Matt Gatens will play for a team in the Ukraine

Former University of Iowa basketball player Matt Gatens of Iowa City will play pro ball in the Ukraine next season.

Gatens will play for Khimik, which plays in Eurocup Basketball, Europe's second-tier level transnational competition for men's professional basketball clubs.

It's a step up for me and really good for exposure," Gatens said Monday while participating in the Zach Johnson Foundation Classic in Cedar Rapids.

In his first season of pro ball, Gatens played for UCAM Murcia in Spain, averaging 9.6 points in 33 games.

"I led the team in starts," he said. "That was good. I learned a lot. It's a great league. But it's good to get in the Eurocup. We played once a week in Spain. This year I'll get to play twice a week."

Gatens played for the Orlando Magic's NBA Summer League team earlier this month. He averaged 15.2 points for the Hawkeyes in the 2011-12 season.