NEW YORK – Columbia men's basketball forward Lukas Meisner has signed with Medi Bayreuth of the easyCredit Basketball Bundesliga (Germany) and will forgo his senior year of eligibility. Meisner becomes the fifth Lion to sign professionally in the past three seasons.
 
The 6-7 native of Braunschweig, Germany, became the first Columbia player to lead the Ivy League in rebounds per game since 1994-95 after pulling down 7.5 per game. Meisner also posted eight double-doubles to pace the conference and was the highest single-season total for the program since 1976-77.
 
"This was an extremely difficult decision to make, but it has always been my goal to play professionally, and this opportunity was too good to pass up," Meisner stated. "I want to thank my teammates and Coach Engles and his staff. I truly would not be able to fulfill this dream without them. I loved every minute of playing for Columbia and I know this team will go on to do great things."
 
"Lukas has worked so hard for this chance and it's been a pleasure coaching him for the past two seasons," said head coach Jim Engles. "Of course, we would have loved to have him back for the 2018-19 season. However, not many people have an opportunity to play at the professional level and we wish him the best of luck."
 
Meisner will suit up in the same league as former teammate Maodo Lo '16CC, who inked a two-year contract with Bayern Munich after spending two seasons with Brose Bamburg, winning the league title in 2016-17. Bayern Munich and Medi Bayreuth will face off twice in the regular season.