Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Blue Demons players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Umoja Gibson, a 6'1'' guard who recently graduated from DePaul in 2023 and now plays professionally in Spain, showcased his talent as a major contributor in FC Barcelona Lassa's recent triumph over the 14th-ranked Besiktas in the Euroleague. In the game on Friday night, Gibson played a pivotal role by scoring 15 points, making 3 assists, and maintaining a perfect 6 for 6 record at the free-throw line, all within 21 minutes of play. Despite being in the early stages of the season, FC Barcelona Lassa currently holds the eighth position in the league standings. With Gibson only in his first year with the team, his exceptional performance against Besiktas highlights his impact on the court. His impressive stat line for the season, averaging 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, further solidifies his value to the team. As a naturalized American, Gibson's skills and contributions have been vital in helping FC Barcelona Lassa secure victories. His noteworthy display against Besiktas ultimately led his team to success, positioning them as the champion of the game. While the season is still young, Gibson's presence on the court promises exciting opportunities for both himself and his team as they aim for further success in the league.
#2. Javon Freeman-Liberty, a 6'3'' shooting guard and 26-year-old Blue Demons alumni from the class of 2022, is currently showcasing his skills playing professionally in Turkey. Despite his notable performance, Freeman-Liberty could not lead Bursaspor Basketbol to victory in their recent game last Saturday. The team suffered a 78-69 defeat on the road against the second-ranked Turk Telekom, despite Freeman-Liberty's standout contribution as the top scorer with 22 points. Additionally, he grabbed 4 rebounds and dished out 4 assists during his 35 minutes on the court. Freeman-Liberty's impressive display against Turk Telekom highlighted his scoring prowess and all-around skills, but unfortunately, it was not enough to secure the win for Bursaspor. Throughout the season, Freeman-Liberty has been delivering consistently strong performances, averaging 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game individually. His contributions on the court continue to showcase his talent and potential as a standout player in the league.
#3. Chico Carter Jr., a 6'3'' guard who graduated from DePaul in 2024 and currently plays professionally in Italy, made a significant impact in the Italian Serie A game on Sunday night. Despite scoring just 3 points and providing 3 assists in 24 minutes, Carter Jr. played a crucial role in leading Nutribullet Treviso Basket to a 109-94 victory over the tenth-ranked Roma Basket (0-1). This marked his debut game for Treviso this season, as he showcased his skills in his first year with the team. Despite his modest statistics, Carter Jr. displayed an impressive performance against Roma Basket, contributing 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists to help his team secure the win. His standout play was instrumental in guiding his team to victory and ultimately claiming the champion title in the game. Nutribullet Treviso Basket currently holds the second position in the league standings, with Carter Jr. proving to be a valuable asset to the team.
#4. Swiss basketball champion Brendan Favre, a 6'5'' guard/forward who is 27 years old and an alumnus of the Blue Demons from 2023, showcased his exceptional skills in leading Pully to a triumphant 94-80 victory over the league outsider Monthey-Chablais (0-3) in the Swiss Basketball League on Saturday night. Favre, a finalist for MVP of the game, delivered an outstanding performance by scoring an impressive 28 points in just 29 minutes of play. His contribution was instrumental in securing the win for his team. Playing for the Pully Lausanne Foxes, who currently hold a 2-1 record and are placed fifth in the league standings, Favre is making a significant impact in his first season with the team. His remarkable scoring ability and all-around performance on the court have solidified his position as a champion player. With an average of 19.0 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game, Favre is having a standout season, consistently demonstrating why he is a key player for his team.
#5. Troy D'Amico, a 24-year-old forward standing at 6'7'' who graduated from DePaul in 2025, recently put on a commendable performance for Plzen, the underdog team in the league. Despite his remarkable efforts, the bottom-ranked Plzen, with a record of 0-5, fell short in their game last Saturday against the higher-ranked team, Opava, who holds the #7 spot in the league standings. The final score saw Plzen being defeated 92-82 on Opava's home court. D'Amico showcased his skills by leading his team in scoring with 23 points and contributing 5 rebounds during his 33 minutes on the court. This game highlighted D'Amico's capabilities in his first season with the team, where he has been maintaining relatively good statistics of 15.0 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 2.4 assists per game. Despite the impressive performance put forth by D'Amico, Plzen was unable to secure a victory over Opava. The champion Opava proved to be a tough opponent, ultimately securing the win over the finalist Plzen, leaving D'Amico and his team with room for improvement as they progress through the season.
#6. Canadian Nick Ongenda, a towering center at 6'11'' and a 26-year-old Blue Demons alum from the class of 2023, currently showcases his skills as a professional player in Spain. In his debut game for Kids&Us Manresa this season, Ongenda demonstrated his prowess on the court, contributing 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in 22 minutes of play. Despite his commendable performance, his team fell short against PAOK, ultimately losing 93-78. Ongenda's effort and skill were evident throughout the game, but unfortunately, it was not enough to secure a victory for his team.
