Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Orangemen players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Jaquan Carlos, a 24-year-old point guard standing at 6'0'' who graduated from Syracuse in 2025 and currently plays professionally in Lithuania, showcased his skills in a recent game where he led Gargzdai to a significant 87-78 victory over the sixth-ranked Neptunas in the Lithuanian Betsafe Lietuvos krepsinio lyga. Carlos, the MVP of the game, impressed with 20 points and 8 assists in 32 minutes of play, demonstrating remarkable talent in only his second season in professional basketball. Gargzdu SC Gargzdai, now holding a 2-1 record, sits in second place in the league standings. Despite the season being in its early stages, Carlos's outstanding performance against Neptunas, where he scored 20 points, secured 3 rebounds, and provided 8 assists, was instrumental in leading his team to victory. His exceptional display on the court not only contributed to the win but also reinforced his reputation as a champion. Currently, Carlos is having an exceptional season individually, boasting impressive statistics with an average of 17.7 points per game (the second-best in the league), along with 2.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists (leading the league), and 2.3 steals per game (third-best in the league).
#2. Elijah Hughes, a 28-year-old guard/forward standing at 6'6'' and an alumnus of Orangemen from 2020, currently plays professionally in Germany. Recently, he showcased his skills by leading MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg to a significant victory over the 13th-ranked Bamberg with a score of 103-96 in the German easyCredit BBL. In this game, Hughes displayed his talent by scoring 16 points and securing 5 rebounds in just 24 minutes of play. Despite being in his first season with the team, Hughes has already proven to be a valuable asset. His contributions on the court not only helped secure the win against Bamberg but also positioned MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg at seventh place in the league. Hughes' impressive performance during the game undoubtedly played a pivotal role in his team emerging as the champion. Throughout the season, Hughes has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.7 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game. His consistent performance and impact on the team's success are clear indicators of his potential as a standout player in the league.
#3. Lucas Taylor, a 6'5'' guard who is 23 years old and a recent graduate of Syracuse University in 2025, showcased his talent on Tuesday night as he led Honka to a narrow 107-104 victory over Vilpas in the Finnish Korisliiga. Despite it being his first game of the season for Honka, Taylor managed to contribute 15 points in just 27 minutes of play, demonstrating his skills in the professional basketball league of Finland. This remarkable performance was even more impressive considering it's only his second season in the professional basketball scene. Honka, led by Taylor, currently holds the top spot in the league standings. Taylor's impactful presence on the court, where he scored 15 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and provided 2 assists, was crucial in securing the victory for his team. Such a stellar display of skill and leadership reaffirms why Lucas Taylor is indeed a champion.
#4. Jimmy Boeheim, a 6'8'' forward and 28-year-old Orangemen alum from 2022, who received the CoSIDA NCAA Division I Academic All-District 1 Team award that year, currently plays professionally in France. In a recent game, he could not help Stade Rochelais Basket (1-1) secure a victory as they were defeated 103-97 on the road by the higher-ranked Hyeres-Toulon (#3). Despite the loss, Boeheim showcased a commendable performance, emerging as the second-highest scorer with 16 points. Additionally, he contributed 6 assists and 3 steals in 28 minutes of play. Boeheim displayed an impressive performance against Hyeres-Toulon, demonstrating his scoring ability and playmaking skills with 16 points and 6 assists. Despite his individual efforts, his team, La Rochelle, was unable to clinch the win. Throughout the season, Boeheim has maintained high statistical averages, with 17.0 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 4.5 assists per game, and 2.5 steals per game, showcasing his all-around capabilities as a player.
#5. Judah Mintz, a 6'3'' shooting guard at 23 years old who graduated from Syracuse in 2024 and received the All-ACC Second Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Germany. Despite his best efforts, Mintz, a standout player, was unable to assist Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt (0-1) in their recent game last Tuesday. Unfortunately, Frankfurt suffered a crushing defeat of 104-72 against the higher-ranked Umana (#3) in Venezia. Mintz, who played for the first time this season with Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt, displayed his talent by scoring 10 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and providing 2 assists in the 20 minutes he played. Even though Mintz showcased an impressive performance against Venezia, his team fell short of securing the victory. This marks Mintz's inaugural year with the team as he strives to make a significant impact and lead Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt to success.
