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Cameron, WVU product Routt signs with pro basketball team in Slovenia

CAMERON — Logan Routt was finishing up his packing and doing some relaxing Tuesday evening, but he couldn’t keep himself from thinking about what’s ahead.

And while some of those thoughts were on the nearly 40 hours of travel he was facing, most of it centered around a professional basketball opportunity in Slovenia where he will play for KK Zlatorog Lasko.

“This is a great opportunity for me,” Routt said. “It’s a chance that I really never thought about having, especially when I first arrived at West Virginia, but I just continued to work hard and now I have the opportunity.”

Routt, 23, is a Cameron High School product who opted to turn down some small-college basketball offers to walk on with the Mountaineers. That’s a decision that has clearly paid dividends.

“I still can’t really find the words to describe my WVU career,” Routt said. “I considered it a win to even make it on to the WVU roster from Cameron a win, but once I got there, I realized I could do something if I put everything toward it and it worked out for me.”

Routt was awarded a scholarship by head coach Bob Huggins, made countless memories and friendships, played in places like the Bahamas, Germany, Spain and all over the United States. And now he has the chance to be a professional athlete.

“I’ve gotten to experience so many things (through basketball) that most kids can only dream about,” Routt said. “I feel extremely blessed. I am definitely going to miss Morgantown, my friends and the experiences I’ve had there, but I am excited for the next chapter.”

He signed his contract electronically and returned it, but it was still a very special moment for Routt.

“It was kind of a casual thing,” Routt said of the signing.

Routt is joining a team where he will be the only American.

“The team is comprised of mostly Slovenian citizens,” Routt explained. “I am just a rookie trying to experience everything I can. I talked to the lone American who was on the team last year and he told me the coach was a pretty cool guy and it’s a really good situation for a rookie. This is a good league, but I am not going over there to sit on the bench.

Routt is expected to play the center position for the team. Actually, that’s about all he knows about the opportunity he’s embarking on.

“I am a person who likes to be in control of my next move, but I don’t know much about my situation or even what my apartment will look like,” Routt said. “There are obviously some nerves when you consider going to a new country and city, but at the same time, there’s a lot of excitement. I am looking forward to getting over there and starting to get adjusted.”

At WVU, he was part of a deep front court this past season. He appeared in 27 games, averaging 1.3 points and 1.5 rebounds a contest.

The Mountaineers season ended prematurely when the Big 12 canceled the conference basketball tournament and the NCAA Tournament was also eventually canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since then, Routt, who owns a bachelor’s degree in sports management and a masters in business administration from WVU, has been like most athletes during the pandemic. He’s been trying to find places to work out to remain in the best shape and as sharp as he can be.

“I spent quarantine trying to find a gym anywhere I could and just working out on my own,” Routt said. “It was hard to find a gym, too. The last couple of months I’ve been working out in Wheeling with Boyd (Bibey) and Chase (Harler) with ‘Built Different’ and playing with some pick-up games against some guys. The hardest part has been trying to find people to get up and down games with.”

Routt flew out of Columbus on Wednesday. He landed in Washington D.C. where he caught a flight to Istanbul, Turkey. There is where the travel slowed down. He had a 15-hour layover before his flight to Slovenia.

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