Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Skyhawks players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Look at great performance of Malik Whitaker (16 points), DeAndre Lansdowne (4 points), and Alex Herrera (6 points).
#1. Malik Whitaker, a 6'6'' guard at 25 years old who graduated from Fort Lewis in 2024 and helped them become the RMAC Tournament champion that year, currently plays professionally in Belgium for Union Mons-Hainaut. In a recent game against Okapi Aalst, despite his remarkable performance, Union Mons suffered a crushing 104-77 defeat on the road. Whitaker, the team's top scorer, contributed 16 points and 5 rebounds in 28 minutes of play. This season marks Whitaker's first with the team, and he has been showcasing his skills with an average of 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Despite his impressive individual statistics, his team's performance in the recent game against Okapi Aalst did not yield a victory.
#2. Experienced champion DeAndre Lansdowne, a 6'2'' guard who is 36 years old and an alumnus of Skyhawks from 2011 where he helped them win the RMAC Tournament that year, currently plays professionally in Germany. In a recent match, Lansdowne, playing for Rostock Seawolves, faced off against EWE Baskets in the German easyCredit BBL. Despite his efforts, Lansdowne was unable to lead his team to victory as they were narrowly defeated 81-79 by the lower-ranked EWE Baskets (#13). Lansdowne played for 27 minutes and managed to score 4 points while also contributing 8 assists during the game. In a separate game against Oldenburg, Lansdowne delivered a noteworthy performance by scoring 4 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 8 assists. Despite his stellar display, Rostock Seawolves fell short and ended up losing the game. Throughout this season, Lansdowne has maintained solid averages of 9.2 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game, and 4.1 assists per game.
#3. Alex Herrera, a 6'9'' center who graduated from Fort Lewis in 2015 and received the All-RMAC Defensive Player of the Year award that same year, currently plays professionally in Germany. In a recent game, Herrera of Science City Jena faced Braunschweig in the German easyCredit BBL but was unable to lead his team to victory. Despite his solid performance of scoring 6 points, securing 8 rebounds, and making 2 blocks in 20 minutes, Science City Jena suffered a 93-82 defeat on Braunschweig's home court. This loss marked Science City Jena's fifth consecutive defeat, emphasizing the importance of every remaining game as the Regular Season nears its end. Herrera, now in his fifth season with the team, has been an integral player averaging 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game this season.
#4. Akuel Kot, a 6'2'' guard who is 25 years old, is a former Cowboys player from 2024. He previously played for Fort Lewis between 2019 and 2023, where he received the All-RMAC All-Tournament MVP award in his final year. Currently, he is playing professionally in Denmark. In a recent game, Kot and his team, Svendborg (22-9), faced off against Randers (20-11) in the Danish BasketLigaen. Despite Kot's efforts, scoring 9 points in 20 minutes of play, Svendborg was defeated 96-78 on Randers' home court. This loss was particularly tough as Randers was ranked lower (#5) than Svendborg (#3) in the Places 1-6 group. As the season progresses, Kot's team has only one more game left in the Second Stage, which will be crucial for their standings. This season marks Kot's first with the team, and he has been showcasing strong individual performances. He is averaging 15.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. Despite the loss to Randers, Kot displayed an impressive performance, contributing 9 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist. It is worth noting that Kot is a naturalized South Sudanese player, adding to the diversity and talent he brings to the team.
#5. Canadian player Otas Iyekekpolor, a 6'8'' forward aged 29, who graduated from Fort Lewis in 2019 and currently plays professionally in Bosnia, made a significant impact in the recent game between KK Promo Donji Vakuf and Student-Igokea. Despite scoring just one point during his 13 minutes on the court, Iyekekpolor's contribution, including grabbing 3 rebounds, was crucial in KK Promo Donji Vakuf's 98-92 victory over the closely-ranked Student-Igokea. This win helped KK Promo Donji Vakuf secure the champion title in the Bosnia and Herzegovina Division I league, where they finished in tenth place during the Regular Season. Throughout the season, Iyekekpolor has averaged 4.8 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game, showcasing his skills and value to his team. As a former participant in the prestigious Eurobasket Summer League, known as a top platform for players seeking opportunities to play basketball abroad, Iyekekpolor's performance in the league demonstrates his talent and potential as a player.
#6. Australian Aiden Gibson, a standout forward standing at 6'8'' and an alumnus of the Skyhawks from 2025, showcased his talent as a professional player in Australia by leading Northern Force to a thrilling 100-94 victory against the 11th-ranked Thunder in the Australian NBL One, the second division of the league, on Sunday night. In an impressive display of skill and determination, Gibson scored 12 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and provided 1 assist in 35 minutes of play. His remarkable performance not only contributed significantly to the team's success but also solidified his reputation as a champion on the court. Throughout the season, Gibson has maintained solid averages of 5.2 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game, further establishing himself as a key player for Northern Force.
#7. Marquel Beasley, a 6'5'' power forward who is 32 years old and graduated from Fort Lewis in 2019, currently plays professionally in the United Kingdom. Despite his notable achievements, including receiving the RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019, Beasley was unable to assist the London Cavaliers (15-11) in their recent game last Sunday. The Cavaliers suffered a defeat to the lower-ranked Trailblazers (#8) in Derby, with a final score of 86-81. During the game, Beasley showcased his skills by scoring 12 points, securing 5 rebounds, and providing 3 assists in just 24 minutes of gameplay. Despite his commendable performance against the Trailblazers, his contributions were not enough to secure a victory for his team. Throughout this season, Beasley has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.8 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, and 1.4 steals per game. His consistent performance on the court highlights his value as a key player for the London Cavaliers, despite the recent setback in Derby.
Other former Fort Lewis College players, who play in pro basketball:
Nikolas Tomsick (6'1''-PG-1991, played in 2012-14) plays for Caballeros de Culiacan in Mexican CIBACOPA
Junior Garbrah (6'1''-G-2000, played in 2019-24) plays for Ringwood Hawks in Australian NBL One
Logan Hokanson (5'11''-PG-1998, played in 2019-22) played for Villarrobledo in Spanish Tercera FEB few monts ago
Tru Allen (6'0''-PG, played in 2024-25) plays for Ylli in Kosovan Superliga
Kofi Josephs (6'6''-G-1991, played in 2014-16) played for Yorkshire Dragons in British BCB last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Fort Lewis College basketball alumni.
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