Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Friars players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Experienced champion Ricky Ledo, a 6'7'' small forward aged 33, who graduated from Providence in 2013 and currently plays professionally in Venezuela, showcased his skills by leading Trotamundos to a resounding 73-56 victory over the closely-ranked Guaiqueries (15-9) in the Venezuelan Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto last Monday. In a remarkable performance, he was named MVP of the game after scoring 16 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists in just 16 minutes of play, proving instrumental in securing the win for his team as the champion. Trotamundos de Carabobo, with Ledo's stellar contribution, now sits in fifth place in the league. Throughout the season, Ledo has had an outstanding year individually, boasting impressive averages of 16.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in the 25 games he has played so far. His leadership and exceptional performance have undoubtedly been key factors in Trotamundos' success, culminating in their recent victory as the champion over Guaiqueries in the Venezuelan Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto.
#2. Canadian champion Kalif Young, a 6'9'' center and 29-year-old alumnus of Friars from 2020, currently plays professionally in Romania. Recently, he showcased his skills by leading Oradea to a convincing 79-62 victory over Dinamo Bucuresti, a closely-ranked opponent with a record of 20-8, in the Romanian Liga Nationala Baschet de Masculin. In this game, Young contributed significantly with 14 points and 6 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play. This match was highly anticipated as it featured two top 4 ranked teams facing off. With this win, CSM CSU Oradea, where Young plays, maintained their top spot in the league with a record of 23-5. This victory marked the team's third consecutive win in a row, showcasing their strong form this season. Despite it being his first season with the team, Young has already made a notable impact with his impressive performance on the court. His contributions, such as scoring 14 points and grabbing 6 rebounds against Dinamo Bucuresti, were instrumental in securing the victory. Young's consistent play has been a key factor in his team's success, further highlighting his potential as a true champion. Throughout the season, Young has maintained solid averages of 8.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in 32 appearances. His overall performance demonstrates his value to the team and his ability to excel at the professional level.
#3. In a thrilling match last Friday, Davonte Gaines, a 26-year-old guard standing at 6'7'' and a graduate of Providence in 2024, showcased his talent as he led Halcones de Ciudad Obregon to a narrow 90-88 victory over the closely-ranked Toros in the Mexican Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacifico. Despite the Toros' strong record of 18-22, Gaines' stellar performance, which included 13 points in 34 minutes of play, proved crucial in securing the win for his team. Currently, Halcones de Ciudad Obregon holds the third position in the league with a record of 23-17, thanks in part to Gaines' contributions on the court. In the recent game against the Toros, he not only scored 13 points but also contributed with 3 rebounds and 2 assists, demonstrating his versatility and leadership as the champion who guided his team to victory. Throughout the season, Gaines has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game over 34 games. His consistent performance and impactful presence have undoubtedly been instrumental in Halcones de Ciudad Obregon's success, positioning him as a standout player in the league.
#4. Ghanian Ben Bentil, a 6'9'' forward/center who is 31 years old and an alumnus of Friars from 2016, currently plays professionally in Taiwan. He recently showcased his skills as a major contributor in the Formosa Dreamers' victory against the closely-ranked Lioneers (22-14) with a score of 104-93 in the Taiwanese TPBL last Saturday. During the game, Bentil displayed an impressive performance by achieving a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds in 40 minutes of gameplay. This match was highly anticipated as it featured two top 4 ranked teams, with the Formosa Dreamers (22-14) holding the second position in the league standings. Bentil's exceptional display on the court, where he scored 20 points, secured 13 rebounds, and provided 2 assists against the Lioneers, played a crucial role in leading his team to victory. His remarkable performance earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further establishing his reputation as a champion player. Throughout the season, Bentil has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 19.5 points per game, 10.8 rebounds per game, 3.4 assists per game, and 1.3 steals per game across 22 games. It is worth noting that Bentil is a naturalized American, adding to his diverse background and experience in the world of basketball.
