Because of his knack for swishing baskets, Nate Menefee is a world globe trotter, a professional basketball player in Europe.
From September to April, Menefee, a former all-state guard at Timberline and an All-American at Evergreen, played professionally in Portugal. He lived on Madeira Island, a lush, mountainous island 621 miles off the coast of Portugal.
He’s living his dream.
“Growing up, this was something I always wanted to do. Play basketball professionally,” he said.
After graduating from Evergreen a year ago, Menefee signed to play with the team in Madeira, a coastal city of 244,000 that is sandwiched between two mountains. He was one of three Americans on the team.
Menefee, who played both point and shooting guard, averaged 17 points and four assists in his first season. He was named the tournament MVP when Madeira won the Portugal Cup during the season.
“The people were nice,” he said. “I’d say 80 percent of the population could speak English. That was good.”
His team played once a week, always on Saturdays. They practiced twice a day until the season started, practicing at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Two-a-day workouts were then held three times a week when the season started. Because of basketball, Menefee didn’t have a lot of time to travel.
“I didn’t get to see much of Europe,” he said. “But I saw a lot of the island. The beaches are beautiful.”
Menefee also saw a lot of Portugal as the team traveled across that country to play games. The team made the 1 ½-hour flight to Lisbon, then drove to the city for their next game in the 10-team league. Games were played at fast, uptempo pace, with both teams usually scoring over 100 points.
“It was really uptempo,” Menefee said. “It was fun. Really good basketball.”
Since returning home in early May, Menefee has been playing with the Olympia Reign, the semipro team he played on last summer. The team is owned by Mark Felton and has four home games left on the schedule – June 11, 21, 28, and 29. Games are played at Evergreen starting at 7 p.m.
In addition to playing basketball for the Madeira team, Menefee made frequent public appearances with the team, talking to students at schools or signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans in the city’s stores. He’s hoping to sign again with the Madeira team, which lost in the first round of the playoffs.
“I’d love to go back,” Menefee said. “It was a good experience. We’re going to discuss a contract over the summer. I’ve talked with guys who’ve played overseas and they say it’s best to go back to the same team rather than switching teams.”
By returning to the same team, there’s no get-acquainted period again.
“They know you. You know them,” Menefee said. “You know the area. You don’t have to prove yourself again to the coach.”
Menefee didn’t know anyone on the team when he left for Madeira a year ago. It was a tough adjustment.
“I missed my family,” Menefee said. “Fortunately, we had the technology to stay in contact.”
He talked daily on skype with his family, including his fiancée, Alexandria. They’re getting married in July.
At the end of June, Menefee will put on a week-long basketball camp at his former high school. There will be two sessions for the camp – from 9 a.m. to noon for kids ages 6 to 12 and from 1-4 p.m. for kids 13 to 18. The camp costs $85.
“It’s really not about the money,” Menefee said. “It’s about doing something for the community.”
Menefee will be assisted by Jeff Drinkwine, his college coach, and by several former college teammates.
