Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Sharks players who continue their career in pro basketball.
Notice impressive performance of Shane Rector (20 points), Maurice Kemp (25 points), and Elio Corazza (15 points).
#1. Shane Rector, a 6'2'' guard who graduated from Utah State in 2017, has been making waves in the Mexican Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del PacÃÂfico. Despite playing in Miami Dade CC between 2014 and 2015, Rector has shown his skills by leading Zonkeys de Tijuana to a thrilling 1-point victory over Ostioneros de Guaymas in a recent game. In this matchup, he proved himself as a valuable asset to his team, scoring 20 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and making all six of his free throws in just 22 minutes on the court. This remarkable performance earned him the title of MVP of the game. With Rector's stellar contributions, Zonkeys de Tijuana currently holds the fourth spot in the league standings with a record of 20-20. The Regular Season has already concluded, and Rector's statistics for the year reflect his impact on the team's success, averaging 14.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game across the 27 games he has played. Rector's exceptional display of skill and leadership in the recent game against Guaymas further solidified his reputation as a true champion on the court. His ability to rise to the occasion and deliver when it matters most showcases his dedication and talent as a basketball player.
#2. Experienced champion Maurice Kemp, a 6'8'' power forward who is 35 years old and an alum of the Pirates from 2013, had a standout game despite his team's loss. Playing professionally in Israel for E.Netanya, Kemp could not prevent his team from being defeated by the higher-ranked Kiryat Ata with a final score of 124-103 in their recent matchup on the road. Kemp was the leading scorer of the game, contributing 25 points along with 7 rebounds in 39 minutes of play. This defeat marked E.Netanya's third consecutive loss, adding pressure as the Regular Season nears its end with only two games remaining. Every game now holds significant importance for the team. This season marks Kemp's debut with E.Netanya, and he has been showcasing solid performance, averaging 14.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in the six games he has played so far. Despite Kemp's impressive individual performance against Kiryat Ata, where he displayed his scoring ability, rebounding prowess, and all-around contribution to the game, his efforts were not enough to secure a victory for his team.
#3. Brazilian Elio Corazza, a 6'5'' point guard at 36 years old, who graduated from Miami Dade CC in 2010 and currently plays professionally in Brazil, played a crucial role in Sport Club Corinthians Paulista's recent victory against the closely-ranked Minas with a final score of 92-81 in the Brazilian Novo Basquete Brasil. In the Tuesday night game, Corazza exhibited an outstanding performance, achieving a double-double with 15 points and 12 assists, along with 4 steals in 39 minutes of play. Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, currently placed sixth in the league with a record of 27-11, greatly benefited from Corazza's remarkable display on the court. Corazza's impressive showing against Minas highlighted his skills and leadership as he contributed 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 12 assists to secure the victory for his team. His exceptional performance underscored his status as a true champion in the league. Throughout the season, Corazza has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists (ranked second best in the league), and 1.2 steals per game over 40 appearances. His consistent contribution and stellar play exemplify why he is recognized as a formidable player and finalist in the league.
#4. Randy Rickards, a towering 6'7'' forward aged 26 and a proud alumnus of the Wildcats class of 2023, had a brief stint at Miami Dade CC from 2019 to 2021 before embarking on his professional basketball journey in Uruguay. Most recently, Rickards found himself unable to propel his team, Urunday, to victory in their latest matchup. Despite his commendable performance, the third-placed Urunday (13-14) suffered a crushing 87-64 defeat at the hands of the formidable Penarol, who currently lead the group in Places 7-12. Rickards showcased his skills on the court by emerging as the second-highest scorer for Urunday, tallying 11 points and securing an impressive 8 rebounds in 29 minutes of play. In the intense showdown against Penarol, he displayed his versatility by contributing not only in scoring and rebounding but also in facilitating plays with 2 assists. Despite Rickards' notable efforts, Urunday ultimately fell short and ended up on the losing side. Throughout the season, Rickards has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game across eight appearances. While his individual performance has been commendable, Rickards continues to strive for success both personally and as a key player for Urunday in their quest to compete at the highest level.
#5. In the recent game, Egyptian champion Ibrahim Zahran, a 6'5'' guard aged 22, who graduated from Miami Dade CC in 2024 and now plays professionally in Egypt, unfortunately couldn't lead Al Ahly Cairo (12-3) to a victory. Despite his stellar performance, the second-placed Al Ahly C. (12-3) suffered a 80-91 defeat to the top-ranked Al Ittihad in the Places 1-8 group, held in Alexandria. Zahran showcased his skills by scoring 13 points and securing 6 rebounds in just 22 minutes of play. This season, Zahran has been a key player for Al Ahly Cairo, averaging 8.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game across 24 games. Despite his consistent contributions, his team's recent loss highlights the challenges they face in competing against tough opponents like Al Ittihad. Zahran's performance against the league leaders demonstrates his talent and potential as a standout player in the Egyptian basketball scene.
