Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Bulldogs players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Kalob Ledoux, a 6'4'' guard who is 29 years old and graduated from La Tech in 2021, is currently playing professionally in Norway. In a recent game, he showcased his skills by helping Fyllingen secure a decisive victory over Tromso, with a final score of 110-68 in the Norwegian Basketligaen Norge. Ledoux's remarkable performance earned him the title of MVP of the game, as he contributed an incredible 40 points, along with 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals in just 35 minutes of play. This game marked his debut for Fyllingen this season, where he made a significant impact right from the start. Despite his team currently being positioned third in the league standings, it is still early in the season, leaving room for further developments. Ledoux's exceptional display against Tromso solidified his position as a key player, leading his team to victory as the champion.
#2. Kenneth Lofton Jr., a 6'6'' power forward and 24-year-old Bulldogs alum from 2022, who received the All-C-USA First Team award that year, is currently playing professionally in Israel. In a recent game, he led his Israeli team, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem, to a decisive 94-73 victory over the seventh-ranked Seawolves in the BKT Eurocup. This standout performance earned Lofton Jr. the MVP title for the game, as he achieved a double-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 26 minutes of play. Notably, this game marked his debut for Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem this season. Despite facing a strong opponent, Lofton Jr.'s exceptional skills were on full display as he dominated the court with his scoring, rebounding, and playmaking abilities. His impressive performance not only secured the win for his team but also underscored why he is considered a champion in the sport. Currently, his team holds the second position in the league standings, with Lofton Jr. continuing to showcase his talent and leadership on the court.
#3. Amorie Archibald, a 6'4'' guard and 27-year-old La Tech graduate from 2022, showcased his skills in the final of the C-USA Tournament that year. Currently playing professionally in Saudi Arabia, he recently couldn't lead Al Ittihad to victory in their last game against the second-ranked Kuwait, despite his remarkable performance. In the match, Al Ittihad suffered a 97-105 defeat at home, with Archibald standing out as the top scorer with an impressive 34 points. He also contributed 9 assists, showcasing his accuracy by making all nine of his free throws, all within a span of 31 minutes on the court. As Al Ittihad heads into their final game in the West Asia Super League Final Stage, Archibald's exceptional performance against Kuwait, where he scored 34 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and provided 9 assists, highlights his individual prowess even in the face of team defeat. Throughout the season, Archibald has maintained high statistics, averaging 28.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in the two games he has played so far. His consistent performance and impressive stats reflect his value as a champion player.
#4. Cobe Williams, a 6'0'' point guard and 26-year-old finalist from the Golden Hurricane Class of 2024, previously honed his skills at La Tech from 2019 to 2023. His talent on the court was recognized when he received the NABC Division I All-District 11 First Team award during his time there. Currently, Williams is showcasing his abilities professionally in Germany, where he plays for NINERS Chemnitz. In a recent game against the Phoenix Hagen, a team with a 0-3 record, Williams led NINERS Chemnitz to a thrilling 94-93 victory with a one-point difference. Despite being only in his third season of professional basketball, Williams displayed an impressive performance by scoring 16 points and providing 3 assists in just 29 minutes of gameplay. This exceptional display of skill was instrumental in his team emerging as the champion in the game. NINERS Chemnitz, with a current record of 1-2, holds the 15th spot in the league standings. Williams' contributions to the team have been significant this season, with notable averages of 13.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in the three games played so far. His consistent performance on the court reflects his determination and potential to excel as a finalist in the world of professional basketball.
#5. Experienced 6'6''-SF Jaron Johnson, a 34-year-old professional basketball player who graduated from La Tech in 2014 and was instrumental in helping them secure the C-USA Regular Season Co-Champion title that year, currently plies his trade in Italy. In a recent game, Johnson, making his debut for Paperdi Caserta this season, showcased his skills on the court. Despite his commendable performance, where he contributed 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in 30 minutes of play, Caserta Pap. unfortunately succumbed to a 73-81 defeat on the road against the higher-ranked (#8) Rieti. Johnson emerged as the second-best scorer for his team in this encounter, demonstrating his scoring ability and all-around contribution. Despite his best efforts, his team was unable to secure the victory in this challenging matchup.
