Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Sun Devils alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Look at great performance of Josh Christopher (24 points), Alonzo Gaffney (22 points), and Rob Edwards (31 points).
#1. Josh Christopher, a 6'5'' guard who graduated from Arizona State in 2021 and received the Pac All-Freshman Honorable Mention award, is currently playing professionally in China for the Shenzhen Leopards. In a recent game against the Guangsha Lions, despite his stellar performance, Christopher could not lead his team to victory. The Shenzhen Leopards, with a record of 30-12, fell short in a 88-97 loss on the road to the second-ranked Guangsha Lions. Christopher showcased his skills by being the top scorer of the game with 24 points, along with contributing 9 rebounds and 6 assists in just 29 minutes of play. This game highlighted Christopher's abilities in his first season with the team. Throughout the season, he has maintained solid statistics averaging 13.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in the eight games he has played so far. Despite his impressive individual performance, Christopher and the Shenzhen Leopards were unable to secure the win against the Guangsha Lions, emphasizing the competitive nature of professional basketball in China.
#2. Alonzo Gaffney, a 6'9'' forward and 26-year-old Sun Devils alumni from 2024, currently playing professionally in Bulgaria, unfortunately could not lead Cherno More (22-8) to victory in their recent game against the top team Rilski, where they lost 94-100 at home. Despite the team's loss, Gaffney put on an impressive performance, emerging as the top scorer with 22 points. Additionally, he contributed 9 rebounds and 5 assists during his 34 minutes on the court, showcasing his versatility and skill in only his second season in professional basketball. This season marks Gaffney's first year with the team, and he continues to impress with his consistent performance on both ends of the court. Gaffney's notable performance against Rilski highlights his scoring ability, rebounding prowess, and playmaking skills. Although his individual efforts were commendable, Cherno More fell short against their opponents. Throughout the season, Gaffney has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game, ranking him as the third-best shot blocker in the league. His contributions on the court have been instrumental in the team's success, despite the challenges they have faced.
#3. In the recent game against Galil Elion, the champion Rob Edwards showcased his skills on the court for Urban Latti Kiryat Ata. Despite his remarkable performance where he scored 31 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists in 36 minutes of play, Kiryat Ata fell short and lost 108-113 to Galil Elion, one of the league's weaker teams. Even though Edwards has been a standout player individually throughout the season, averaging 22.0 points per game (the second best in the league), along with 4.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in five matches, his team's overall performance has not been as strong. With only one more game left in the Regular Season, the upcoming match will be crucial for Kiryat Ata. Despite the team's current standing at 8-16, Edwards' presence and contributions have not gone unnoticed. This being his first season with the team, his impact on the court has been significant, and his efforts will be vital in the upcoming critical game for Urban Latti Kiryat Ata.
#4. Experienced James Harden, a 6'5'' shooting guard and 36-year-old former Sun Devils alumni from 2009 who earned the Pac Player of the Year award that year, currently plays professionally in the NBA. In the recent game, he was unable to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30) to victory. Despite Harden's strong performance, the Cavaliers ultimately fell to the New York Knicks with a final score of 108-121 in New York City. During the game, Harden showcased his skills by scoring 19 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and providing 5 assists in 41 minutes of play. While he put up an impressive performance against the New York Knicks, his efforts were not enough to secure a win for his team. Throughout the season, Harden has maintained high individual statistics, averaging 20.0 points per game, 4.9 rebounds per game, 6.8 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game across 44 games. His consistent performance highlights his value as a key player for the Cleveland Cavaliers as they strive to compete in the league.
#5. Shaquielle McKissic, a 6'5'' guard/forward who is 35 years old and graduated from Arizona State in 2015, currently plays professionally in Greece. Recently, he played a pivotal role for Olympiacos S.F.P. Piraeus in their impressive victory against Real Madrid in the Euroleague. McKissic's contribution of 5 points in just 10 minutes helped secure the win for his team, which is currently ranked first in the league with a record of 26-12. This victory marked Olympiacos S.F.P. Piraeus's fourth consecutive win, showcasing McKissic's impact on the team. With his exceptional performance against Real Madrid, where he not only scored 5 points but also grabbed 2 rebounds and dished out 1 assist, McKissic proved to be the champion of the game. This standout display highlighted his importance to the team and his ability to deliver when it matters most. Having been with Olympiacos S.F.P. Piraeus for six seasons now, McKissic's experience and skills have been instrumental in the team's success. Throughout this season, he has maintained solid averages of 4.3 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in 27 appearances. McKissic, a naturalized American, continues to be a key player for his team, consistently making significant contributions on the court.
