Quinton McDuffie, a Suffolk native and 2008 Nansemond River High School graduate, is set to partake in his fourth overseas professional basketball season in Goražde, Bosnia, in Eastern Europe.

This will be the fifth team McDuffie has played for, and he is grateful to have made it to his fourth season.

“Honestly, it has been a blessing for me,” McDuffie said of his playing career thus far. “I’ve enjoyed every moment, from the traveling, sightseeing, teammates, basketball, etc., I just try to soak it all in and learn from everything around me.”

McDuffie feels that this could be a breakout season for him. Right now he is averaging 16 points per game, along with 12 rebounds per game in the Bosnia A1 league.

His team is young, and with his veteran experience and presence, McDuffie may be in the position to be a leader. Playing professionally overseas, athletes come from all over the world and all walks of life, and the Suffolk native is confident in his ability to be able to lead his team.

It will be a different challenge for him, though, as he is used to being a “lead-by-example” player rather than a vocal one.

“I will have to step up my leadership skills vocally to carry this team,” McDuffie said. “I am the lone vet on the club this season and will have to lead in mostly all the categories statistically. I think that I’ve mastered the art of encouraging, motivating and inspiring others around me. That is probably the most important thing about being a leader.”

During the last four years, basketball has been McDuffie’s main focus, but he has also furthered his education. McDuffie graduated from Chowan University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He then entered the master’s program at Troy University in 2014 and received his master’s degree in criminology this year. Achieving his master’s degree is the accomplishment McDuffie is most proud of.

“I think athletes pursuing higher education degrees are very important because it provides you with a safety net and positions you for life after sports,” McDuffie said. “It has definitely been difficult to keep up with basketball and school, but my mom, Lisa McDuffie, continues to encourage me to keep going further in life.”

Not only has McDuffie furthered his education, but he has also started his own management company, McDuffie Management and Consultant Group. He, along with a couple of investors, started the project to help players from smaller universities seek opportunities.

“We want to help players — NCAA DI mid-majors, NCAA DII, NCAA DIII and NAIA — who do not get the same type of opportunities as the bigger NCAA schools,” McDuffie said. “The goal is to help as many guys as possible live out their dreams the same way that I have.”

His love for his hometown runs deep and is a big part of his motivation. McDuffie will be in action for the team’s season opener Friday.

Player profile:

Name: Quinton McDuffie

Height: 6’6″

Weight: 228 lbs

Position: Small Forward

Current Team: K.K. Radnicki Goražde (Bosnia)

Previous Teams:

(‘13) Planeta-Universite Uhtka (Russia)

(‘13-‘14) Gulvi-Alta Montropx (Mongolia)

(‘14-‘15) La Gallofa Cantbasket (Spain)

(‘15-‘16) Club Parque Sur (Argentina)