Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Broncos players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Argentinian player Francisco Caffaro, a 26-year-old center standing at 7'1'', completed his studies at Santa Clara in 2024 before embarking on his professional basketball career. In his second season playing professionally in Argentina, Caffaro showcased his skills by leading Boca Juniors to an unexpected triumph over league leaders Quimsa with a score of 99-92 in the Argentinian La Liga. During this game, Caffaro put on a stellar performance, scoring 17 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and providing 2 assists in just 26 minutes on the court. His remarkable display earned him the title of MVP for the game. Boca Juniors Buenos Aires, currently positioned eighth in the league with a record of 20-15, greatly benefited from Caffaro's contributions. His season statistics are also impressive, averaging 12.8 points, 8.4 rebounds (ranking him third best in the league), and 1.3 assists in the 40 games he has played so far. Caffaro's consistent performance throughout the season has been instrumental in his team's success, ultimately leading them to victory as the champion.
#2. Keshawn Justice, a 6'7'' forward who is 26 years old and an alumnus of the Broncos from 2023, currently plays professionally in France. In a recent game, he played a pivotal role for Cholet Basket in a thrilling 1-point victory over the closely-ranked Paris Basket, with a final score of 90-89 in the French Betclic ELITE league. Despite playing for just 17 minutes, Justice contributed 5 points and 5 rebounds to the team's success. Cholet Basket, currently holding the fifth position in the league with a record of 19-11, has been on a winning streak with this being their third consecutive victory. Justice's performance against Paris was exceptional, as his contributions on both ends of the court were crucial in securing the narrow win, ultimately making him the finalist in the game. Throughout the season, Justice has been averaging 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game across 27 appearances. His consistent performance and impact on the court have been instrumental in his team's success, highlighting him as a key player and a finalist in the league.
#3. Canadian Josip Vrankic, a 6'9'' center/forward aged 27, who graduated from Santa Clara in 2022 and received the All-WCC First Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Spain. In a recent match, he helped his team secure an impressive 76-51 victory over the seventh-ranked Fuenlabrada in the Spanish Primera FEB (second division). Vrankic's solid performance included scoring 6 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and providing 1 assist in just 19 minutes of play. His team, Zunder Palencia, currently holds the third position in the league standings with a record of 25-7. This victory marked their fifth consecutive win, showcasing their strong form in the competition. Vrankic's notable contributions on the court were pivotal in the team's success against Fuenlabrada, highlighting his skills and importance to the team. Throughout the season, Vrankic has maintained respectable statistics, averaging 11.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game over 37 appearances. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that he holds Croatian citizenship alongside his Canadian nationality.
#4. Canadian Jaden Bediako, a 6'10'' center and 25-year-old Pirates alumnus from 2024, showcased his skills in a recent Canadian Elite Basketball League matchup. Despite playing for Santa Clara from 2019 to 2023, Bediako is now making waves as a professional player in Canada. In a thrilling game last Sunday, Bediako led the Saskatchewan Mamba to a narrow 90-88 victory over the Shooting Stars, who held a 4-1 record. Bediako's impact on the game was undeniable, as he recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, along with 2 blocks, during his 26 minutes on the court. This remarkable performance is particularly impressive considering it's only his second season in professional basketball. Although the Saskatchewan Mamba currently holds a modest 2-4 record this season, it's still early days, and their fortunes could change. Bediako's standout display continued in another game against Scarborough, where he once again scored 18 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and provided 1 assist. His stellar contributions were instrumental in securing the victory for his team, solidifying his status as the champion of the game. Individually, Bediako is having an exceptional year, boasting impressive averages of 17.5 points per game, 10.0 rebounds per game, and 1.5 blocks per game over two matchups.
Other former Santa Clara University players, who play in pro basketball:
Camaron Tongue (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2021-25) plays for Kalev/Cramo in Estonian KML
Raymond Cowels III (6'4''-G-1990, played in 2009-13) plays for Energa Trefl Sopot in Polish OBL
Jalen Williams (6'6''-G/F-2001, played in 2019-22) plays for Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA
Adama-Alpha Bal (6'7''-G-2003, played in 2023-25) plays for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Brandin Podziemski (6'5''-G-2003) plays for Golden State Warriors in the NBA
John Bryant (6'11''-C-1987, played in 2005-09) plays for SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels in German BBL
Carlos Stewart (6'1''-G-2003, played in 2024-25) plays for Itelyum Varese in Italian Serie A
Guglielmo Caruso (6'10''-F-1999, played in 2018-21) plays for Napoli in Italian Serie A
D.J. Mitchell (6'8''-F-1997, played in 2018-18) plays for Manchester Basketball in British SLB
Carlos Marshall Jr. (6'6''-G-1999, played in 2022-24) plays for Sassari in Italian Serie A
PJ Pipes (6'2''-G-1999, played in 2021-22) plays for Onvo Buyukcekmece Basketbol in Turkish BSL
Juan Ducasse (6'10''-F-1998, played in 2018-21) plays for U.Atletica in Uruguayan LUB
Henrik Jadersten (6'10''-F-1995, played in 2015-19) plays for Uppsala in Swedish Basketligan
Jared Brownridge (6'3''-G-1994, played in 2013-17) played for Delaware Blue Coats in the NBA G League few monts ago
Jalen Benjamin (5'10''-PG, played in 2023-24) plays for Beroe in Bulgarian NBL
KJ Feagin (6'1''-PG-1997, played in 2015-19) plays for Energa Kotwica Kolobrzeg in Polish 1Liga
Josh Martin (6'7''-F-1995, played in 2018-19) played for Tokushima Gambarous in Japanese B2 League last year
Johnny O'Neil (6'10''-F, played in 2023-25) plays for Birmingham Squadron in the NBA G League
Danilo Djuricic (6'9''-F-1999, played in 2021-22) plays for Brampton Honey Badgers in CEBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Santa Clara University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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