Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Wildcats alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Boo Buie, a 6'0'' point guard who graduated from Northwestern in 2024, is currently playing professionally in Turkey. In a recent game for Glint Korfez Basket Kocaeli, he played a crucial role in their 88-79 victory over Erokspor, a closely-ranked opponent with a 1-1 record. Despite it being his first game of the season for Glint Korfez Basket Kocaeli, Buie made an impact by scoring 10 points and providing 2 assists in 27 minutes of play. This performance highlighted his skill and contribution to the team. As a result of his efforts, his team clinched the win and solidified their position as the fourth-ranked team in the league. Buie's display of talent and determination in this game truly exemplified the qualities of a champion. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how he continues to excel and lead his team to further success.
#2. In the recent game, Victor Law, a 30-year-old 6'7'' forward and Wildcats alumni from 2019, displayed an impressive performance for Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots, despite their defeat to the NeoPhoenix. Law's double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds, along with 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 3 steals in 35 minutes, showcased his all-around skills on the court. Despite Law's stellar contributions, the 13th-placed Ibaraki Robots suffered a 75-81 loss on the road against the much higher-ranked NeoPhoenix, currently at #3 in the Eastern Conference. This defeat marked the fourth consecutive loss for Cyberdyne Ibaraki Robots in the Regular Season. Law's exceptional showing against the San-en NP earned him recognition, securing him the Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com. With an average of 22.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in the four games played so far, Law has been a standout performer individually, despite his team's challenging start to the season.
#3. Experienced champion John Shurna, a 6'9'' power forward aged 36, who graduated from Northwestern in 2012 and received the All-Big Ten First Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Spain. In a recent game, he played a pivotal role in guiding iLerna Lleida to a thrilling 105-100 victory over the 16th-ranked Valencia (0-1) in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Sunday night. Despite scoring only 3 points, Shurna demonstrated his value by grabbing 10 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play, marking his debut game for iLerna Lleida this season. His team currently holds the sixth position in the league standings. Shurna's standout performance against Valencia, where he contributed 3 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 assist, was instrumental in securing the win for his team. His exceptional display on the court played a key role in leading his team to emerge as the champion in that game. It is noteworthy that Shurna is a naturalized American finalist.
#4. Champion Chase Audige, a 6'4'' shooting guard and 27-year-old Wildcats alumni from 2023, who was honored with the All-Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year award, is currently playing professionally in Spain. In his debut game for Longevida San Pablo Burgos, despite his noteworthy contribution of 12 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists in just 18 minutes of play, the team suffered a narrow 98-97 defeat to the much higher-ranked (#3) Baskonia in Vitoria. Audige, a naturalized American, showcased his skills on the court but unfortunately couldn't prevent his team from falling short in the end.
#5. In the recent game against the third-ranked Jamtland, Jalen Leach, a 6'4'' guard aged 25 and a Northwestern graduate of the class of 2025, showcased an outstanding performance for BC Lulea, the team he is currently playing for in Sweden. Despite his noteworthy contribution, BC Lulea was unable to secure a victory, ultimately succumbing to a 87-96 defeat in Ostersund. Leach emerged as the standout player of the game, leading the scoring charts with an impressive 27 points. In addition to his scoring prowess, he also demonstrated versatility by grabbing 5 rebounds and distributing 3 assists during his 26 minutes on the court. It is remarkable to note that this remarkable performance comes in only his second season in professional basketball and his first year with the team. Throughout the season, Leach has maintained a high level of performance, averaging 20.0 points per game, along with 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in the three games played so far. Despite the team's recent loss, Leach's individual achievements and contributions on the court continue to highlight him as a champion player in the making.
#6. In a thrilling match on Saturday night, Justin Mullins, a towering 6'6'' guard and former Wildcats alumni from the class of 2026, showcased his talent in the Norwegian Basketligaen Norge. Playing professionally in Norway, Mullins led Gimle to a resounding 96-75 victory over the underdog TNT Towers. In a remarkable debut for Gimle this season, Mullins was a standout player, earning the title of MVP for his exceptional performance. He dominated the court with an impressive display, scoring a remarkable 29 points, securing 6 rebounds, and contributing 2 assists in just 27 minutes of play. Mullins' remarkable skills and unwavering determination were on full display as he outshone the opposition, particularly the TNT Towers. His stellar performance was instrumental in securing the victory for Gimle, solidifying his status as the champion of the game.
