Former Georgetown basketball standout Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje (COL ’01) cleared the first hurdle toward a career in the NBA since the draft when the Portland Trailblazers signed the seven-foot Cameroon native Thursday. Terms of the signing have not yet been disclosed. The Trailblazers drafted Boumtje-Boumtje in the second round of the NBA draft as the 50th overall selection.

With the signing, Boumtje-Boumtje joins the ranks of a proud Georgetown basketball tradition, becoming the ninth former Hoya on a current NBA roster.

“I am very pleased that Ruben has signed a contract with Portland,” Georgetown Basketball Head Coach Craig Esherick said. “We were proud when he was drafted and he now faces the tough challenge of making the team.”

Currently, the Trailblazers have a roster 17 names long which must be shaved down to 12 by the end of October when the NBA begins its regular season. Training camp gets underway two weeks from today on Tuesday, Oct 2, 2001.

Esherick added, “I have the utmost confidence in Ruben and we all wish him the best.”