After facing each other for the past few years in Rhode Island, former PC guard Jeff Xavier and ex-URI forward Kahiem Seawright may be running into each other on the basketball court as professionals in Spain this season.

Xavier will be playing for Leche Rio Breogan, while Seawright will play for CB Tarragona.

Xavier knew that he was a long shot to make an NBA team this summer, but he kept that childhood dream alive, playing in front of pro scouts both here and abroad before finally deciding to play overseas and narrowing his choice to three countries –– Spain, Greece, and France.

Late Tuesday night, he narrowed his choice from three countries to one team and his dream of playing professional basketball was realized when he signed a contract to play for Leche Rio Breogan in Spain.

“I’m really excited,” Xavier said. “It has been a long time coming. I’ve waited all summer for this to happen. At the beginning of the summer I had no idea what to expect. It was tough. I went to the Orlando Invitational. I didn’t know what to expect, but nothing came of that.”

The Orlando Invitational was a showcase for college and pro players to show off their talent in front of pro scouts.

“I played with my national team [Cape Verde] and played well over there,” Xavier said. Xavier led Cape Verde to a semifinal upset victory over Portugal at the 2009 Lusophony Games in Lisbon in July.

“There were a few offers from teams over there, but I wanted to wait,” Xavier said. “I hired an agent, Mike Bradley, and decided I wanted to play in Spain, Greece or France because they have three of the top five leagues in Europe. I know most rookies don’t get contracts there, but I wanted to work hard and get one.”

Xavier then led Cape Verde to strong showing at the AfroBasket tournament held from Aug. 5-15 in Benghazi, Libya, by leading the tournament in scoring (27 points per game).

“That’s when I got interest from teams from Greece and Spain,” Xavier said.

Xavier said that Leche Rio Breogan, which is based in Lugo, Galicia, in northwest Spain, was one of his first choices, so he jumped at the opportunity to sign with them when it came.

“I took it and ran with it,” Xavier said. “They play in the second division in Spain, which is one of the top divisions in Europe.”

Xavier said he’d be leaving for Spain on Monday.

Seawright left for Spain on Wednesday. “I had other offers to play in France and Turkey,” Seawright said. “But both me and my agent thought this was the best option to begin my professional career.”