MACOMB, Ill.- If there's one thing Leatherneck fans remember about Brandon Gilbeck, it was his defense. The two-time Summit League Defensive Player of the Year continued that trend into his professional career when he was named the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) Defensive Player of the Year for the Fraser Valley Bandits. 

"I was really excited and it was a good accomplishment for me," said Gilbeck. "I won a couple defensive awards at Western, and that's something I expect to earn. Being a shot blocker is what teams bring me in to do -- if I'm not in the running for that, I don't think I've done my job."

After four years on the Western Illinois men's basketball team, Gilbeck received an opportunity to play in the NBA Summer League for the Denver Nuggets. He played alongside some of the biggest names coming out of college and had to learn an entire new aspect of the game.

"I had to play in a faster paced system because the NBA game is so efficient," he explained. "At Western, I spent most of my time underneath the basket but, with the Nuggets, the center was involved in everything offensively."

Gilbeck began his professional career in Europe, playing with Horsens IC in the Danish BasketLigaen. He averaged 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, and a league leading 2.9 blocks per game before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The big man then traveled to Italy to play for Latina Basket in Italy's Serie A2. In 16 games, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game, while shooting 58.1 percent from the field. He finished the season second in the Italian Serie A2 in blocks and blocks per game. Although Gilbeck found success with both teams, he faced a lot of challenges in adjusting to living in different countries. 

"My first year in Denmark wasn't too difficult, but when I went to Italy that really opened my eyes," said Gilbeck. "I had a translator because no one really knew English, and the food was a lot different. I got terribly sick my first week there because my teammates were having me try some crazy types of seafood."

Along with adjusting to a new country off the court, Gilbeck had to adjust to a much different style of play from the United States. 

"It's a much simpler game in the States because guys rely more on their pure athleticism and quickness, whereas in Europe, it's more skill-based," said Gilbeck. "Those guys are so precise with their movements; they play smarter and with more skill. In Italy, there was a 35-year-old who couldn't jump, but could still score 25 points a game just because of his instincts and basketball IQ."

After the season in Italy, Gilbeck headed back across the Atlantic to play in a summer league. He joined the Fraser Valley Bandits in the CEBL and excelled as the man in the middle. Gilbeck started all 16 games and averaged 13.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game, while leading the team with a 59.3 field goal percentage. 

Out of college, Gilbecks says he was advised to stay away from playing in Canada, but feels it was a great experience to play against a lot of great talent.

"This league is guys playing at the highest levels of Europe," said Gilbeck. "They offered me a chance to develop and show my game a little bit and it worked out great for me."

Gilbeck says there are a lot of challenges that come with playing professionally, but is happy that he continued his basketball career. 

"For me it wasn't a hard choice to continue playing, but for a lot of guys it is," said Gilbeck. "You're not playing for a lot of money or fame like you do in the United States, and it's an entirely different grind. It's still a grind for me, but it wasn't hard for me to decide to go pro because this is something I've always dreamed of doing."

Although Gilbeck has been removed from the college game for two years, he still hasn't forgotten what Western did to allow him to get to this point in his career.

"I miss the Western days and I really miss Macomb. We had some big-time wins when I was there," said Gilbeck. "I have to thank Western for everything because they developed me. The strength and conditioning program they placed me on helped get me ready to go from being a chubby, small town seven-footer into a shot blocker. Western taught me how hard you truly have to work."

Gilbeck plans to continue his professional career in Asia in the upcoming season.