By Bill Hamm

Kenny Hasbrouck has confirmed with 4guysinblazers that he has agreed to play with Virtus Bologna of the Italian Lega Series A for the upcoming season.

Bologna is one of the most storied teams in Italian basketball. Beginning play in the 1920s, Bologna has won 15 National League titles to go with 8 Italian Cup Championships. In addition to these Italian honors, and perhaps more impressive, Bologna has won two Euroleague Championships (1998 and 2001). An annual competition between the top clubs in Europe, Euroleague is essentially the basketball version of the UEFA Champions League in soccer. NBA star Manu Ginobili and former Siena great Doremus Bennerman are among notable players to have played for Virtus.

American fans might know Bologna best as the team that was in talks to sign NBA superstar Kobe Bryant of the LA Lakers during the 2011 NBA lockout. Bryant was set to sign a 10 game 3.2 million dollar contract with Bologna, however, the deal hit a snag when scheduling conflicts arose between the Italian schedule and the proposed start of the NBA season. Former LaSalle star Steven Smith has also signed for this season.

Bologna finished the 2011-12 season in 5th place with a record of 20-12. The team qualified for the playoffs but fell 3 games to none to Sassari.

Hasbrouck is entering his fourth professional season and third overseas following an illustrious career at Siena. Hasbrouck began his career with the NBA D-League’s Rio Grande Valley, which led to a stint with the Miami Heat. Kenny holds the distinction of being the first player from Siena to make an NBA roster. Hasbrouck spent the following season playing with  Meridiano Alicante in Spain’s top league. Most recently Kenny played for EWE Baskets Oldenburg in Germany’s top league, where he averaged 10.7 points per game.

Kenny played for Siena from 2005-2009 and was one of the corner stones of the most successful era of Saints basketball. During his tenure the Saints went to two NCAA tournaments, winning games against Vanderbilt and an OT thriller against Ohio State. Kenny finished his career with 1,917 points, 4th all time. In his four years at Siena his lowest scoring average was 12.4 during his freshman campaign. During the 2006-07 season Kenny scored 36 pts vs MAAC opponent Rider, a feat he almost equaled a year later vs MAAC rival Marist when he scored 35. Kenny wasn’t just a great scoring option, he could also distribute the rock. His 331 assists rank 12th on the Saints all time list. His 248 career steals ranks first all-time at Siena. For his efforts Kenny achieved national and conference recognition by being named to the AP All-American Honorable Mention team and earning MAAC Player of the Year Honors in 2009. Kenny also achieved Siena’s highest honor. He is one of only three players to have their number retired at Siena College.

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