Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Bulldogs alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Ja'Borri McGhee, a 6'2'' guard who recently graduated from MSU in 2026, is making waves in his debut season as a professional basketball player in the Czech Republic. In a recent game, McGhee led his team, Usti nad Labem, to a decisive 83-68 victory over Brno, one of the league's struggling teams with a 0-5 record. McGhee's stellar performance earned him the title of MVP, as he scored an impressive 27 points, secured 5 rebounds, and delivered 5 assists in just 32 minutes of play. This outstanding display highlights his talent and potential as a champion in the making. Despite being in his first season of professional basketball, McGhee has been dominating the court with impressive averages of 22.8 points per game (leading the league), 6.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game (also leading the league) in the five games he has played so far. His exceptional statistics and impact on the game solidify his position as a finalist and a key player to watch in the league. With Usti nad Labem currently standing at a strong 4-1 record and placed third in the league, McGhee's leadership and skills have been instrumental in his team's success. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on McGhee to see if he can maintain his impressive performance and lead his team to further victories. His remarkable abilities on the court undoubtedly mark him as a standout champion in the making.
#2. D.J. Stewart Jr., a 6'6'' small forward and 27-year-old Bulldogs alumnus from the class of 2021, made a significant impact helping his team secure the California Classic NBA Summer League championship in Sacramento that year. Currently playing professionally in Spain, Stewart Jr. recently represented Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the Euroleague. Despite his best efforts, Stewart Jr. and his team were unable to overcome Besiktas, the finalists, resulting in a 84-92 loss on the road. In the game, Stewart Jr. showcased his skills by contributing 7 points and 3 steals in 21 minutes of play. This season marks Stewart Jr.'s debut with Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, where he has been demonstrating consistent performance. His recent game against Besiktas highlighted his abilities, as he managed to score 7 points, grab 2 rebounds, and provide 1 assist. Although Stewart Jr. has been putting up decent statistics this year with an average of 10.3 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in four appearances, his team's loss to the champions showed the challenges they are facing. It is worth noting that Stewart Jr. is a naturalized American player, adding further diversity to the team.
#3. Jimmy Bell Jr., a 6'10'' center who graduated from MSU in 2024 and currently plays professionally in Georgia, demonstrated his prowess on the court by leading Tkibuli Orbi to victory against Telavi in the Georgian Superleague. In the Sunday night matchup, Tkibuli Orbi emerged triumphant with a score of 87-81 against the league outsider Telavi, who had a record of 0-2. Bell Jr. showcased his skills by achieving a double-double, scoring 13 points, grabbing 17 rebounds, and making 2 blocks in just 28 minutes of play. This outstanding performance marked his debut for Tkibuli Orbi this season. Despite his team being ranked fourth in the league, Bell Jr.'s stellar contribution helped secure the crucial win against Telavi. His remarkable display on the court earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further solidifying his reputation as a champion in the game.
#4. Experienced Gavin Ware, a 6'9'' forward/center who is 32 years old and an alum of the Bulldogs from 2016, currently plays professionally in France. In a recent game, he played a pivotal role for Limoges CSP Elite in their surprising 92-75 victory over the sixth-ranked Saint-Quentin team. Ware, who received an All-SEC Honorable Mention award during his college career, showcased his skills by scoring 16 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in just 24 minutes of play. Limoges CSP Elite, with a current record of 1-2, holds the 12th position in the league standings. Despite the team's placement, Ware's performance against Saint-Quentin demonstrated his impact as a champion on the court. His impressive statistics this season, averaging 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in three appearances, further solidify his reputation as a finalist.
#5. In a thrilling match on Monday night, RJ Melendez, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from MSU in 2025 and currently plays professionally in Italy, showcased his skills by leading Verona to a narrow 75-72 victory over the closely-ranked Armani Milano in the Italian Serie A. Despite being only his second season in professional basketball, Melendez was named the MVP of the game after contributing 14 points and 3 rebounds in 23 minutes of play. This outstanding performance was instrumental in securing the win for Tezenis Scaligera Verona, who currently holds the tenth position in the league standings. It is noteworthy that this is Melendez's debut season with the team, and his impact on the court has been significant, establishing him as a rising star in the basketball scene. With an average of 9.0 points per game and 1.5 rebounds per game in two matches so far this season, Melendez is proving himself to be a formidable contender and a potential finalist in the making.
#6. Reggie Perry, a 6'10'' forward and 26-year-old Bulldogs alumni from 2020, currently plays professionally in Bosnia. In a recent game, despite Perry's noteworthy efforts, Bosna (0-2) fell short to PAOK, losing 75-72 at home. Perry showcased his skills with a double-double performance, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in just 26 minutes of play. His impressive stat line against PAOK, recording 12 points and 12 rebounds, earned him the Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, highlighting his excellence on the court. Throughout the season, Perry has maintained solid averages of 13.0 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game in the first two games.