#6. Joseph Girard III, a 6'1'' guard and 25-year-old Tigers alumnus from 2024, previously played for Syracuse between 2019 and 2023 before starting his professional career in Poland. Recently, he showcased his skills by leading Dziki Warszawa to a resounding victory over Trefl in the Polish Orlen Basket Liga. The game ended with a dominant score of 102-63 in favor of Dziki Warszawa. In his debut game for Dziki Warszawa this season, Girard III made a significant impact by contributing 11 points and 3 assists in just 24 minutes of play. His performance was instrumental in securing the win for his team, solidifying his reputation as a champion on the court. Additionally, he displayed versatility by also grabbing 2 rebounds during the game, showcasing his well-rounded skills as a finalist.
#7. Canadian player O'Shae Brissett, a 6'7'' small forward at 28 years old, who graduated from Syracuse in 2019 and currently plays professionally in Israel, recently faced Panathinaikos in the Euroleague. Brissett showcased his skills by scoring 8 points and securing 4 rebounds in 25 minutes of play. Despite his solid performance, Maccabi Playtika Tel-Aviv, the team he plays for, suffered a significant loss of 23 points with a final score of 90-67. Brissett's individual contribution was notable, especially considering his season averages of 8.0 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game.
#8. Slovakian Marek Dolezaj, a 6'10'' forward and 28-year-old Orangemen alumni from 2021, currently playing professionally in Italy, made a significant impact in his debut game for SAE Scientifica Legnano. Despite only scoring 2 points and grabbing 5 rebounds in 18 minutes of play, Dolezaj's contributions were instrumental in securing a hard-fought 71-68 victory against the 16th-ranked Piacenza UCC in the Italian Serie B Nazionale, the third division, on Saturday night. Dolezaj's timely scoring, along with his solid rebounding and playmaking with 2 assists, proved crucial in helping his team emerge victorious against a tough opponent like Piacenza. His performance underscored his value as a player and exemplified the qualities of a true champion, showcasing his skills and determination on the court. This win marked a promising start for Dolezaj with Legnano this season and highlighted his ability to make a meaningful impact as a finalist in crucial moments.
Other former Syracuse University players, who play in pro basketball:
Tyler Ennis (6'2''-G-1994, played in 2013-14) plays for Hapoel Shlomo Tel-Aviv in Israeli Winner League
Jerami Grant (6'8''-F-1994, played in 2012-14) signed for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Malachi Richardson (6'6''-G-1996, played in 2015-16) plays for Reales in Dominican Rep. LNB
Benny Williams (6'10''-F-2002, played in 2021-24) played for Dubrava in Croatian Premijer Liga
Chris McCullough (6'10''-F/C-1995, played in 2014-15) signed for Seoul Samsung Thunders in South Korean KBL
Jyare Davis (6'7''-F-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Derby in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Nate Kingz (6'5''-G-2002, played in 2025-26) signed for Hapoel Galil Elyon in Israeli Winner League
Naheem McLeod (7'4''-C-2000, played in 2023-25) played for Rahoveci in Kosovan Superliga
Rick Jackson (6'9''-F-1989, played in 2007-11) plays for Urupan in Uruguayan Liga de Ascenso
Chris Bell (6'7''-F-2003, played in 2022-25) played for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Summer League
Rakeem Christmas (6'9''-F/C-1991, played in 2011-15) plays for J.Guzman in Ecuadorian Liga Basquet Pro
Bryce Zephir (6'4''-G, played in 2025-26) plays for Team Golden State in the Eurobasket S.League
Eric Devendorf (6'4''-G-1987, played in 2005-09) plays for Boeheim's Army - Syracuse Alumni in the The Basketball Tournament
Jesse Edwards (6'11''-C-2000, played in 2019-23) played for Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Summer League
William Kyle III (6'9''-F-2004, played in 2025-26) played for Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Summer League
Buddy Boeheim (6'6''-G-1999, played in 2018-22) plays for Boeheim's Army - Syracuse Alumni in the The Basketball Tournament
Donte Greene (6'11''-C-1988, played in 2007-08) plays for Detroit Amps in the Big3
Wesley Johnson (6'7''-SF-1987, played in 2008-08) plays for Chicago Triplets in the Big3
Cole Swider (6'9''-PF-1999, played in 2021-22) plays for Boeheim's Army - Syracuse Alumni in the The Basketball Tournament
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Syracuse University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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