Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Lopes alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of DeWayne Russell (19 points), Alessandro Lever (5 points), and Collin Moore (18 points).
#1. DeWayne Russell, a 5'11'' point guard who graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2017 and received the All-WAC First Team award that same year, is currently playing professionally in Spain. Despite his impressive performance, Russell couldn't lead Rio Breogan Lugo to victory in their recent game against Zaragoza, where they were narrowly defeated 95-94 on the road. Russell emerged as the second-highest scorer for his team, contributing 19 points and 6 assists in just 20 minutes of play. This marks Russell's first season with Rio Breogan, and despite his consistent contributions throughout the season, the team faced challenges in securing wins. In the recent game against Zaragoza, Russell showcased his skills by scoring 19 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and providing 6 assists. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a victory for his team, highlighting the competitive nature of the game. Throughout the season, Russell has maintained an average of 9.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game in the 31 games he has played so far. Despite the outcome of the final game, Russell's dedication and performance on the court have been commendable throughout the season.
#2. Italian basketball player Alessandro Lever, a towering 6'10'' center at 27 years old, is a Lopes alumnus from 2021 who notably helped his team win the WAC Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently playing professionally in Italy, Lever recently played for Umana Reyer Venezia where he faced off against the formidable Virtus Bologna in the Italian Serie A final. Despite his efforts, including contributing 5 points and 3 assists in just 10 minutes of play, Umana Reyer Venezia suffered a tough 98-79 loss to the dominant Virtus Bologna team. In a separate game against Virtus Bologna, Lever showcased his skills by scoring 5 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, and providing 3 assists. However, despite his solid performance, his team ultimately fell short. This season, Lever has been averaging 3.6 points per game and 1.4 rebounds per game across 25 matches.
#3. Collin Moore, a 6'4'' guard who is 25 years old and graduated from GCU in 2025, has been making waves in professional basketball in Australia. Despite his standout performance, Moore was unable to help the Mount Gambier Pioneers in their recent game against the Ringwood Hawks. The Pioneers, currently placed 15th with a 5-9 record, were narrowly edged out 97-95 by the 13th-ranked Hawks in the South group. In the game, Moore showcased his skills by scoring 18 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 8 assists in 28 minutes of play. This impressive performance is particularly noteworthy as it is only Moore's first season in professional basketball. Unfortunately, the game marked Mount Gambier Pioneers' third consecutive loss. Throughout the season, Moore has been a standout player with impressive statistics. He is averaging 18.5 points per game, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.7 steals in the 13 games he has played so far. Despite the team's recent struggles, Moore's individual performance has been stellar, solidifying his position as a key player for the Pioneers.
#4. Noah Baumann, a 6'6'' forward and 27-year-old Lopes alumnus from the class of 2023, played a pivotal role in helping his team clinch the WAC Tournament championship that year. Currently playing professionally in Belgium, Baumann recently faced off against the Antwerp Giants with his team, Hubo Limburg United. Despite his best efforts, Baumann and his teammates fell short, losing to the Giants with a score of 79-91. In this game, Baumann showcased his skills by contributing 8 points and 2 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play. This marks Baumann's first season with Hubo Limburg United, where he has been averaging 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game over the course of seven games. Though the outcome was not in his favor against the Giants, Baumann's performance on the court continues to demonstrate his capabilities as a skilled player in the league.
#5. Canadian player Sean Miller-Moore, a 6'4'' guard/forward who is 27 years old and a graduate of GCU in 2022, showcased his talent for the Calgary Surge in their recent game against the Edmonton Stingers. Despite his exceptional performance where he led his team in scoring with 29 points, collected 6 rebounds, and provided 3 assists during his 35 minutes on the court, the Calgary Surge, ranked #5, suffered a 98-104 defeat to the Stingers. The Calgary Surge, with a current record of 0-5 in the Regular Season, are still seeking their first win. However, with the season in its early stages, there is hope for improvement and a change in their fortunes. Sean Miller-Moore has been a standout player, averaging an impressive 26.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game over the course of two games. His individual performance has been remarkable, even though his team has faced challenges in securing victories.
Other former Grand Canyon University players, who play in pro basketball:
Roberts Blumbergs (6'10''-PF-1998, played in 2017-19) plays for Aliaga Petkimspor Izmir in Turkish BSL
JaKobe Coles (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Samobor in Croatian Premijer Liga
Trey Drechsel (6'6''-SG-1996, played in 2018-19) plays for Lietkabelis in Lithuanian LKL
Fiifi Aidoo (6'3''-PG-1996, played in 2016-18) plays for Karhubasket in Finnish Korisliiga
Walter Ellis (6'5''-G-1999, played in 2024-24) played for Iowa Wolves in the NBA G League few monts ago
Rayshon Harrison (6'4''-G, played in 2022-25) plays for Long Island Nets in the NBA G League
Gabe McGlothan (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2019-24) plays for Noblesville Boom in the NBA G League
Casey Benson (6'3''-PG-1995, played in 2017-19) played for Stella Artois Leuven Bears in Belgian Pro Basketball League last year
Sydney Curry (6'8''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for I.Nahariya in Israeli National League
Lok Wur (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Bayer Giants Leverkusen in German ProA
Marco Ramos-Esquivel (6'6''-SG-1987, played in 2009-12) plays for Soles de Ojinaga in Mexican LBE
Jovan Blacksher Jr. (5'11''-PG-1999, played in 2019-24) plays for Ikaroi Trikala in Greek Elite League
Holland Woods II (6'1''-G-1998, played in 2021-22) plays for Fenerbahce Koleji Istanbul team in Turkish TBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Grand Canyon University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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