#7. Anthony Gaines, a 6'4'' guard who is 28 years old and a graduate of Siena in 2022, showcased his skills in a recent game in the German easyCredit BBL. Despite having previously played for Northwestern from 2017 to 2021, Gaines now competes professionally in Germany. In a matchup against the 12th-ranked ratiopharm Ulm, Gaines played a crucial role in his team's dominant 89-72 victory on Saturday night. During the game, Gaines demonstrated his versatility on the court by scoring 10 points, pulling down 9 rebounds, and distributing 2 assists in 29 minutes of play. His exceptional performance against Ulm not only contributed significantly to the win but also highlighted his value as a key player and potential champion. With an impressive season average of 9.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game over four games, Gaines has proven to be a consistent and impactful player for his team. His all-around contributions reflect his dedication to excelling in every aspect of the game and cement his standing as a finalist.
#8. Matthew Nicholson, a 24-year-old 7'0'' center and Wildcats alumni from 2025, currently playing professionally in the United Kingdom, recently had a challenging game against the Bristol Flyers. Despite his best efforts, he could not help Manchester Basketball secure a victory, with his team ultimately falling short by 18 points, 76-58. During the game, Nicholson displayed resilience and determination, contributing 2 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks in just 13 minutes of play. While his individual performance was commendable, he admitted that Friday's game was not one of his best showings. In a previous matchup, Nicholson put up an impressive display against the Bristol Flyers, showcasing his skills with 2 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. However, despite his solid performance, his team was unable to secure the win. So far this season, Nicholson has been averaging 2.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in the two games played. As a dedicated player, Nicholson continues to strive for improvement and looks forward to making a significant impact for his team in future matchups.
#9. Robbie Beran, a 6'9'' forward who is 26 years old, graduated from Virginia Tech in 2024. He previously played for Northwestern from 2019 to 2023, where he received the Big Ten All-Sportsmanship Team award in his final year. Currently, he is showcasing his skills playing professionally in Romania. In a recent game for Rapid in the Romanian Liga Nationala Baschet de Masculin against Dinamo, Beran unfortunately could not lead his team to victory. Despite his valiant efforts, contributing 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in 29 minutes of play, Rapid was defeated by a significant margin of 25 points, with a final score of 87-62. This game marked Beran's debut for Rapid this season, and although he displayed an impressive performance individually, his team was unable to secure the win against Dinamo.
#10. In the recent game where the Gifu Swoops faced off against the Albirex in Niigata, the 26-year-old champion Blake Preston, a former Wildcats alumni from 2024 who currently plays professionally in Japan, showcased an impressive performance. Despite his efforts, Gifu Swoops, currently ranked fifth in the Center group, were narrowly defeated 82-81 by the third-ranked Albirex. Preston, standing tall at 6'9'', recorded a double-double by contributing 22 points and securing an impressive 19 rebounds during the game. Additionally, he displayed his versatility by providing 5 assists and blocking 3 shots in the 32 minutes he played. His exceptional display on the court against the Albirex earned him the Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com. Throughout the season, Preston has maintained high statistics, averaging 19.3 points per game, which is commendable. His rebounding prowess is evident as he secures an average of 15.3 rebounds per game, making him the second-best in the league in this category. Furthermore, he showcases his ability to facilitate plays with an average of 2.5 assists per game and demonstrates strong defensive skills by averaging 1.8 blocks per game, ranking him fourth in the league in this aspect.
Other former Northwestern University players, who play in pro basketball:
Pete Nance (6'11''-F-2000, played in 2018-22) signed for Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA
Brooks Barnhizer (6'6''-G-2002, played in 2021-25) signed for Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA
Pat Spencer (6'3''-G-1996, played in 2016-20) signed for Phoenix Suns in the NBA
Nick Martinelli (6'7''-F-2004, played in 2022-26) signed for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA
Ty Berry (6'3''-G-2001, played in 2020-25) played for Karhubasket in Finnish Korisliiga
Keenan Fitzmorris (7'0''-C-1999, played in 2024-25) plays for Regatas in Peruvian LBL
Ryan Taylor (6'6''-G-1995, played in 2018-19) played for Gornik Zamek Ksiaz Walbrzych in Polish OBL
Andrew Crawford (6'5''-SF-1990, played in 2009-14) played for Maccabi Urban Ramat Gan in Israeli Winner League
Tydus Verhoeven (6'9''-F-1998, played in 2022-24) played for Rotterdam in Dutch DBL
Elyjah Williams (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2021-22) plays for Yokohama Excellence in Japanese B.One League
Alexandru Olah (6'11''-C-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Voluntari in Romanian Liga Nationala
Joey van Zegeren (6'10''-F-1990, played in 2015-16) played for Zamora in Spanish Primera FEB
Barret Benson (6'10''-C-1997, played in 2016-19) plays for Astros de Jalisco in Mexican LNBP
Scottie Lindsey (6'5''-G/F-1996, played in 2014-18) plays for Edmonton Stingers in CEBL
Dererk Pardon (6'8''-C-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Altiri Chiba in Japanese B.Premier League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Northwestern University basketball alumni.
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