Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Buccaneers players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Tylan Birts, a 6'6'' forward who is 29 years old and graduated from Barry in 2020, is currently playing professionally in Germany. Recently, he showcased his talent by leading Telekom Baskets Bonn to a resounding 104-72 victory over the 15th-ranked Skyliners in the German easyCredit BBL. In this game, Birts displayed his skills by scoring 12 points in just 17 minutes of play. With this win, Telekom Baskets Bonn, with a record of 20-12, currently holds the fourth position in the league standings. As the Regular Season nears its end with only two games remaining, every upcoming match is crucial for the teams. Birts demonstrated his prowess in the game against Frankfurt by contributing 12 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist, playing a pivotal role in securing the victory for his team. His stellar performance underscored his capabilities and determination as a champion on the court. Throughout the season, Birts has maintained solid statistics with an average of 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. His consistent performance and leadership qualities have been instrumental in Telekom Baskets Bonn's success, establishing him as a notable finalist in the league.
#2. Experienced player Yunio Barrueta, a 6'5'' forward/guard who is 33 years old, and an alumnus of the Buccaneers from 2016, currently plays professionally in Spain. He recently led Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela to a decisive 95-65 victory over the 12th-ranked Cantabria (12-19) in the Spanish Primera FEB (second division), on Saturday night. Barrueta, who was named the MVP of the game, contributed 14 points in just 21 minutes of play. Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela, with a record of 27-4, holds the second position in the league standings. With only one more game left in the Regular Season, Barrueta's upcoming match is crucial for the team's final standing. This season marks Barrueta's first with the team, where he has showcased his skills by consistently scoring an average of 11.9 points per game and grabbing 3.8 rebounds per game. A naturalized American, Barrueta's performance against Cantabria was pivotal in securing the victory and ensuring his team emerged as the **champion** of the game.
#3. Icelandic player Elvar Fridriksson, a 6'0'' point guard aged 31, who graduated from Barry in 2018 and received the All-SSC Player of the Year award that year, is currently playing professionally in Poland. In a recent game, Fridriksson's team, Anwil Wloclawek (16-13), faced off against Dziki (18-11) in the Polish Orlen Basket Liga, but unfortunately could not secure a victory. Despite Fridriksson's solid performance of scoring 5 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing 7 assists in 29 minutes of play, Anwil Wloclawek was defeated 78-73 on the road by the higher-ranked Dziki (#5). This loss marked Anwil Wloclawek's first defeat after a streak of five consecutive wins. With only one game left in the Regular Season, Fridriksson's team faces a crucial match ahead. This season marks Fridriksson's debut with the team, where he has been putting up impressive statistics with averages of 13.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. Despite his notable contributions, Fridriksson and his team fell short in their recent game against Dziki.
#4. Norwegian Lars Espe, a 27-year-old guard standing at 6'1'' and an alumnus of the Buccaneers from 2020, showcased his talent as a professional player in Norway by playing a crucial role in Fyllingen's triumph over the closely-ranked Gimle with a score of 80-76 in the Norwegian Basketligaen Norge on Thursday night. Espe's stellar performance included scoring 16 points, securing 5 rebounds, providing 5 assists, and making 3 steals, all within a 30-minute game time. This game, which pitted two top 4 ranked teams against each other, was considered the highlight of the round. Fyllingen BBK, currently leading the league with a record of 23-4, celebrated their sixth consecutive victory, thanks in large part to Espe's contributions on the court. With an average of 7.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists (leading the league), and 2.0 steals per game this season, Espe has proven himself as a standout player and a finalist.
#5. New Zealand's Luca Yates, a 22-year-old center/forward standing at 6'10'' and a recent graduate of Barry in 2023, showcased his talent in a thrilling match on Friday night. Playing professionally in Australia, Yates played a crucial role in leading the Cairns Marlins to a narrow 95-94 victory over the fifth-ranked Phoenix in the Australian NBL One, the second division of the league. Recording an impressive stat line of 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 36 minutes of play, Yates displayed his skills on the court, particularly noteworthy as he is only in his third season of professional basketball. The Cairns Marlins, with a perfect 4-0 record, currently sit at the top of the North group standings, thanks in part to Yates' contributions. Despite the early stage of the season, Yates has been a standout player for his team, consistently delivering solid performances. In the recent game against SC Phoenix, he contributed significantly with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist, pivotal in securing the victory that propelled his team to become the champion of the match. Yates' season averages of 14.5 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, and 1.3 blocks per game highlight his strong performance and impact on the court. Additionally, it is worth noting that he holds dual American and New Zealand citizenship, allowing him to play in New Zealand as a domestic player as well.
