As one former Notre Dame hoopster retired from the NBA, another came a step closer to getting in the league.
Pat Garrity, who spent 10 seasons in the NBA, nine of them with the Orlando Magic, and played at Notre Dame from 1994-98, announced his retirement from the league Thursday.
"As a professional athlete, I have always been aware that the time would come for me to begin another chapter in my life," Garrity said in a statement released by the Magic. "That time has come and I look forward to the exciting challenges that lie ahead."
During his NBA career, Garrity averaged 7.3 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. His best years came in 2001-02 and 2002-03, when he averaged 11.1 and 10.7 points per game, respectively, and started in 96 games during the two seasons.
At Notre Dame, Garrity averaged 18.8 points per game over four seasons and was named Big East player of the year for the 1996-97 campaign, his junior year, when he averaged 21.1 points per game.
As a senior, he was named a second-team All American. He is third on Notre Dame's all-time scoring list, behind only Austin Carr and Adrian Dantley.
"Playing with and against the greatest basketball players in the world has been an experience which has given me some of the fondest memories of my life," Garrity said.
Meanwhile, former Irish forward and 2008 graduate Rob Kurz signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors and will attend their training camp.
For Kurz, the contract comes near the end of a hectic summer, filled with tryouts and workouts with various teams.
"You 're always working, you always have to stay ready. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, if I was going to be taking off for overseas or going to another team or what was going to happen ..." Kurz said in a phone interview Thursday. "Everyday you really didn't know what was going to happen, but whatever happens I just tried to make the best of the situation."
Kurz was the heart and soul of the Irish last season and helped Notre Dame to a tie for second place in the Big East and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. During his junior and senior years, Kurz averaged over 12 points and seven rebounds per game.
Golden State currently has 18 players under contract and will have to cut that down to 15 before the season starts. Kurz was one of three undrafted rookies the Warriors signed this offseason - DeMarcus Nelson from Duke and Dion Dowell from Houston were the others.
Kurz averaged 7.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in nine games with the Warriors summer league team.