#5. David Duke Jr., a 6'4'' guard who graduated from Providence in 2021 and received the USBWA All-District I Team award that year, is currently playing professionally in Spain. Recently, Duke Jr. contributed to BAXI Manresa's win over the 16th-ranked Zaragoza with a score of 101-83 in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Despite only scoring 3 points in 6 minutes on the court, his presence made a difference in the game. BAXI Manresa, currently in 11th place in the league with a record of 14-18, is gearing up for the final two games of the Regular Season, with each match crucial for their standing. Duke Jr., in his first season with the team, has been showing his capabilities as a finalist player by consistently making valuable contributions. In the recent game against Zaragoza, Duke Jr. not only scored 3 points but also provided 1 assist, demonstrating his ability to impact the game positively. Throughout the season, he has been averaging 7.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game in eight appearances. This consistent performance highlights his potential as a champion player in the league.
#6. British champion Noah Horchler, a 6'9'' power forward who is 28 years old and an alumnus of the Friars from 2022, is currently playing professionally in Puerto Rico. Despite his best efforts, he could not lead Santeros de Aguada to victory against Mets, as his team suffered a 86-98 defeat. In that game, Horchler contributed 6 points in 17 minutes of play. In another matchup against Guaynabo, Horchler delivered a strong performance by scoring 6 points and securing 2 rebounds. However, his team was unable to secure the win. So far this season, he has been averaging 7.6 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game over seven games. It is worth noting that Horchler is a naturalized British player and was recognized with the USBWA All-District I Team award in 2022.
#7. Wesley Cardet Jr., a 6'6'' guard who graduated from Providence in 2025 and currently plays professionally in Israel, recently competed for Hapoel Nofar Energy Galil Elyon in a challenging match against Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Despite his best efforts, Cardet Jr. and his team fell short against the formidable opponent, suffering a significant loss with a score of 108-51. In the game, Cardet Jr. showcased his skills by contributing 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in 28 minutes of play. Throughout this season, Cardet Jr. has been a consistent performer, averaging 6.4 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game across eight games. While his individual statistics reflect his talent and contribution to the team, Cardet Jr. remains focused on improving and helping his team achieve success in future matchups.
#8. Clifton Moore, a towering 6'10'' center and a 26-year-old Friars alumnus from the class of 2023, is currently showcasing his skills as a professional basketball player in France. Despite his best efforts, Moore was unable to lead Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball to victory against Sluc Nancy. In the match, he contributed 4 crucial points and secured 1 rebound in the 18 minutes he played. Unfortunately, Moore's individual performance was not enough to secure a win for his team, as they fell short with a final score of 71-84 against Nancy. Throughout the current season, Moore has been consistent, averaging 6.1 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game across 30 games. Despite facing challenges, Moore remains dedicated to improving his game and contributing to his team's success as they strive to become champions.
Other former Providence College players, who play in pro basketball:
Alpha Diallo (6'7''-F-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for AS Monaco Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Noah Locke (6'3''-G-1999, played in 2023-23) plays for Cholet Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Josh Oduro (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
Devin Carter (6'2''-G-2002, played in 2022-24) plays for Sacramento Kings in the NBA
Kris Dunn (6'3''-SG-1994, played in 2012-16) plays for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA
Emmitt Holt (6'7''-F-1996, played in 2016-17) plays for Urunday in Uruguayan LUB
Bryce Cotton (6'0''-G-1992, played in 2010-14) plays for Adelaide 36ers in Australian NBL
Aljami Durham (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2021-22) plays for Cremona in Italian Serie A
Ed Croswell (6'8''-F-1999, played in 2023-23) plays for Treviso in Italian Serie A
Nate Watson (6'10''-C-1998, played in 2017-22) plays for Panionios in Greek GBL
Bensley Joseph (6'2''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Hyeres-Toulon in French ProB
Tuukka Kotti (6'9''-PF-1981, played in 2001-05) played for Honka in Finnish Korisliiga few monts ago
Jabri Abdur-Rahim (6'8''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League
Maliek White (6'3''-G-1998, played in 2016-20) plays for Duna Aszfalt in Hungarian A Division
Luwane Pipkins (5'11''-PG-1996, played in 2019-20) plays for Njardvik in Icelandic Subway League
Jared Bynum (5'10''-PG-1999, played in 2019-23) played for Serhedci in Azerbaijani ABL last year
Justin Minaya (6'6''-SF-1999, played in 2021-22) plays for Osceola Magic in the NBA G League
A.J. Reeves (6'6''-G-1999, played in 2018-22) played for Shield 219 in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Providence College basketball alumni.
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