Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Zips players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Isaiah Gray, a 24-year-old guard standing at 6'3'' who graduated from Akron in 2025 and helped them secure the MAC Regular Season Champion title that year, currently plays professionally in the Czech Republic. In a recent game, Gray unfortunately could not lead Opava (18-18) to victory. Despite his commendable performance, Opava, ranked fifth with an 18-18 record, narrowly lost 99-97 on the road to the third-ranked Brno in the Places 1-8 group. Gray showcased his skills by being the second-highest scorer of the game with 18 points and contributing 6 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play. This remarkable display is even more impressive considering it is Gray's first season in professional basketball. Despite his significant efforts, his team ultimately fell short in securing the win. Throughout this season, Gray has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in the 25 games he has participated in thus far. His consistent performance on the court demonstrates his potential and contribution to Opava's basketball campaign in the Czech Republic.
#2. South Sudanese Deng Riak, a 31-year-old former Zips alumni from 2020, who helped them secure the MAC East Division Regular Season Champion title that year, currently plays professionally in Australia. In a recent game, he was unable to lead Geelong United (3-11) to victory, as they fell short to the Dandenong Rangers, who are ranked 5th in the South group, with a score of 88-97. Despite Riak's impressive performance, where he scored 21 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots in 38 minutes, Geelong United faced a defeat and remains in the 17th position in the league. Riak's notable contribution of 21 points and 6 rebounds showcased his skills on the court, yet it was not enough to secure a win for his team. Throughout the season, Riak has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in the 14 games he has played so far. It is also interesting to note that Riak holds dual citizenship, being both American and South Sudanese, which allows him to play as a domestic player in South Sudan if he chooses to do so in the future.
#3. Antino Jackson, a 6'0'' point guard at 30 years old, graduated from New Mexico in 2018. However, he previously played for Akron between 2014 and 2017, contributing to their win as the MAC East Division Regular Season Champion in that year. Currently playing professionally in Rwanda, he recently played a crucial role in the Tigers' 2-point victory over the closely-ranked P. Luanda, with a final score of 90-88 in the Basketball Africa League last Sunday. During the game, Jackson showcased his skills by recording 6 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists in 25 minutes of play. This victory was particularly significant as it was a matchup between two top 4 ranked teams, with Tigers BB Kigali (4-1) currently leading the league standings. It marked the team's fourth consecutive win, further solidifying their position at the top of the league. Jackson's performance on the court highlighted his abilities as a champion, playing a pivotal role in securing the important victory against P. Luanda. His overall statistics for the season are impressive, averaging 11.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in nine appearances. It is worth noting that Jackson holds both American and Rwandan citizenship, allowing him to play in Rwanda as a domestic player. His contributions to the Tigers' success reflect his talent and determination as a finalist.
#4. Bahamas Garvin Clarke, a 6'0'' point guard and 24-year-old Crimson Hawks alum from 2024, previously played for Akron between 2020 and 2023 before moving on to play professionally in Spain. Unfortunately, in a recent game, he was unable to lead Caja 87 (18-8) to victory against Sant Antoni (19-7) in the Spanish Segunda FEB (third division). Despite his efforts, Clarke could only contribute 3 points in 13 minutes of gameplay, making it a challenging match for him. The game resulted in a 56-71 loss for Caja 87 against the lower-ranked Sant Antoni who held the third position in the West group. This season marks Clarke's first with the team, where he has been averaging 9.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game over 30 appearances. While Clarke managed to showcase his skills as a champion player by scoring 3 points against Sant Antoni, his individual performance was not enough to secure the victory for his team in this particular game.
Other former The University of Akron players, who play in pro basketball:
Kwan Cheatham Jr. (6'9''-F/C-1995, played in 2013-17) plays for Reggio Emilia in Italian Serie A
Enrique Freeman (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2019-24) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
Xavier Castaneda (6'1''-G-2000, played in 2021-23) plays for MoraBanc Andorra in Spanish Liga Endesa
Jimond Ivey (6'5''-G-1996, played in 2014-14) plays for Ostioneros de Guaymas in Mexican CIBACOPA
Trendon Hankerson (6'2''-G-2000, played in 2022-23) plays for Brasov in Romanian Liga Nationala
Greg Tribble (6'1''-G-2001, played in 2019-24) plays for Terme Olimia in Slovenian Liga OTP banka
Samuel Hunter (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2022-24) plays for BC Vienna in Austrian BSL
Quincy Diggs (6'6''-F-1990, played in 2010-12) plays for Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart in Austrian BSL
Maishe Dailey (6'7''-G-1998, played in 2019-19) plays for Iskra Svit in Slovakian Tipos SBL
Tyler Cheese (6'4''-G-1996, played in 2018-20) plays for Bora in Kosovan Superliga
Kaleb Thornton (6'0''-PG-1999, played in 2023-24) plays for Al Khaleej in Saudi Arabian SBL
Mikal Dawson (6'5''-G-2000, played in 2019-24) plays for PS Karlsruhe Lions in German ProA
Ali Ali (6'8''-G/F-2001, played in 2019-22) plays for Toulouse in French NM1
Daniel Utomi (6'6''-SF-1997, played in 2015-19) plays for Dar City in Tanzanian NBL
Demetrius Treadwell (6'7''-F-1991, played in 2011-15) plays for E.Shomron in Israeli National League
Xeyrius Williams (6'9''-PF-1997, played in 2018-18) plays for Tycoon in Hong Kong D1
Malcolm Duvivier (6'3''-G-1995, played in 2017-18) played for Montreal Alliance in CEBL few monts ago
Loren Jackson (5'7''-PG-1996, played in 2017-17) plays for Shandong in Chinese NBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of The University of Akron basketball alumni.
Isaiah Gray is last week best Zips alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @bkopava)
Ex-Players
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