Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Zips players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Kwan Cheatham Jr., a 31-year-old forward/center standing at 6'9'', graduated from Akron in 2017 and played a crucial role in helping them secure the MAC East Division Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently plying his trade as a professional basketball player in Spain, he recently led his Spanish team, Club Joventut Badalona, to a hard-fought victory against the closely-ranked Bnei Hertzeliya (0-1) with a score of 86-75 in the Basketball Champions League during Tuesday night's thrilling game. In his debut game for Club Joventut Badalona this season, Kwan Cheatham Jr. showcased his skills by contributing 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in just 22 minutes of play. This performance was instrumental in the team's success, especially in a match that featured two of the top 4 ranked teams in the league. As a result of his impressive display, his team emerged victorious, solidifying their position as a finalist in the competition.
#2. Ali Ali, a 6'8'' guard/forward and Zips alumnus from 2024, recently showcased his talent on the professional basketball court in Sweden. He currently plays for Sodertalje and played a key role in their recent victory over Jamtland in the Swedish Basketligan. In the closely contested game, Ali led his team to a 91-76 win, scoring 17 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and contributing 2 assists in 39 minutes of play. His remarkable performance earned him the MVP title of the game, highlighting his skills and impact on the court. Despite being in only his third season of professional basketball, Ali's performance demonstrated his potential as a future champion. The game between Sodertalje and Jamtland was a highly anticipated matchup between two top 4 ranked teams in the league. With this win, Sodertalje, currently at a 3-0 record, solidified their position at the top of the standings. Ali's consistent contribution to the team's success, averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in the regular season so far, reflects his importance as a key player for Sodertalje. As a naturalized Sudanese player, Ali Ali continues to make waves in the Swedish Basketligan, proving himself as a rising star in the league. His impressive performance on the court not only benefits his team but also cements his status as a true champion in the making.
#3. Xavier Castaneda, a 6'1'' guard who graduated from Akron in 2023 and received the MAC All-Tournament Team award that year, is currently playing professionally in France for Nanterre 92. In their recent match against Chorale de Roanne, despite Castaneda's stellar performance as the top scorer with 17 points and contributing 3 assists while maintaining a perfect free-throw record of 5-for-5 in just 21 minutes, Nanterre 92 was defeated 83-93 on the road by the higher-ranked #4 team, Roanne. It was a valiant effort by Castaneda, who showcased his skills on the court by scoring impressively, grabbing a rebound, and providing assists, albeit in a losing effort. This season marks Castaneda's debut with Nanterre 92, where he has been excelling individually, boasting impressive statistics averaging 17.5 points per game and 5.0 assists per game across the two games he has played thus far. Despite the team's mixed results, Castaneda's standout performances have not gone unnoticed, establishing himself as a key player on the team. Additionally, it is worth noting that Castaneda is a naturalized Bosnian, adding to the diverse and talented makeup of the Nanterre 92 roster.
#4. Tyler Cheese, a 29-year-old guard standing at 6'4'', and an alumnus of the Zips class of 2020, played a pivotal role in helping his team clinch the MAC East Division Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently, he showcases his talent playing professionally in Mexico. In a recent game, Cheese led the Panteras de Aguascalientes to a thrilling 1-point victory over the tenth-ranked Diablos with a scoreline of 93-92 in the Mexican Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional, which is the second division of the league. His impressive performance included scoring 13 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and providing 6 assists during the intense 45-minute game. Panteras de Aguascalientes, with a record of 19-9, holds the third position in the league standings. Despite the conclusion of the Regular Season, Cheese continues to demonstrate his skill on the court. With an average of 11.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in the 27 games he has played this season, Cheese has maintained solid statistics. In the recent game against the Diablos, Cheese delivered a standout performance, showcasing his versatility and leadership as the champion.
#5. Xeyrius Williams, a 6'9'' power forward who graduated from Akron in 2020, has been making a name for himself playing professionally in Portugal. Although he couldn't lead FC Porto to victory against Telekom Baskets in the Basketball Champions League, he showcased his skills on the court. In his first game of the season for FC Porto, Williams displayed his all-around talent by scoring 8 points, securing 9 rebounds, and contributing 2 assists in a hard-fought 74-78 loss to Telekom Baskets in Bonn. Despite his notable performance, FC Porto ultimately fell short against the formidable opponents. Williams, a former MAC East Division Regular Season Champion with Akron, continues to prove himself as a skilled player in the professional basketball arena.
#6. Trendon Hankerson, a 26-year-old 6'2'' guard and Zips alumnus from 2023, showcased his skills while playing professionally in Romania for Timisoara. In his first game of the season, he recorded 6 points and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes of play. Despite his commendable performance against Targu Mures, where he contributed 6 points and 5 rebounds, Hankerson's efforts were not enough to lead his team to victory. Timisoara ultimately fell short, losing to Targu Mures with a final score of 72-78.
Other former The University of Akron players, who play in pro basketball:
Jimond Ivey (6'5''-G-1996, played in 2014-14) plays for Fuerza Regia Monterrey in Mexican LNBP
Enrique Freeman (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2019-24) signed for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
Tavari Johnson (6'0''-G, played in 2022-26) signed for Rouen Metropole Basket in French ELITE 2
Greg Tribble (6'1''-G-2001, played in 2019-24) played for Terme Olimia in Slovenian 2SKL
Isaiah Gray (6'3''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) signed for Cheshire Phoenix in British SLB
Deng Riak (6'10''-C/F-1995, played in 2017-17) plays for Geelong United in Australian NBL One
Samuel Hunter (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2022-24) signed for Brasov in Romanian Liga Nationala
Quincy Diggs (6'6''-F-1990, played in 2010-12) played for Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart in Austrian BSL
Maishe Dailey (6'7''-G-1998, played in 2019-19) played for Iskra Svit in Slovakian Tipos SBL
Kaleb Thornton (6'0''-PG-1999, played in 2023-24) played for Al Khaleej in Saudi Arabian SBL
Mikal Dawson (6'5''-G-2000, played in 2019-24) played for PS Karlsruhe Lions in German ProA
Antino Jackson (6'0''-PG-1996, played in 2014-17) plays for Tigers in Rwandan RBL
Garvin Clarke (6'0''-PG-2001, played in 2020-23) played for Caja 87 in Spanish Primera FEB
Loren Jackson (5'7''-PG-1996, played in 2017-17) played for Shandong in Chinese NBL
Daniel Utomi (6'6''-SF-1997, played in 2015-19) played for Dar City in Tanzanian NBL
Demetrius Treadwell (6'7''-F-1991, played in 2011-15) played for E.Shomron in Israeli National League
Amani Lyles (6'9''-F-2003, played in 2022-26) played for Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Summer League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of The University of Akron basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
