Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Hornets players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Joshua Patton, a 6'8'' center who graduated from Sacramento State in 2020, is currently playing professionally in Hungary. He recently showcased his skills in a game where Szombathely emerged victorious against OSE Lions, one of the league's weaker teams, with a convincing score of 98-74. In this game, Patton displayed his prowess by scoring 16 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and making 4 blocks in just 23 minutes of play. This stellar performance contributed significantly to his team's success and solidified their position in the league. Despite the early stage of the season, Szombathely, with a record of 2-0, is currently ranked fifth in the league. Patton's arrival at the team this year has already proved to be beneficial, as he continues to impress with an average of 12.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks per game (leading the league), and 2.0 steals per game in the two matches he has played so far. His standout performance against OSE Lions not only highlighted his individual skills but also demonstrated his value as a key player for Szombathely. With Patton's impressive contributions, his team emerged as the champion in that particular game, showcasing his potential to lead them to further success throughout the season.
#2. Italian champion Ethan Esposito, a Hornets alumnus from 2021 standing at 6'7'' and playing as a forward, is currently showcasing his talents as a professional player in Italy. Recently, Esposito made a significant contribution to Happy Casa Brindisi's 84-81 victory over the 17th-ranked Milano Urania in the Italian Serie A2, the second division of Italian basketball. In this game, Esposito displayed his skills by scoring 10 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and providing 1 assist in 26 minutes of play. Happy Casa Brindisi, with a current record of 2-0, holds the second position in the league standings, thanks in part to Esposito's remarkable performance on the court. Throughout the season, he has been consistently delivering impressive statistics, averaging 16.5 points per game and 8.0 rebounds per game over the course of two matches. Esposito's exceptional year demonstrates his prowess as a finalist and his potential to achieve even greater success in the future.
#3. Canadian Jacob Holt, a 6'10'' forward who is 23 years old and graduated from Sacramento St. in 2025, currently plays professionally in Australia. In a recent game, Holt was unable to assist the Brisbane Bullets (2-2) as they suffered a 99-109 defeat on the road against the higher-ranked (#3) JackJumpers. Despite the loss, Holt showcased a solid performance by contributing 10 points and 4 rebounds in just 11 minutes of play. This season marks Holt's debut with the team, and so far he has been averaging 8.0 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game over four matches. It is noteworthy that Holt holds both American and Canadian citizenship, enabling him to qualify as a domestic player in Canada.
#4. New Zealand's Izayah Le'afa, a 29-year-old guard standing at 6'2'' and an alumnus of the Hornets from 2020, currently plays professionally in Australia. Recently, he showcased his talent by contributing to a significant victory over the closely-ranked Taipans (2-3), with the New Zealand Breakers emerging triumphant with a scoreline of 98-75 in the Australian National Basketball League last Wednesday. In that game, Le'afa played for 16 minutes and scored 6 points. The Breakers, with a current record of 3-2, hold the fourth position in the league standings. Le'afa's performance against Cairns, where he scored 6 crucial points, was instrumental in securing the victory for his team. His display of skill and determination on the court truly exemplified the qualities of a champion. So far this season, Le'afa has been averaging 2.0 points per game across five appearances, showcasing his consistent contribution to the team's success.
#5. Experienced player Mikh McKinney, a 6'1'' guard who is 34 years old and graduated from Sacramento State in 2015, is currently playing professionally in Mexico. In a recent game, McKinney's team, Dorados de Chihuahua with a record of 16-11, faced off against the higher-ranked Panteras (#3) in Aguascalientes. Despite McKinney's stellar performance as the top scorer with 16 points and contributing 5 assists in just 24 minutes of play, Dorados de Chihuahua unfortunately suffered a close 85-91 loss to the Panteras. McKinney, who received the All-Big Sky Conference Player of the Year award in 2015, has been showcasing his skills in his first season with the team. His upcoming and final game of the Regular Season will be crucial for his team. Throughout the season, McKinney has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game over 21 games. It is worth noting that McKinney, a naturalized Filipino, has been a key player for Dorados de Chihuahua, displaying his talent and determination on the court despite the challenging circumstances.
#6. Cody Demps, a 6'4'' guard and 32-year-old Hornets alumnus from 2016, currently plays professionally in Italy for Rimini. In a recent game against Avellino, despite his valiant efforts, Demps could not lead Rimini to victory. He showcased his skills by scoring 7 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists in 29 minutes of play. Unfortunately, his team narrowly lost by a score of 73-72. Demps displayed an impressive performance against Avellino, contributing significantly with 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. However, Rimini was unable to secure the win despite his solid contributions. So far this season, Demps has been averaging 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game over the course of two games.
Other former Sacramento State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Nick Hornsby (6'7''-F-1995, played in 2013-17) plays for Talk N Text Tropang Giga in Filipino PBA
Justin Strings (6'7''-F-1996, played in 2014-18) plays for Terrafirma Dyip in Filipino PBA
Akol Mawein (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2022-24) played for Nanjing Monkey Kings in Chinese CBA
Marcus Graves (6'1''-G-1996, played in 2014-17) plays for Phoenix Hagen in German BBL
Hunter Marks (6'9''-F-1999, played in 2022-23) plays for Logan Thunder in Australian NBL One
Julian Vaughns (6'3''-PG-2001, played in 2024-25) played for Kosice Wolves in Slovakian Tipos SBL
Yung-Cheng Wu (6'2''-G-1996, played in 2015-18) played for Taipei Fubon Braves in Taiwanese PLeague+
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Sacramento State University basketball alumni.
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