Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Cougars alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Croatian champion Ante Brzovic, a 6'10'' forward aged 26, who graduated from Charleston in 2025 and received the All-CAA First Team award that year, is currently playing professionally in Croatia. In a recent game, despite his commendable efforts, Brzovic was unable to assist Alkar in securing a victory. The team suffered a 71-77 defeat at home against the lower-ranked Dubrava. Brzovic delivered an impressive performance, achieving a double-double by scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes of play. This notable display is particularly remarkable considering he is only in his second season of professional basketball and it's his first year with the team. Against Dubrava, Brzovic showcased his skills by scoring 14 points, securing 11 rebounds, and providing 2 assists, yet his team fell short of securing the win. His exceptional performance even earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com. Throughout this season, Brzovic has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in the three games he has played so far. His consistent contributions on the court reflect his dedication and talent as a finalist player in the Croatian league.
#2. Grant Riller, a 29-year-old shooting guard standing at 6'3'', who is an alum of the Cougars from 2020 and was honored with the All-CAA First Team award that year, currently plays professionally in China. Recently, he was unable to assist the Beijing Royal Fighters (0-2) in their latest game, where they suffered a defeat on the road against the leading Boca Juniors with a score of 78-88. Despite the loss, Riller showcased an outstanding performance by emerging as the top scorer of the game with 24 points. Additionally, he demonstrated his defensive prowess by contributing 4 steals during his 26 minutes on the court. This season marks Riller's fourth year with the team, and he has been a consistent performer. In the recent game against Boca Juniors, Riller continued to shine, scoring 24 points, securing 3 rebounds, and providing 1 assist. Despite his remarkable efforts, his team fell short and couldn't secure the victory. Throughout the season, Riller has maintained impressive individual performance, boasting high statistics. He currently holds averages of 17.0 points per game, along with 1.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, which ranks him as the fourth-best in the league in steals.
#3. Benjamin Burnham, a towering 6'8'' forward at 24 years old, is a former Virginia Tech graduate who honed his skills playing for Charleston between 2021 and 2024. During his time with Charleston, he played a crucial role in helping them secure the CAA Regular Season Champion title in the year he graduated. Currently, Burnham is showcasing his talents in Germany's professional league. In his debut game for NINERS Chemnitz, Burnham faced a tough matchup against the formidable ALBA Berlin. Despite his commendable performance of scoring 8 points and securing 7 rebounds in 33 minutes of play, NINERS Chemnitz fell short against the reigning champions. The final score of 82-89 favored ALBA Berlin, marking a challenging start to the season for Burnham and his new team. While the loss was disappointing, the season is still in its early stages, leaving room for improvement and potential turnaround for NINERS Chemnitz. Burnham's notable display on the court against ALBA Berlin serves as a promising indicator of his capabilities as he continues to strive for success in the German easyCredit BBL.
#4. Frankie Policelli, a 6'9'' forward and 26-year-old alumnus of the Cougars from 2024, played a crucial role in helping his team secure the CAA Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently playing professionally in Slovakia, Policelli showcased his skills last Wednesday by leading his Slovakian team Prievidza to a dominant 103-83 victory over the closely-ranked Samobor (0-1) in the FIBA Europe Cup. In his debut game of the season for Prievidza, Policelli impressed with 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in just 27 minutes of play. This performance was particularly noteworthy considering that Policelli is only in his third season of professional basketball. The game against Samobor was highly anticipated as it featured two top 4 ranked teams, with Policelli's team currently holding the third position in the league standings. Policelli's standout performance in the FIBA Europe Cup solidified his reputation as a champion player, with his contributions instrumental in securing the victory for Prievidza. His ability to impact the game on multiple fronts highlights his value as a key player for his team.
#5. Australian champion Reyne Smith, a 6'2'' guard at 23 years old, graduated from Louisville in 2025 after showcasing his skills in Charleston from 2021 to 2024. During his time in Charleston, he received the prestigious All-CAA All-Tournament MVP award. Smith now competes professionally in Australia but faced a tough challenge when his team, Cairns Taipans (1-1), took on the Kings (1-0) in the Australian National Basketball League. Despite his best efforts, Smith could not lead Cairns Taipans to victory against the Kings, as they suffered a 111-90 defeat in Sydney. Smith, in his 19 minutes on the court, managed to contribute 5 points to the team's efforts. In the game against the Kings, ranked #3 in the league, Smith displayed an impressive performance by scoring 5 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists. However, his individual efforts were not enough to secure the win for Cairns Taipans. So far this season, Smith has been averaging 4.5 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game across two games, showcasing his skills and determination on the court as he aims to lead his team to victory in future matchups.
#6. Jarrell Brantley, a 30-year-old 6'7'' power forward and alumnus of the Cougars from 2019, who received the CAA All-Tournament Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Japan. In a recent game, despite his outstanding performance, Brantley couldn't prevent Nagasaki Velca (0-1) from suffering a heavy defeat. The 13th-placed Nagasaki team was defeated 89-64 by the leading Magic in the Western Conference. Brantley showcased his skills by emerging as the top scorer of the game with 16 points, along with contributing 3 assists in just 23 minutes of play. This game marked his first appearance for Nagasaki Velca this season. Despite his notable performance against Shimane SM, where he scored 16 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and provided 3 assists, Brantley's team ended up on the losing side.
Other former College of Charleston players, who play in pro basketball:
Andrew Goudelock (6'3''-SG-1988, played in 2007-11) signed for Nacional in Uruguayan LUB
John Meeks (6'6''-SF-1999, played in 2021-22) signed for Denizli Basket in Turkish BSL
Jeremy Simmons (6'9''-C-1989, played in 2007-11) signed for Cayirova Belediye Kocaeli in Turkish BSL
Jlynn Counter (6'3''-G-2003, played in 2025-26) signed for Zwolle in Dutch DBL
Christopher Fulton (6'2''-G-2002, played in 2023-25) signed for Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen in Belgian Pro Basketball League
Dimitrius Underwood (6'4''-F-1998, played in 2016-19) signed for DEAC in Hungarian A Division
Pat Robinson III (6'3''-G-1999, played in 2022-23) plays for Cheshire Phoenix in British SLB
Andrew Lawrence (6'1''-G-1990, played in 2009-13) plays for Surrey 89ers in British SLB
Derrin Boyd (6'3''-G-2000, played in 2024-25) signed for Kipina in Finnish Korisliiga
Jaylen McManus (6'8''-F-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Starwings in Swiss SBL
Antwaine Wiggins (6'8''-F-1988, played in 2007-12) played for Al Hurriyeh in Syrian SBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of College of Charleston basketball alumni.
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