#7. Experienced champion Brandon Young, a 6'4'' guard who is 34 years old and graduated from DePaul in 2014, showcased his skills in Italy by assisting Dinamo BDS Sassari in a thrilling victory over the 14th-ranked Milano Urania with a close score of 70-68 in the Italian Serie A2, the second division of Italian basketball, on Sunday night. In his debut game for Sassari this season, Young contributed 5 points in just 7 minutes of play, demonstrating his effectiveness on the court. His crucial 5-point contribution against Milano Urania played a pivotal role in securing the champion title for his team in this intense matchup. It is worth noting that Young, a naturalized American player, proved his value and experience by making a significant impact in the game.
#8. Isaiah Stone, a 6'5'' guard and 25-year-old Blue Demons alum from 2025, currently playing professionally in Spain, found himself unable to lift Zamora (0-2) to victory in their recent game last Saturday. Despite his commendable performance, the underdog Zamora team, sitting at the bottom of the rankings, suffered a defeat of 80-73 at home against the much higher-ranked Estudiantes (#3). Even though Stone stood out as the second-best scorer of the game with 12 points and contributed 4 rebounds during his 26 minutes on the court, his efforts were not enough to secure a win for Zamora against the formidable Estudiantes. Stone displayed an impressive performance against the higher-ranked team, showcasing his skills with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. However, despite his notable contributions, Zamora ultimately fell short in the game. Throughout the season, Stone has maintained relatively solid statistics, averaging 14.0 points per game, along with 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game, showcasing his consistent performance and value to the team.
#9. Billy Garrett, a 6'6'' shooting guard who graduated from DePaul in 2017 and received the All-Big East Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, currently plays professionally in Mexico. Despite his commendable efforts, Garrett, the top scorer with 23 points, couldn't lead Freseros Irapuato to victory in their recent game against Santos. The team suffered a 96-81 defeat at the hands of the higher-ranked Santos (#10) in San Luis Potosi. Garrett showcased an impressive performance against Santos, contributing 23 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists in 37 minutes on the court. His individual season statistics reflect his strong contributions, with averages of 18.5 points per game (the second-best in the league), 2.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Despite his standout performances, Freseros' recent loss indicates the challenges they face in the league.
#10. In the recent game last Sunday, Tre McCallum, a 31-year-old 6'7'' forward and Blue Demons alumnus from 2018 currently playing professionally in Japan, was unable to lead Shizuoka Veltex (2-2) to victory. Despite his standout performance, the third-placed Shizuoka team faced a crushing 94-73 defeat in Okayama at the hands of the lower-ranked Try Hoop (#5) in the West group. McCallum emerged as the top scorer with 20 points, showcasing his skills on the court with 8 rebounds and 3 assists during his 26 minutes of play. McCallum's impressive performance against Okayama included contributing 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. However, despite his notable efforts, his team ultimately fell short and suffered a loss in the game. Throughout the season, McCallum has maintained relatively solid statistics, averaging 15.0 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, and 2.3 assists per game.
Other former De Paul University players, who play in pro basketball:
Cleveland Melvin (6'8''-F-1991, played in 2010-14) plays for PAOK in Greek GBL
Romeo Weems (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2019-21) signed for Detroit Pistons in the NBA
Paul Reed Jr. (6'9''-F-1999, played in 2017-20) plays for Detroit Pistons in the NBA
Max Strus (6'6''-G-1996, played in 2016-16) plays for Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA
N.J. Benson (6'8''-F-2003, played in 2024-26) signed for Kolossos in Greek GBL
Devin Gage (6'2''-G-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Venados de Mazatlan in Mexican CIBACOPA
Eral Penn (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2022-23) signed for Derby in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Aleksandar Marcius (6'10''-C-1990, played in 2013-14) played for Treviglio in Italian Serie B Nazionale
Elijah Cain (6'6''-G-1996, played in 2015-19) played for San Diego Clippers in the NBA G League
Yor Anei (6'10''-F-1999, played in 2021-23) plays for Brampton Honey Badgers in CEBL
Marin Maric (6'11''-C-1994, played in 2017-18) played for Hsinchu Lioneers in Taiwanese TPBL
Javan Johnson (6'6''-F-1999, played in 2023-23) signed for Taoyuan Pilots in Taiwanese PLeague+
CJ Gunn (6'7''-G-2004, played in 2024-26) plays for Calgary Surge in CEBL
Femi Olujobi (6'9''-C/F-1996, played in 2018-19) played for New Taipei Kings in Taiwanese TPBL
Myke Henry (6'6''-F-1992, played in 2013-16) plays for Heroes in Dominican Rep. LNB
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of De Paul University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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