Former Syracuse player Demetris Nichols signs with pro team in Russia

Syracuse -- Demetris Nichols, who played at Syracuse University from 2003 to 2007, has signed with a professional basketball team in Russia, his agent said Tuesday.

Nichols will play for Krasnie Krilya, his agent, Bill Neff of SAGA Sports, said Tuesday. The team is located in Samara, Russia.

"We had interest from a couple teams,'' Neff said. "It's a very good team and a good situation for him.''

Nichols spent last year in the NBA's D-League. He averaged 18.7 points and 5.4 rebounds for the Sioux Falls Skyforce. At mid-season, he was named an all-star, and at the end of the he made the D-League's first team.

Nichols played for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA's Las Vegas Summer League this past summer, but found no interest from NBA teams in terms of getting an invitation to a team's training camp.

But Neff said Nichols should thrive with Krasnie Krilya in part because the team's point guard is former Kansas standout Aaron Miles.

"He's as good a point guard as there is,'' Neff said. "We've found that with D-Nic when he has a good point guard, his numbers go up dramatically.''