the Bayer Giants. The 6-foot-8 Eller is averaging 19.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in 31 minutes per game.

“My experience so far has been great,” Eller said. “The transition from college to professional ball overseas took some time, but overall it has been easier than I thought.”

Eller said his playing days at Sac State helped him on and off the hardwood.

“My time at Sac State prepared me for so much more than just playing overseas. I think Sac State has helped me strive to get better every single day,” he said. “I have many aspirations and goals down the road, but playing at Sac State has taught me that first you have to get better in every drill, every shot, every day I step foot on that court.”

Eller said it took some time to adjust to the different rules in overseas basketball.

“The rules are slightly different here and at first I had trouble adjusting to the fouls and travel calls,” he said. “At Sac State I was able to play very fast and physical but I had to change my game a little bit and slow down and work on my skills.”

The rules of the game were not the only adjustment for Eller, who said the competition level is much more intense.

“I didn’t realize how much my skills needed to improve until I played over here,” he said. “I have always relied heavily on athleticism and hard work, but over here everyone works hard and they all have a tremendous skill set. The fact that there is room to improve is a huge motivation for me. I know I haven’t tapped into my whole talent just yet and I work every day to get better.”

Other former Sac State players playing professionally include Joel Jones who plays in Cyprus, Davon Roberts who plays in Germany, Angel Alamo who plays in Puerto Rico and Pablo Gonzales who plays in Belgium.

Gonzales has spent 10 seasons playing overseas and Jones has played in four leagues since 2002, including a stint with the Puerto Rican National Team during the 2007 Pan-American Games.

Guard Jameel Pugh spent two seasons playing for Sac State, from 2003 to 2005, and was drafted by the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Developmental League. He was later waived before playing for teams in New Zealand and Australia.

Pugh, who is working on his master’s degree at USC, said the life of a basketball player is much different overseas. If a team fails to live up to expectations, the imports are the first to go.

“I played fairly well but the thing about playing overseas, they will get rid of imports first,” Pugh said.

Pugh looks back positively about his time at playing at Sac State because he grew as a person.

“Sac State represents a unique growth period in my life,” Pugh said. “I came in as an underdog and people viewed me attending Sac State as a failure. It was a time for me to prove people wrong … it’s when I became a man, and that is an experience that I will never forget.”

Sophomore forward John Dickson does not want to think too far ahead in his basketball future.

“I’m more focused on education,” Dickson said. “It’s good that we have a players that are overseas playing, but I know at the end of my life I’m not going to always be playing basketball.”

The adventure of a professional athlete is one of ups and downs, but for many it is an experience they will never forget.

“My time overseas has been an adventure and I would recommend it to anyone who is open to new experiences and a better understanding of the world,” Eller said. “Even though I haven’t been in school for a whole year, I have learned so much since I left.”

Dave Mason can be reached at dmason@statehornet