#6. In a recent match, Christian Pizarro, a 31-year-old guard standing at 5'11" and a Sharks alumnus from 2015 who now plays professionally in Puerto Rico, made a notable impact for Atleticos de San German. Facing the fifth-ranked Osos, Pizarro played a crucial role in their convincing 108-87 victory in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional. Despite scoring only 2 points, he showcased his playmaking abilities by contributing 5 assists in just 11 minutes on the court. Moreover, in another game against Manati, Pizarro once again proved his worth by scoring 2 points and providing 5 assists, aiding his team in securing another important win. His consistent performance highlights his qualities as a true champion, demonstrating his ability to positively influence his team's success on the court. Throughout the current season, Pizarro has maintained an average of 2.4 points per game and 2.2 assists per game across 19 appearances. His steady contributions and impactful presence exemplify the characteristics of a dedicated finalist in the league.
#7. Dominican Republic native Eloy Vargas, a 6'11'' center at 37 years old, completed his education at Kentucky in 2012. Prior to that, he honed his skills at Miami Dade CC from 2009 to 2010, where he earned the prestigious NJCAA D1 All-Americans Second Team award. Currently playing professionally in the Dominican Republic, Vargas showcased his talent in a recent game but was unable to lead his team, the Heroes, to victory against the Indios. Despite his solid contribution of 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks in just 18 minutes of play, the Heroes fell short with a score of 87-101. Vargas displayed an impressive performance against the Indios, demonstrating his versatility on the court by scoring points, grabbing rebounds, and even providing assists. Despite his notable efforts, the Heroes were unable to secure the win. Throughout this season, Vargas has maintained solid statistics with an average of 11.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game over the span of 11 games.
#8. Australian player Mayoum Mayoum, standing at 6'4'' and a former Sharks alumnus from 2023 now playing professionally in Australia, recently showcased his skills on the court. Despite scoring 6 points and grabbing 1 rebound in 16 minutes against Kilsyth C., his team, Keilor Thunder, was unable to secure a victory against the Cobras, ultimately losing 88-99. Mayoum's performance in the game highlighted his potential as a future champion in the making. In the current season, he maintains an average of 4.0 points per game and 1.5 rebounds per game in 11 appearances, positioning himself as a promising talent with the determination to succeed as a finalist in the future.
Other former Miami Dade College players, who play in pro basketball:
Ciaran Sandy (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2020-21) plays for London Lions in British SLB
Marko Krivacevic (6'10''-F-1996, played in 2015-17) plays for Atomeromu in Hungarian A Division
Shaquillo Fritz (6'8''-F/C-1994, played in 2015-16) played for Horsens IC in Danish BasketLigaen few monts ago
Gus Okafor (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2019-20) plays for Newcastle Eagles in British SLB
Ricardo Lynch (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2016-17) plays for Bayer Giants Leverkusen in German ProA
Joe Mvuezolo (6'6''-F-1996, played in 2014-16) plays for EJ Sligo All-Stars in Irish Super League
Jahmal Abbey-Wright (6'5''-G/F-1998, played in 2017-19) plays for Teuta in Albanian Superliga
D'Monte Brown (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2021-22) plays for Jena ScCity 2 in German Regionalliga
Matthew Khoury (6'3''-G, played in 2021-23) plays for Al Markaziyyah in Lebanese DLBL
Luka Ivkovic (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2021-22) plays for Jadran in Serbian 1MRL
Julien Sargent (6'11''-C-1991, played in 2009-10) played for Pattani Raptors in Thailand TEBA last year
Marques Watson (6'5''-G/F-1998, played in 2019-20) plays for CDJR in Portuguese 2.Divisao
Cedric Belemene (6'7''-F-1996, played in 2016-18) plays for Tijola in Spanish Tercera FEB
Devin Brooks (6'1''-G-1992, played in 2010-11) played for Herkimer Originals in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Mike Ramey (6'5''-G-1993, played in 2013-14) plays for Titans in Thailand Warriors League
Matas Budrys (6'6''-PF-1996, played in 2012-16) played for Catania Alfa in Italian Serie C last year
Victor Hart (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2019-21) plays for Shinagawa City Basketball Club in Japanese B3 League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Miami Dade College basketball alumni.
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