#6. Chilean Marcelo Perez, a 27-year-old guard standing at 6'5'' and an alumnus of the Golden Eagles class of 2024, previously playing for Barry University between 2018 and 2022 where he helped them reach the final of the SSC Tournament in 2022, currently showcases his talents as a professional player in Chile. In a recent game, Perez, despite his remarkable performance, was unable to lead Puerto Varas to victory. The team, currently in fourth place, suffered a defeat at the hands of the second-ranked CD Espanol, with a final score of 90-81 in favor of Espanol in the Sur group. Perez stood out as the top scorer of the game, contributing 25 points and 5 rebounds in 34 minutes of play. Facing CD Espanol, Perez displayed an impressive all-around performance, showcasing his scoring ability, rebounding skills, and playmaking with assists. Despite his outstanding efforts, Puerto Varas ultimately fell short and suffered a loss. Individually, Perez is having a standout season, boasting impressive statistics with an average of 18.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
#7. Danish Daniel Mortensen, a 6'9'' forward who is 31 years old and graduated from Barry in 2019, currently plays professionally in Iceland. In a recent game, he played a key role in helping U.M.F. Grindavik secure a decisive victory over the closely-ranked Valur, with a final score of 93-67 in the Icelandic Bonus League on Thursday night. Mortensen showcased his skills by scoring 5 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and providing 2 assists in 26 minutes of play. His standout performance against Valur was instrumental in his team's success, ultimately leading them to victory and allowing Mortensen to emerge as the champion in the game. Throughout the season, Mortensen has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. His consistent contributions on the court have undoubtedly been a significant factor in his team's success, establishing him as a key player and a finalist in the league.
#8. Irish Evan Walshe, a 28-year-old 6'4'' guard and Buccaneers alumnus from 2020, currently plays professionally in the United Kingdom. Recently, he competed with Bristol Flyers in a game against Manchester but unfortunately, his team fell short, losing 98-95. Despite the defeat, Walshe displayed his talent by scoring 6 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and providing 3 assists during his 16 minutes on the court. Throughout the season, Walshe has been averaging 3.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, showing his consistent contribution to the team. His performance against Manchester highlighted his skills as a player, even though Bristol Flyers couldn't secure the win on that occasion.
#9. Lithuanian player Justinas Marcinkevicius, a 6'8'' forward at 28 years old who graduated from Barry in 2022 and led them to the final of the SSC Tournament that year, currently competes professionally in Lithuania. Despite his efforts, he was unable to help Nevezis secure a victory against Siauliai. Marcinkevicius expressed disappointment with his performance in the recent game, where he only managed to score 3 points and grab 5 rebounds in 28 minutes of play. The match ended with his team suffering a significant 20-point loss, with a final score of 95-75. In a separate game against Siauliai, Marcinkevicius showcased a commendable performance by contributing 3 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist. However, his team was unable to clinch the victory, resulting in a defeat. Throughout the season, Marcinkevicius has maintained an average of 5.7 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game.
#10. British champion Kyle Carey, a 6'6'' guard at 29 years old and Buccaneers alumnus from 2018, has been showcasing his skills playing professionally in the United Kingdom. In a recent game in the British Super League Basketball, Carey faced off against the previously mentioned finalist Evan Walshe. During the game, Carey played a vital role in Manchester Basketball's victory over the closely-ranked Flyers with a final score of 98-95. Even though he only scored 2 points in 8 minutes on the court, his contribution was crucial. Additionally, he managed to score 2 points and grab 1 rebound against the Bristol Flyers, securing a significant win for his team. His performance demonstrated his value on the court, aiding his team in achieving success and ultimately securing the game. This season, Carey has been averaging 4.2 points per game, further solidifying his importance as a key player for his team.
Other former Barry University players, who play in pro basketball:
Sunday Dech (6'5''-G-1994, played in 2017-18) plays for Perth Wildcats in Australian NBL
Leandro Allende (6'6''-F-1998, played in 2018-20) plays for Santeros de Aguada in Puerto Rican BSN
Tyler Hawkins (6'3''-SG, played in 2022-23) played for Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rican BSN few monts ago
Juan Ferrales (6'2''-G-1991, played in 2013-15) played for Kongsberg in Norwegian BLNO last year
Johannes Dolven (6'9''-C/F-1996, played in 2017-20) plays for Centrum in Norwegian BLNO
Marko Tomic (6'7''-F-1995, played in 2015-19) plays for KK Zeleznicar Indjija in Serbian 1MRL
James Montgomery (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2021-24) plays for Toros Del Valle in Colombian LBP
Jacob Kakar (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2019-22) played for Paisas in Colombian LBP last year
Theo Turner (7'0''-C-1994, played in 2011-12) played for Teesside Lions in British NBL D1 last year
Travion Leonard (6'8''-C-1993, played in 2014-16) played for Raleigh 919 Legends in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Jaron Williams (6'6''-F-2000, played in 2022-23) played for CD Espanol Osorno in Chilean LNB last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Barry University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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