WINONA, Minn. — On Feb. 16, 2016, Will Swiggum played his final collegiate game as a member of the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's basketball team—capping an illustrious career that included more than 1,000 points and 600 rebounds.
 
And while his collegiate career may have ended with that season-ending game against St. Thomas, his playing career didn't.
 
Saturday evening, Swiggum will once again take the court—trading in his Cardinal red and white uniform for the purple, black, and gold uniform of the La Crosse (Wis.) Showtime, who are in their inaugural season as a member of the American Basketball Association (ABA).
 
The ABA is a  professional basketball league that has grown to become the largest professional sports league in the world. The original ABA was established in 1967 and merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976, before being re-established in 2000 in partnership with the NBA.
 
"It was honestly a dream come true the day I signed my first professional contract," Swiggum said. "It's always been my dream to play basketball at the pro level and I'm just really excited to keep playing the game that I love. 
 
"It's very gratifying knowing that all the work I've put in for many years has paid off," he added. "I just couldn't give up on playing; I missed it so much after college. I knew I had more to give to the game."
 
Swiggum played in all 100 games during his four-year career at Saint Mary's, becoming the 26th player in program history to eclipse the 1,000 career-point mark—and closing out his career with 1,037 points. He scored 20 or more points seven times, including a career-high 24 points twice.
 
Swiggum, who recorded seven career games of 20 or more points, also hauled in 100 or more rebounds in all four seasons—including a career-best 16-rebound effort against Martin Luther on Nov. 24, 2015—finishing his time as a Cardinal with 683 boards. The St. Charles, Minn., native also delivered 100 assists, 45 steals, and 13 blocks during his time at Saint Mary's.
 
"Saint Mary's did a great job preparing me for continuing my basketball career," explained Swiggum. "I was surrounded by many great teammates and coaches, who helped me grow throughout my four years.
 
"I came to Saint Mary's because I knew I would be challenged every practice and every game—and it really paid off," Swiggum added. "This opportunity may not have been possible if I never came to Saint Mary's."
 
The Showtime will play 21 games during their inaugural season, which kicks off Nov. 4-5 with road games at the Chicago Knights and Chicago Fury. La Crosse's first home game will be Saturday, Nov. 25, at 7 p.m. at the La Crosse Center.