#6. Tahlik Chavez, a 6'2'' guard who is 25 years old and an alum of the Bulldogs class of 2024, currently plays professionally in Slovakia. In a recent game, he played for Patrioti Levice and contributed significantly to their 91-75 victory over the seventh-ranked Handlova in the Slovakian Tipos Slovenska Basketbalova Liga. Despite only scoring 4 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in 22 minutes of play, it was a memorable debut for Chavez with Levice this season. His noteworthy performance included scoring those 4 crucial points, securing 7 rebounds, and providing 1 assist against Handlova. These contributions were instrumental in his team's success and highlighted his capabilities as a finalist in the game.
#7. Kenneth Smith, a 6'3'' point guard aged 33, who graduated from La Tech in 2015 and received the All-C-USA Player of the Year award that year, currently plays professionally in Italy. In a recent game, Smith made his debut for Reggio Emilia this season but unfortunately couldn't lead his team to victory against Dolomiti Trentino. Despite his commendable effort, including scoring 5 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists in 25 minutes of play, his team fell short, losing 78-83. Smith showcased his skills and talent on the court, displaying an impressive performance against Trento, but it was not enough to secure the win for his team, ultimately resulting in a loss.
#8. Erik McCree, a 6'8'' forward and 32-year-old Bulldogs alumni from 2017, has been showcasing his exceptional skills while playing professionally in Japan. Recently, he led his team, the Gifu Swoops, to a thrilling 2-point victory over the second-ranked Blowinds with a score of 82-80 in a Japanese B.One League game on a Sunday night. McCree's stellar performance earned him the MVP title of the game, scoring an impressive 27 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and making 2 blocks during his 34 minutes on the court. In a standout game against Fukui B, McCree once again displayed his talent by scoring 27 points, securing 9 rebounds, and contributing 2 assists, ultimately leading his team to another victory. His consistent excellence on the court has rightfully earned him the title of a champion. Throughout the season, McCree has maintained high statistics, averaging 23.0 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, and 1.5 blocks per game in the two games played so far. His impressive performances and contributions to his team's success highlight his status as a finalist.
#9. Michale Kyser, a 6'10'' center who graduated from La Tech in 2015 and was instrumental in helping them secure the C-USA Regular Season Champion title that year, currently plays professionally in Mexico. Recently, he led Astros de Jalisco to a decisive 86-67 victory over the ninth-ranked Diablos in the Mexican Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional, second division. In an impressive performance, Kyser scored 14 points, collected 8 rebounds, and provided 2 assists in 32 minutes of play. His stellar contributions were pivotal in securing the win for his team, showcasing his skills on the court. Throughout this season, Kyser has maintained solid averages of 9.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game across eight games. His consistent performance highlights his value as a key player for Astros de Jalisco and reinforces his reputation as a skilled champion in the sport.
Other former Louisiana Tech University players, who play in pro basketball:
Isaiah Crawford (6'6''-F-2001, played in 2019-24) signed for Houston Rockets in the NBA
Alex Hamilton (6'4''-PG-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Atleticos de San German in Puerto Rican BSN
Daniel Batcho (6'11''-F-2002, played in 2023-25) played for Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League
Dravon Mangum (6'8''-F-2000, played in 2022-24) signed for Hercegovac in Serbian KLS
Stojan Gjuroski (6'8''-F-1991, played in 2010-10) signed for Kumanovo MK in North Macedonian Super League
Derric Jean (6'2''-G-1997, played in 2015-20) played for IRT Tanger in Moroccan DEX-H
Will Allen (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2022-26) signed for Skenderbeu in Albanian Superliga
Drew Gordon (6'10''-C/F-1997, played in 2019-21) plays for 4 Bears Roar in the TBL
Tyler Henry (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) played for Marsonia in Croatian Prva Liga
Trevor Gaskins (6'3''-PG-1989, played in 2011-12) plays for J.Guzman in Ecuadorian Liga Basquet Pro
DaQuan Bracey (5'11''-PG-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico in Mexican CIBACOPA
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Louisiana Tech University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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