#7. D.J. Jeffries, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from MSU in 2024 and currently plays professionally in Finland, played a crucial role in Vilpas' recent triumph over the ninth-ranked Pyrinto in the Finnish Korisliiga. During Saturday night's game, he demonstrated his skill and leadership by scoring 18 points, pulling down 5 rebounds, and distributing 4 assists in just 30 minutes of play. His remarkable performance not only helped secure a 97-79 victory for Vilpas but also showcased his prowess on the court, further establishing his reputation as a true champion. In his overall performance this season, Jeffries has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 13.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game across three games.
#8. Tyler Stevenson, a 6'9'' power forward aged 24 and a Bulldogs alumni from the class of 2023, showcased his skills as a professional basketball player in Greece. In a recent FIBA Europe Cup match, Stevenson made a significant impact for Kolossos H Hotels Rodou as they triumphed over the sixth-ranked Craiova with a score of 77-65. Despite only scoring 2 points during his 18 minutes on the court, Stevenson's contribution proved to be decisive. Those 2 crucial points he scored against Craiova played a pivotal role in securing victory for his team. This stellar performance in his first game of the season for Kolossos demonstrated Stevenson's ability to step up when it matters most, ultimately helping his team emerge as the finalists of the game.
#9. Travis Daniels, a 6'8'' forward aged 34, who graduated from MSU in 2016, currently playing professionally in Chile, made a significant contribution to Univ. Concepcion's recent triumph against the eighth-ranked Puerto Varas with a score of 98-91 in the Chilean Liga Nacional de Basquetbol during Saturday night's game. Despite only playing for 12 minutes, Daniels managed to score 10 points, showcasing his skills on the court. In this game, Daniels displayed an outstanding performance against Puerto Varas, scoring 10 points and securing 3 rebounds, which were instrumental in helping his team clinch the victory. His remarkable display exemplified his qualities as a champion and highlighted why he is considered a finalist in the game. Throughout this season, Daniels has been maintaining an average of 7.3 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game across four matches, demonstrating his consistency and value to his team.
#10. Tyson Carter, a 6'4'' guard and 28-year-old Bulldogs alumnus from 2020, who received the All-SEC Sixth Man of the Year award that year, currently plays professionally in Serbia. In his debut game for Crvena zvezda this season, Carter unfortunately could not lead his team to victory against FMP BG. Despite his efforts, contributing 7 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists in 23 minutes of play, his team narrowly lost a close game with a score of 90-89. Carter showcased his skills on the court, however, he and his teammates fell short of securing the win against their opponents.
Other former Mississippi State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Iverson Molinar (6'4''-G-1999, played in 2019-22) signed for Buducnost in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Tolu Smith (6'11''-F-2000, played in 2019-24) plays for Detroit Pistons in the NBA
Dashawn Davis (6'2''-G-2000, played in 2022-24) played for Decin in Czech Republic NBL
Claudell Harris Jr. (6'4''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) signed for Hapoel Holon in Israeli Winner League
Quinndary Weatherspoon (6'3''-G-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Qingdao Eagles in Chinese CBA
Dee Bost (6'3''-PG-1989, played in 2008-12) signed for Tindastoll in Icelandic Subway League
Robert Woodard II (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2018-20) played for Platense in Argentinian La Liga
Garrison Brooks (6'10''-C-1999, played in 2021-22) signed for Saitama Broncos in Japanese B.One League
Aric Holman (6'10''-F/C-1997, played in 2015-19) plays for Formosa Dreamers in Taiwanese TPBL
Fred Thomas (6'5''-F-1993, played in 2012-16) signed for CAB Madeira in Portuguese Liga Betclic
Quincy Ballard (7'0''-C-2001, played in 2025-26) signed for Sabah in Azerbaijani ABL
Jalen Johnson (6'6''-F-1997, played in 2020-21) played for Marmande in French NM2
Eric Reed Jr. (6'4''-SG-2000, played in 2022-23) signed for Cremona in Italian Serie A2
Craig Sword (6'3''-SG-1994, played in 2012-16) plays for Team Heartfire in the The Basketball Tournament
Lamar Peters (6'0''-PG-1998, played in 2016-19) plays for The Mecca in the The Basketball Tournament
Piotr Stelmach (6'9''-PF-1984, played in 2003-07) signed for Valletta in Maltese BOV League D1
Arnett Moultrie (6'10''-C-1990, played in 2008-10) plays for Olimpia Kings in Paraguayan LNB
Roquez Johnson (6'7''-F/C-1992, played in 2011-15) plays for Toros Del Valle in Colombian LBP
Cameron Matthews (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2020-25) played for Charlotte Hornets in the NBA Summer League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Mississippi State University basketball alumni.
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