Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Fighting Tigers alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Tremont Waters (26 points), Jordan Wright (3 points), and Chris Johnson (12 points).
#1. Tremont Waters, a 28-year-old point guard standing at 5'11" who graduated from LSU in 2019, is currently showcasing his skills as a professional player in Puerto Rico. In a thrilling match on Wednesday night, Waters led Gigantes de Carolina to a nail-biting 94-93 victory over the second-ranked Vaqueros, securing a crucial win for his team. Waters' exceptional performance on the court earned him the well-deserved title of MVP of the game, where he displayed his scoring prowess by dropping an impressive 26 points, along with contributing 4 rebounds and 8 assists during his 42 minutes of play. This intense showdown between Gigantes de Carolina and Vaqueros was a highly anticipated clash between two of the top three teams in Group B, adding to the excitement of the matchup. With this victory, Gigantes de Carolina, currently placed third in the standings with a record of 14-10, demonstrated their strength and determination to compete at the highest level. Waters' stellar statistics throughout the season further underline his impact on the court, averaging 14.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, making him a standout player in the league. It is also noteworthy that Waters holds dual American and Puerto Rican citizenship, allowing him to play in Puerto Rico as a domestic player, which has undoubtedly enhanced his contributions to the team. In this crucial game against Bayamon, Tremont Waters proved himself to be the champion of the match, leading his team to a hard-fought victory and showcasing his exceptional talent as a player in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
#2. Jordan Wright, a 6'6'' guard/forward and 25-year-old Fighting Tigers alumni from 2024, currently playing professionally in Israel, made a significant contribution to Hapoel Holon's victory against the fourth-ranked Bnei Hertzeliya in the Israeli Winner League on Wednesday night. Despite scoring just 3 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in 22 minutes, his impact was crucial in the 99-84 win. Hapoel Holon, currently placed fifth in the Places 1-8 group, secured their third consecutive victory, thanks in part to Wright's efforts on the court. Against Bnei Hertzeliya, Jordan Wright not only scored 3 points and grabbed 6 rebounds but also dished out 1 assist, showcasing his versatility and value to the team. His impressive performance highlighted his skills as a finalist and demonstrated his ability to make a difference in crucial games. Throughout the season, Wright has maintained relatively good statistics, averaging 11.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. His consistent contributions and dedication to the team make him a key player and a valuable asset as they strive towards further success.
#3. Experienced champion Chris Johnson, a 6'11'' forward/center who is 40 years old and graduated from LSU in 2009, is currently playing professionally in New Zealand. He recently led Auckland Tuatara to a dominant victory over the sixth-ranked Bulls with a final score of 107-72 in the New Zealand National Basketball League on Sunday night. Johnson showcased his skills by contributing 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 18 minutes of play. As a key player for Auckland Tuatara, the team has been performing exceptionally well this season, holding the top spot in the league with a record of 9-2. This recent win marked their fourth consecutive victory. Johnson's stellar performance against the Bulls included scoring 12 points, securing 5 rebounds, and distributing 3 assists, ultimately leading his team to another triumph. Throughout the season, Johnson has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. His valuable contributions on the court have been instrumental in Auckland Tuatara's success as they strive to maintain their position as finalists in the league.
#4. Ja'Vonte Smart, a 6'4'' guard and 27-year-old Fighting Tigers alumni from 2021, was a key player in helping them secure the championship title in the California Classic NBA Summer League in Sacramento that year. Currently playing professionally in Canada, Smart recently faced a tough game with the Ottawa Blackjacks (4-4) last Thursday. Despite his commendable performance, scoring 11 points in 23 minutes, the Ottawa team, ranked #3, suffered a crushing defeat of 117-88 on the road against the Sea Bears. Although the season is still in its early stages, and anything can happen, Smart showcased his skills in a previous game against Winnipeg, contributing 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Despite his notable efforts, Ottawa ended up on the losing side. Smart is having an outstanding individual season, boasting impressive statistics with an average of 21.5 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game, ranking him third best in the league.
Other former Louisiana State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Antonio Blakeney (6'4''-SG-1996, played in 2015-17) plays for Hapoel Shlomo Tel-Aviv in Israeli Winner League
Skylar Mays (6'4''-PG-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Buducnost in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Cameron Thomas (6'3''-PG-2001, played in 2020-21) plays for Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA
Trendon Watford (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2019-21) plays for Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA
Nazreon Reid (6'10''-C/F-1999, played in 2018-19) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
Garrett Temple (6'6''-G-1986, played in 2005-09) plays for Toronto Raptors in the NBA
Ben Simmons (6'11''-PF-1996, played in 2015-16) played for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA few monts ago
Tari Eason (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2021-22) plays for Houston Rockets in the NBA
Duop Reath (6'10''-C-1996, played in 2016-18) plays for Atlanta Hawks in the NBA
Anthony Hickey (5'11''-PG-1992, played in 2011-14) plays for Udine in Italian Serie A
KJ Williams (6'10''-F-1999, played in 2024-24) plays for Boulazac Basket Dordogne in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Brandon Sampson (6'5''-SG-1997, played in 2015-18) plays for Anhui Wenyi in Chinese NBL
Johnny O'Bryant III (6'10''-F/C-1993, played in 2011-14) plays for Anyang in South Korean KBL
Jordan Sears (5'11''-PG-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for BG Goettingen in German ProA
Camryn Carter (6'3''-G-2003, played in 2024-25) plays for Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA G League
Jordan Mickey (6'8''-F/C-1994, played in 2013-15) plays for Qingdao Eagles in Chinese CBA
Darius Days (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2018-22) plays for San-en NeoPhoenix in Japanese B1 League
Hunter Dean (6'10''-F-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Derby in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Jaime Lloreda (6'9''-C-1980, played in 2002-04) played for Toros de Chiriqui David in Panamanian LPB last year
Joshua Gray (6'1''-PG-1993, played in 2014-16) plays for Ylli in Kosovan Superliga
Craig Victor II (6'9''-F-1995, played in 2015-17) plays for Panerythraikos in Greek Elite League
Marlon Taylor (6'5''-G-1997, played in 2018-20) played for Serhedci in Azerbaijani ABL last year
Kavell Bigby-Williams (6'11''-C-1995, played in 2017-17) plays for Al Markaziyyah in Lebanese DLBL
Jarell Martin (6'10''-PF-1994, played in 2013-15) plays for Koshigaya Alphas in Japanese B1 League
Will Baker (7'0''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Osceola Magic in the NBA G League
Storm Warren (6'11''-PF-1988, played in 2008-12) plays for Otef Darom in Israeli National League
Trae Hannibal (6'2''-G, played in 2022-24) plays for Capital City Go-Go in the NBA G League
Emmitt Williams (6'6''-F-1998, played in 2018-20) played for Caribbean Storm Islands in Colombian LBP last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Louisiana State University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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