Ali Farokhmanesh surfaces in Switzerland

If anyone became the darling of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, it was Northern Iowa. More specifically, it was Ali "The Sultan of Swish" Farokhmanesh, a six-foot-nothing Iranian-American with a jumper.

It was Farokhmanesh who hit the game-winner against UNLV that sent UNI into a second round match-up with Kansas. And it was Farokhmanesh who hit the shot heard round the world, a clutch, terribly ill-advised three with 36 seconds left to put the Panthers up four and help seal a trip to the Sweet 16.


It was one of those moments that make the NCAA Tournament so great. Not just because it was an upset, or because it was a clutch shot, but because UNI was a team with no pros knocking off a Kansas team with four or five draft picks on it.

Well, let me rephrase that.

UNI had no NBA players.

Because two former Panthers -- MVC player of the year Adam Koch and Farokhmanesh -- signed contracts to play overseas. Koch will be heading to Nymburk, a town right outside of Prague, to play professionally in the Czech League.

As for Farokhmanesh?

He's headed to Switzerland, where he will play for a team in Massagano.

Now, this may not be as glorious as the NBA. Neither player will likely make as much money as Cole Aldrich or Xavier Henry, two Jayhawks that went in the lottery. But it is a professional career. And I don't think anyone would complain about making a living playing the sport they love.


We'll always have March 20th, 2010.