PITTSFIELD – Andrew St. Clair plans to go to law school some day, but that will have to wait for at least two years.

The 22-year-old St. Clair, a recent graduate of Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H., will leave his home here Wednesday to begin a professional basketball career in England.

The former Maine Central Institute standout recently signed a two-year contract to play for the Northampton Neptunes of the English Basketball League’s first division. That 13-team league is the second-highest professional league in the United Kingdom, behind only the British Basketball League.

“This is definitely something that I’ve wanted to do,” said St. Clair of a professional basketball career, “and now it’s come about. I’m excited to go over there and see what I can do.”

St. Clair was named a second-team 2006 NCAA Division III All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches after a senior season at Colby-Sawyer in which he led the Chargers a 17-11 record and a berth in the Commonwealth Coast Conference championship game. He also was a first-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America, the result of a 3.68 grade point average in sports management.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound center became the first player in Colby-Sawyer history to surpass 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. The three-time CCC player of the year holds school records for rebounds (1,007), steals (206), and blocked shots (142) and ranks third in points scored (2,043).

“I’m really happy for Andrew,” said Colby-Sawyer coach Bill Foti on the school’s Web site. “This is something we’ve talked about for a long time. He really wanted this to happen and I’m glad it did. He really deserves this. I think he’ll do very well as the team is loaded with shooters and really needed an inside presence.”

After the 2005-06 season, St. Clair and Foti sent out game tapes and other information in pursuit of a pro basketball opportunity in Europe, and the Colby-Sawyer connection played a role in matching him with Northampton, as current Neptunes’ coach Mark Spatcher was a former teammate of another ex-Charger, Matt George.

St. Clair spent this summer living in Portland and playing in a college and post-collegiate summer basketball league at Howard Sports in Saco to prepare for his English sojourn.

He said he expects to play power forward for the Neptunes, who have been moved up to the EBL’s first division after playing in that league’s second division last winter. St. Clair said he is looking forward to adjusting to international basketball.

“I think it will be fun learning a little different style of game,” said St. Clair, who will be one of two Americans on the Neptunes. “One rule that I think might help my game is being able to do things with the ball once it is on the rim. Once I get used to that, I think I will be all right.”

St. Clair said he will be paid a modest amount, $1,300 to $1,400 per month, but that living arrangements are included in his deal.

The Neptunes’ season runs from early October to late April, St. Clair said. The team play its games on weekends, so St. Clair and his teammates will spend their time during the week practicing and working with local youth teams in an effort to help develop the sport in England.