Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Thundering Herd players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Taevion Kinsey, a 6'5'' guard who graduated from Marshall in 2023, is now playing professionally in France. Recently, he made a significant impact in a game for Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball, helping them secure a narrow 106-103 victory over JL Bourg in the French Betclic ELITE league. In his first game of the season, Kinsey showcased his talent by contributing 10 points and 3 assists in just 24 minutes of play. Despite his team currently holding the eighth position in the league standings, it is still early in the season, and there are plenty of opportunities for them to climb higher. Kinsey's standout performance against Bourg, where he not only scored 10 points but also grabbed 2 rebounds and dished out 3 assists, demonstrated his abilities as a champion player on the court. With his skills and contributions, Kinsey played a crucial role in leading Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball to victory against a tough opponent. As the season progresses, his presence and performance will undoubtedly be instrumental in his team's quest to become finalists in the league.
#2. Matthew Van Komen, a towering 7'4'' center and 26-year-old Thundering Herd alum from 2026, made a significant impact in the Spanish Primera FEB league. He currently plays professionally in Spain and recently led his team, Gipuzkoa, to a hard-fought victory against the 14th-ranked Coviran Granada with a score of 82-76. Despite playing for only 19 minutes in his first game of the season, Van Komen contributed 11 points and 8 rebounds to help secure the win. Van Komen's strong performance not only showcased his skills but also played a crucial role in Gipuzkoa's success. With this victory, his team moved up to fifth place in the league standings. His impressive display against Granada highlights his potential as a key player for Gipuzkoa as they strive to excel in the league and aim to become the champion.
#3. Nigerian basketball champion Obinna Anochili-Killen, standing at 6'8'' and 25 years old, is a Marshall University graduate from 2025. He was honored with the All-Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year award that same year. Currently playing professionally in France, Anochili-Killen recently made his debut for Boulazac Basket Dordogne against Chorale de Roanne in the French Betclic ELITE league. Despite his commendable efforts, Anochili-Killen's team, Boulazac Basket Dordogne, fell short in a close match against Chorale de Roanne, losing 81-79 on the road. The champion forward recorded 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists in 24 minutes of play during his first game of the season. Anochili-Killen showcased his skills on the court, demonstrating his scoring ability and defensive prowess. However, his individual performance was not enough to secure a victory for his team in the face of their opponent's strong challenge.
#4. Jarrod West, a 6'0'' forward and 27-year-old Cardinals alumni from 2022 who played for Marshall between 2017 and 2021, currently competes professionally in France. Despite his best efforts, West, unfortunately, could not lead Cholet Basket (0-1) to victory against ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (1-0) in the French Betclic ELITE league. This game cannot be considered one of his standout performances. During the match, West scored just 2 points and provided 7 assists in 19 minutes of play, marking his first appearance for Cholet Basket in the current season. Despite his relatively low scoring output, West managed to impress with his 7 assists and overall contribution to the game. Cholet Basket ultimately suffered a 85-97 defeat to the formidable ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket. West's efforts were commendable, as he recorded 2 points, 1 rebound, and 7 assists, showcasing his skills on the court. However, his individual performance was not enough to secure a victory for his team against the leading ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket.
#5. Experienced champion Nigel Spikes, a 6'10'' center at 36 years old who graduated from Marshall in 2013 and currently plays professionally in Japan, made a significant impact in guiding the Fukuoka Rizing to a triumphant win against the fourth-ranked Rebnise with a score of 83-69 in the Japanese B.One League during Saturday night's game. In his 18 minutes on the court, he contributed 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Fukuoka Rizing, currently holding a 1-1 record, is positioned second in the South group standings. Notably, Spikes delivered a stellar performance against Kagoshima, registering 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. His exceptional display of skills and contributions were instrumental in securing the victory for his team, ultimately leading them to be crowned as the champion of the game. In the two games he has played this season, Spikes maintains an average of 4.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and 1.5 assists per game.
#6. Senegalese champion Cheikh Sane, who stands at 6'10'' and is a 34-year-old center, is an alumnus of Thundering Herd from 2015 and currently plays professionally in France. Recently, Sane played his first game of the season for Aix-Maurienne Savoie Basket but could not lead his team to victory against Calvados. Despite his efforts, Sane only managed to score 2 points in 22 minutes of play, making it a challenging game for him. The final score was 91-95, with his team ending up on the losing side. In another match against Caen, Sane displayed an impressive performance by contributing 2 points and 3 rebounds to the game. However, despite his commendable efforts, his team also faced defeat in that game. Although these games may not be considered as his best ones, Sane continues to strive for success and aims to make valuable contributions to his team as the season progresses.
#7. Shaquille Johnson, a 6'3'' guard who is 36 years old and graduated from Marshall in 2012, showcased his skills during the recent game. Despite his commendable performance, he couldn't lead the Lobos (15-9) to victory in their latest match. The Lobos were narrowly defeated 84-81 at home by the lower-ranked (#7) Mineros. Johnson, the second-highest scorer in the game, managed to score 16 points, secure 5 rebounds, and provide 4 assists during his 32 minutes on the court. Throughout this season, Johnson has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game across the 23 games he has participated in so far. Despite his consistent contributions, his team was unable to secure a win in the match against the Mineros.
Other former Marshall University players, who play in pro basketball:
Chris Ross (6'1''-G-1985, played in 2005-07) plays for San Miguel Beermen in Filipino PBA
Hassan Whiteside (7'0''-C-1989, played in 2009-10) played for Shanghai Sharks in Chinese CBA
Ajdin Penava (6'9''-PF-1997, played in 2015-18) played for WKS Slask Wroclaw in Polish OBL
Kamdyn Curfman (6'1''-G, played in 2022-24) signed for Clavijo in Spanish Segunda FEB
Goran Miladinovic (7'0''-C-1999, played in 2019-24) signed for Teodo in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Nate Martin (6'8''-F-2002, played in 2023-25) played for Jelson Homes DMU Leicester Riders in British SLB
Jalen Speer (6'1''-G, played in 2024-26) signed for Peiramatiko in Greek Elite League
Markel Humphrey (6'6''-F-1987, played in 2005-09) played for Martigny in Swiss NL1
Mikal Dawson (6'5''-G-2000, played in 2024-25) played for PS Karlsruhe Lions in German ProA
Damier Pitts (5'10''-PG-1989, played in 2008-12) plays for Carolina Crusaders in the ECBL
Wyatt Fricks (6'10''-F-2002, played in 2021-26) played for Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Summer League
Kevon Voyles (6'3''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for War Ready - Auburn Alumni in the The Basketball Tournament
Jon Elmore (6'3''-G-1995, played in 2015-19) played for Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Summer League
Wilson Dubinsky (6'3''-G, played in 2025-26) plays for Ottawa Blackjacks in CEBL
Mikel Beyers (6'9''-F-1998, played in 2018-22) plays for Great Falls Electric in the TBL
Tyler Wilkerson (6'8''-F-1988, played in 2006-10) played for Piratas in Venezuelan LSB
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Marshall University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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