#6. Shannon Evans II, a 31-year-old point guard standing at 6'1'' and an alumni of the Sun Devils class of 2018, currently plays professionally in Spain after receiving an All-Pac Honorable Mention award during his college career. In a recent game for MoraBanc Andorra in the Spanish Liga Endesa, Evans II played a crucial role in his team's dominant 116-88 victory over the closely-ranked Lleida. He showcased his skills as a champion by scoring 21 points and providing 2 assists in just 23 minutes of play. His impressive performance not only helped secure the win but also highlighted his talent and contribution to the team. Throughout the season, Evans II has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game across 31 appearances. His consistent performance on the court reflects his dedication and skill level as a finalist. Additionally, it is worth noting that Evans II is a naturalized American, further adding to his diverse background and experience in the world of basketball.
#7. In the recent game between MKS Dabrowa Gornicza and Legia Warsaw, Luther Muhammad, a 6'3'' guard who graduated from Arizona State in 2023 and currently plays professionally in Poland, showcased his skills on the court. Despite his commendable efforts, Muhammad couldn't prevent MKS DG from suffering a 86-98 defeat to the leading Legia team. Muhammad delivered a solid performance, scoring 15 points in 31 minutes of play, showcasing his accuracy by making all five of his free throw attempts. Additionally, he displayed versatility by contributing 2 rebounds and 2 assists during the game. Throughout the season, Muhammad has consistently performed at a high level, averaging 16.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game across 33 appearances. Despite his individual success, Muhammad's team faced challenges in their recent matchup against Legia, ultimately falling short in their quest for victory.
#8. Canadian player Luguentz Dort, a 6'4'' guard who is 27 years old and an alumnus of Sun Devils from 2019, has been making his mark in the NBA. Recently, he played a crucial role in Oklahoma City Thunder's impressive 127-114 victory against the San Antonio Spurs last Tuesday. In that game, Dort scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in just 19 minutes of play. His performance against San Antonio not only helped his team secure the win but also solidified his reputation as a key player for the champion squad. Throughout this season, Dort has maintained solid statistics, averaging 7.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game across 82 games. His consistent contributions on the court have been instrumental in the team's success, showcasing his skills and determination as a finalist in the NBA.
#9. Kodi Justice, a 6'7'' guard who graduated from Arizona State in 2018 and is now 31 years old, currently plays professional basketball in Romania. Recently, he was unable to lead Voluntari (20-8) to a victory in their latest game against Rapid, where they suffered an 82-89 defeat in Bucuresti. Justice contributed 10 points to his team's effort during the game. Despite Justice's commendable performance and scoring 10 crucial points against Rapid, he could not prevent Voluntari from losing to the lower-ranked (#5) Rapid team. Even though the team did not secure a win, Justice demonstrated his skills as a finalist player on the court. Throughout this season, Justice has maintained relatively solid statistics, averaging 12.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game over 31 matches. His consistent performance exemplifies his value as a key player for Voluntari.
Other former Arizona State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Marcus Bagley (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2023-23) plays for Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA
Zylan Cheatham (6'8''-F-1995, played in 2017-17) plays for Adelaide 36ers in Australian NBL
Tra Holder (6'1''-G-1995, played in 2014-18) plays for Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela in Spanish Primera FEB
Elias Valtonen (6'7''-SF-1999, played in 2018-20) plays for Coviran Granada in Spanish Liga Endesa
Alston Mason (6'2''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Mornar in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Kimani Lawrence (6'8''-PF-1998, played in 2017-22) plays for Usti n/Labem in Czech Republic NBL
Basheer Jihad (6'9''-F, played in 2024-25) plays for College Park SkyHawks in the NBA G League
Eric Jacobsen (6'10''-PF-1994, played in 2012-16) plays for Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots in Japanese B1 League
Rihards Kuksiks (6'7''-SF-1988, played in 2007-11) played for Liepaja in Latvian LBL few monts ago
De'Quon Lake (6'10''-F/C-1997, played in 2017-19) plays for Bashkimi in Kosovan Superliga
Marreon Jackson (6'1''-G-1998, played in 2021-22) plays for Koping Stars in Swedish Basketligan
Remy Martin (6'0''-PG-1998, played in 2017-21) plays for Keflavik in Icelandic Subway League
Gerry Blakes (6'4''-SG-1993, played in 2013-16) plays for Sabah in Azerbaijani ABL
Jahii Carson (5'11''-PG-1992, played in 2011-11) plays for Silute in Lithuanian NKL
Jose Perez (6'5''-F-1998, played in 2023-24) plays for CPN in Dominican Rep. Santiago League
Jamiya Neal (6'5''-G/F-2003, played in 2021-24) plays for Rip City Remix in the NBA G League
Desmond Cambridge Jr. (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2023-23) plays for San Diego Clippers in the NBA G League
Jeff Ayres (6'9''-F-1987, played in 2005-09) played for Houston Rig Hands in the Big3 last year
BJ Freeman (6'6''-G/F-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Al Iglizia in Jordanian Premier League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Arizona State University basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
