Los Alamos native Alex Kirk is named MVP in the first week of the season following Sunday’s game in Pistoia, Italy. Watch the game here. Screen Shot/legabasketv.it

The crowd cheers as Alex Kirk sinks another basket in Sunday’s game in Pistoria, Italy. Screen Shot/legabasketv.it

Staff Report:

Los Alamos High School graduate and former UNM Lobo Alex Kirk was named the MVP in the season opening game Sunday in Pistoia, Italy.

Kirk joined the Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia in Pistoia, Italy last month. Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia is a professional team in Italy’s top league and Kirk said at the time that he believes his shot to play in the NBA is only going to get better following this experience.

Kirk, 23, was born in Los Alamos. He began playing basketball for the University of New Mexico in 2010, averaging 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in the 2010-11 season.

In the offseason, Kirk underwent back surgery for a herniated disc and subsequently redshirted  the 2010-12 season. Kirk bounced back as a redshirt sophomore, averaging 12.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per games. At the conclusion of the season,

Kirk was named second team All-Mountain West Conference and a member of the league’s All-Defensive team.

In the summer of 2013, Kirk was named to the United States’ team for the 2013 Summer Universiade. He averaged 3.7 points and 4.6 rebounds as the team finished in ninth place.

In 2013-14, Kirk increased his numbers to 13.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. He was named third team All-MWC and repeated as a member of the All-Defensive team.

In April 2014, Kirk declared for the NBA draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility. After going undrafted in the 2014 NBA draft, Kirk joined the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2014 NBA Summer League. Aug. 11, 2014, he signed with the Cavaliers.

During his rookie season with the Cavaliers, he had multiple assignments with the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League.

Kirk was traded to the New York Knicks Jan. 5, 2015, in a three-team trade that also involved the Oklahoma City Thunder. Two days later, he was waived by the Knicks. Jan. 10, 2015, Kirk was acquired by the Canton Charge. In 46 games for the Charge in 2014–15, he averaged 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.

Kirk will play with Pistoia Basket 2000 of the Italian Serie A for the 2015–16 season.