Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Lumberjacks players who continue their career in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Thomas Walkup (7 points), Shannon Bogues (8 points), and Montavious Murphy (12 points).
#1. Experienced champion Thomas Walkup, a 6'4'' point guard at 33 years old, graduated from SF Austin in 2016 where he received the All-Southland Conference All-Tournament MVP award. Currently playing professionally in Greece, Walkup recently played a crucial role in Olympiacos' victory over the sixth-ranked Aris with a score of 92-81 in the Greek Stoiximan Basketball League. In this game, he showcased his skills by contributing 7 points and 5 assists in just 18 minutes of play. Olympiacos S.F.P. Piraeus, with a remarkable record of 23-0, holds the top spot in the league, having won all twenty-three games in the Regular Season so far. With only one more game left in the Regular Season, every match is of utmost importance. This marks Walkup's fifth season with the team, displaying his loyalty and commitment to the club. In the recent game against Aris, Walkup's exceptional performance included 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists. His outstanding play was pivotal in leading his team to victory, demonstrating his abilities and contributing significantly to the team's success. As a finalist, Walkup's consistent performance this season is noteworthy, averaging 4.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 7.5 assists (leading the league), and 1.7 steals (ranking third in the league). His impressive stats and impact on the court further solidify his status as a champion in the league.
#2. Shannon Bogues, a 29-year-old shooting guard standing at 6'3'' and an alumnus of the Lumberjacks from 2019, is currently playing professionally in France. Recently, he played a significant role in Le Mans Sarthe Basket's triumph over the 14th-ranked Gravelines-Dunkerque with a scoreline of 96-83 in the French Betclic ELITE competition. In that game, Bogues showcased his skills by contributing 8 points in just 17 minutes of play. Le Mans Sarthe Basket, currently placed eighth in the league with a record of 16-11, is gearing up for the final stretch of the Regular Season, with only three games remaining. Every match is crucial at this stage as teams jostle for playoff positions. This marks Bogues' debut season with the team, and his impact has been notable. During the game against Gravelines, Bogues not only scored 8 points but also secured 2 rebounds and provided 1 assist. His performance was instrumental in securing the victory for his team. Throughout the season, he has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. His consistent contributions on the court have been vital for Le Mans Sarthe Basket as they aim to finish the season strongly and position themselves well for the playoffs.
#3. Montavious Murphy, a 6'9'' power forward who graduated from SF Austin in 2023, currently plays professionally in Bulgaria. In a recent game, he led Minyor 2015 to a convincing 113-96 victory over Shumen, a team with a record of 3-26 in the Bulgarian National Basketball League. Despite playing only 20 minutes, Murphy managed to contribute 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist, showcasing his skills and helping his team triumph. Minyor 2015 Pernik, currently placed seventh in the league with a record of 15-14, has only one more game left in the Regular Season, which is expected to be crucial for their playoff prospects. Murphy's stellar performance against Shumen not only highlighted his individual capabilities but also played a key role in securing the win for his team, positioning them as strong contenders for the champion title. Throughout the season, Murphy has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.1 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game. With his consistent performance and leadership on the court, Murphy has been instrumental in Minyor 2015's journey towards potentially becoming the champion of the Bulgarian National Basketball League.
#4. Belizean Frank Staine, standing at 6'6'' and a 24-year-old guard, showcased his skills last Saturday for Portimonense, where he plays professionally in Portugal. Despite Staine's stellar performance, the third-placed Portimonense (8-4) was unable to secure a victory, falling 73-63 to Maia Basket (#4) in the Places 1-8 group. Staine, the top scorer of the game, contributed 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in 37 minutes on the court. As the season approaches its climax with only two games remaining in the Second Stage, each match becomes crucial for the team. Staine's remarkable individual season is highlighted by impressive averages of 18.0 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Despite his outstanding efforts, Staine's team faced a setback, emphasizing the competitive nature of the league where every game is vital.
#5. Leon Gilmore III, a 30-year-old power forward standing at 6'7'' who graduated from SF Austin in 2018 after helping them win the Southland Conference Tournament, currently plays professionally in Indonesia. In a recent game, he led Satya Wacana to a thrilling victory over the third-ranked Borneo team with a close score of 77-75 in the Indonesian Basketball League. Despite his team's challenging position at the bottom of the league standings with a record of 2-15, Gilmore III's exceptional performance on the court demonstrated his leadership and determination as a champion. During the game, Gilmore III showcased his skills by scoring 14 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, passing 7 assists, and contributing 2 blocks in 40 minutes of play. His impressive stats for the season include averaging 11.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game, highlighting his versatility and impact on the team. With only three games remaining in the regular season, Gilmore III's contributions have been instrumental in guiding his team towards their goal. Overall, Gilmore III's performance against Borneo exemplified his prowess on the court and solidified his reputation as a true champion and finalist. His consistent contributions and impressive statistics throughout the season reflect his dedication and talent as a professional basketball player in Indonesia.
#6. Mexican Diego Willis, a towering 6'4'' guard at 26 years old and an alum of the Lumberjacks from 2022, played a crucial role in helping Astros de Jalisco secure a resounding 116-95 victory over the sixth-ranked Toros in the Mexican Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacifico on Wednesday night. Despite only scoring 3 points in 11 minutes of play, Willis' contribution was instrumental in clinching the win for his team, propelling them to the coveted champion title of the game. Willis' performance this season has been notable, with averages of 4.8 points per game, 1.9 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game. His dedication and skills on the court have been pivotal in Astros de Jalisco's success, showcasing his talent and determination as a basketball player.
Other former Stephen F. Austin State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Kevon Harris (6'6''-G/F-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Xinjiang Flying Tigers in Chinese CBA
Nigel Hawkins (6'4''-SG-2000, played in 2020-23) plays for London Lions in British SLB
Jordan Glynn (6'7''-F-1989, played in 2009-11) plays for Toros Laguna in Mexican CIBACOPA
Gavin Kensmil (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2019-22) plays for Rouen Metropole Basket in French ProB
Nana Antwi-Boasiako (6'9''-D/C-2002, played in 2020-25) plays for Umea in Swedish Basketligan
Latrell Jossell (6'1''-G, played in 2021-24) plays for Ballincollig in Irish Super League
Sadaidriene Hall (6'5''-F-2000, played in 2021-24) plays for Tarragona in Spanish Tercera FEB
Nikola Gajic (6'6''-PG-1991, played in 2011-14) plays for Drina PZ in Bosnia and Herzegovina A1 Liga
Jovan Grujic (7'0''-C-1996, played in 2015-19) played for Breg in Serbian 2MRL few monts ago
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Stephen F. Austin State University basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
