Former UW-River Falls star Rich Melzer has signed a contract with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs. He played last season with the New Zealand Breakers of Australia's National Basketball League, averaging 19.0 points and 7.0 rebounds, and with the Albuquerque Thunderbirds of the NBDL, where he averaged 9.6 points in 14 games.

Melzer, who has spent time in the Wizards, Bulls and Magic organization, was a D3hoops.com second-team All-America selection in 2003 and a first-team pick in 2004. He turns 27 in December. It is a two-year, non-guaranteed contract.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited about being signed," Melzer said in a Breakers news release, "but at the same time I'm also a little saddened because I've been waiting to go back to the Breakers ever since I left after the last season," Melzer said.

Melzer will play on the Spurs' summer league team, which is scheduled to play six games from July 14-21 in Salt Lake City. The only Division III alumnus currently playing in the NBA is the Lakers' Devean George, a D3hoops.com first-team All-American in 1999.