Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Rockets players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. JT Shumate, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from Toledo in 2023 and was a finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award that year, currently plays professionally in the Czech Republic. In a recent game, he played a crucial role in Nymburk's victory over the second-ranked Pardubice with a score of 80-74 in the Czech Republic Maxa NBL. Shumate showcased his skills by scoring 7 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and making 3 blocks during his 26 minutes on the court. This game was a highly anticipated matchup between two of the top 3 ranked teams in group Places 1-8, with ERA Basketball Nymburk leading the standings with a record of 32-4. This win marked Shumate's team's sixth consecutive victory, highlighting their dominance in the league. Notably, this is Shumate's first season with the team, and he has been making a significant impact with his performance. Shumate's exceptional performance against Pardubice, where he contributed not only on the scoring end but also with rebounds and assists, exemplifies his role as a key player in his team's success. With an average of 10.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game in the 36 games he has played this season, Shumate has been a consistent and valuable asset to his team. His impressive stats and contributions on the court reflect the qualities of a true champion.
#2. Christopher Darrington, a 6'1'' point guard aged 29, who previously played for the Rockets alumni in 2019 and helped them become the MAC West Division Regular Season Champion that year, is currently showcasing his skills in the TBL. In a recent game, Darrington, playing for the Glass City Wranglers, unfortunately could not prevent his team from suffering a heavy defeat at the hands of the St. Louis Griffins with a score of 138-96 on the road. Despite his commendable effort, scoring 10 points and making all his five free throws in 29 minutes, the Glass City Wranglers, ranked #5, were unable to secure the win. Darrington displayed a solid performance against the St. Louis Griffins, contributing 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. However, his individual efforts were not enough to lead his team to victory on that occasion. Despite the team's recent struggles, Darrington has been having an exceptional season statistically, averaging 23.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in the 16 games he has played so far.
Other former The University of Toledo players, who play in pro basketball:
Ryan Rollins (6'4''-G-2002, played in 2020-22) plays for Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA
Steve Taylor Jr. (6'9''-F/C-1993, played in 2015-15) played for Panteras de Aguascalientes in Mexican LNBP few monts ago
Andre Lorentsson (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2022-25) plays for Jamtland in Swedish Basketligan
AJ Edu (6'10''-F/C-2000) plays for Gunma Crane Thunders in Japanese B1 League
Spencer Littleson (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2017-17) plays for Menorca in Spanish Primera FEB
Nathan Boothe (6'10''-PF-1994, played in 2012-16) plays for Sendai 89ers in Japanese B1 League
Marreon Jackson (6'1''-G-1998, played in 2017-21) plays for Koping Stars in Swedish Basketligan
Isaiah Adams (6'6''-G, played in 2024-25) plays for Apollon in Cypriot ECOMMBX BL
Taylor Adway (6'9''-C-1996, played in 2015-18) plays for Al Ahli Sports Club Doha in Qatari QBL
JD Weatherspoon (6'6''-PF-1992, played in 2012-12) played for Best Virginia - West Virginia Alumni in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Kenneth Proby Jr. (6'3''-G/F-1997, played in 2021-22) played for Team Dallas in the Eurobasket S.League last year
Matt Smith (6'7''-F-1991, played in 2010-10) plays for Immortals in Dominican Rep. LDC
Setric Millner Jr. (6'6''-F-2000, played in 2023-23) plays for Taoyuan Pilots in Taiwanese PLeague+
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of The University of Toledo basketball alumni.
JT Shumate is last week best Rockets alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @BasketballNymburk)
