Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Aggies players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. TJ Shorts, a 28-year-old guard standing at 5'9'' who graduated from UC Davis in 2019 and received the All-Big West First Team award that year, is currently playing professionally in Spain. He recently led Valencia Basket to a decisive 97-82 victory over the 13th-ranked Zaragoza in a Spanish Liga Endesa game on Sunday night, where he was named the game's MVP. In just 21 minutes of play, Shorts showcased his skills by scoring 21 points and delivering 5 assists, contributing significantly to his team's success. Valencia Basket, with a current record of 1-1, holds the sixth position in the league standings. Despite the early stage of the season, Shorts' impactful performance has already established him as a champion on the court. This is Shorts' debut season with the team, and he has made a remarkable impression with his exceptional abilities as a player. In the game against Zaragoza, Shorts not only scored 21 points but also secured 2 rebounds and facilitated 5 assists, demonstrating his versatility and leadership on the court. His stellar performance highlights his status as a finalist and underlines his position as a top-tier player in the league. Throughout the season, Shorts has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 17.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game in the two matches he has played so far. As a naturalized American player, Shorts' success in the league reflects his talent and dedication to the sport. It is worth noting that Shorts also participated in the Eurobasket Summer League, an experience that played a crucial role in securing his position in professional basketball and further honing his skills as a player.
#2. Ty Johnson, a 6'3'' guard and 23-year-old Aggies alumni from 2025, currently playing professionally in Switzerland, showcased his skills in a remarkable way. In a recent game, he was a major contributor in Geneve's impressive 105-83 victory over the sixth-ranked Lions in the FIBA Europe Cup. Johnson's standout performance included scoring an impressive 33 points, along with 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals in just 32 minutes of play. This game marked his first appearance for Geneve this season, highlighting his exceptional talent even though he is only in his second season in professional basketball. As a key player for the team, Johnson played a crucial role in securing the champion title for Geneve in that game. His stellar performance on the court undoubtedly helped lead his team to victory as the finalist.
#3. Australian Elijah Pepper, a 6'4'' guard who is 25 years old and a UC Davis graduate of 2024, has been making waves in the Australian National Basketball League. Recently, he played a crucial role in the Perth Wildcats' dominating 100-84 victory over the Breakers. In this highly anticipated matchup between two top 4 ranked teams, Pepper's stellar performance stood out as he scored 25 points, secured 3 rebounds, and made 3 assists in just 30 minutes of play. This standout display is even more impressive considering that Pepper is only in his third season of professional basketball. The victory marked the Perth Wildcats' fourth consecutive win, solidifying their position as the league leaders with a record of 4-1. This success is particularly noteworthy as it is Pepper's first year with the team, highlighting his quick integration and impact on the court. Pepper's exceptional year continues to impress, with impressive stats averaging 23.8 points per game, making him the fourth-best scorer in the league. In addition to his scoring prowess, he also contributes 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game over five games. In the game against the Breakers, Pepper's standout performance not only showcased his individual skills but also demonstrated his ability to lead his team to victory as the champion.
#4. Brynton Lemar, a 6'4'' shooting guard and 31-year-old Aggies alumni from 2017, is currently playing professionally in Italy. Despite his impressive performance, Lemar could not turn the tide for Maxima Roma in their recent game against Virtus Bologna, where they suffered a defeat with a score of 89-98 on the road. Lemar emerged as the top scorer for Roma Maxima, contributing 18 points in just 21 minutes of play and maintaining a flawless record of 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Even though he showcased his skills by scoring, grabbing a rebound, and providing an assist against the formidable Virtus Bologna team, his efforts were not enough to secure a victory for his team. This season marks Lemar's debut with the team, and he has been maintaining relatively good statistics, averaging 13.0 points per game over two matches. It is worth noting that Lemar is a naturalized American player, bringing his talent and experience to the European basketball scene.
#5. Nigerian basketball champion Chima Moneke, a 6'6'' power forward aged 30, graduated from UC Davis in 2018 and was instrumental in helping them secure the Big West Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently playing professionally in Serbia, Moneke recently made his debut for Crvena zvezda in the AdmiralBet ABA League. In his first game of the season, he displayed his skills by scoring 7 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in 24 minutes of play. Despite his impressive performance, Crvena zvezda, the league leader, was narrowly defeated 90-89 by FMP BG in a highly anticipated derby match. Moneke's contributions on the court were notable, but unfortunately, his team could not secure the victory against the formidable FMP BG, the league finalist.
#6. AJ John, a 30-year-old 6'8'' forward and Aggies alumni from 2019, showcased his exceptional skills as he led Sparta to a resounding victory over league leaders Etzella in the Luxembourg Basketball League. In a highly anticipated game on Saturday night, John's stellar performance propelled his team to a commanding 77-56 win, solidifying his reputation as a champion player. With an impressive double-double, John proved his worth by scoring 17 points and securing 15 rebounds in just 34 minutes of play. His remarkable contribution did not go unnoticed, as he was rightfully named the MVP of the game. Eurobasket.com even awarded him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge for his outstanding display on the court. Throughout the season, John has maintained exceptional individual statistics, averaging 17.0 points per game and 11.7 rebounds per game across three games. His consistent high-level performance has established him as a key player in the league, further emphasizing his status as a finalist player. It is worth noting that John is a naturalized American player, bringing his talent and expertise to the basketball scene in Luxembourg. His remarkable skills and dedication to the sport continue to impress fans and critics alike, cementing his position as a standout champion in the league.
#7. In the recent match, the Swedish player Oliver Gehrke, a 6'7'' forward aged 26 who graduated from UC Davis in 2020 and currently plays professionally in Sweden, was unable to lead Umea (0-3) to a victory. Despite his standout performance, Umea suffered a heavy 93-69 defeat at home against the second-ranked Jamtland. Gehrke displayed his skills by scoring 16 points, securing 2 rebounds, and providing 1 assist, making him the top scorer of the game. Despite Gehrke's impressive contributions, Umea ultimately fell short on the scoreboard. Throughout the season, Gehrke has maintained solid statistics, averaging 15.0 points per game and 2.7 rebounds per game across three games.
#8. Lukas Prongos, standing at an impressive 6'6'' and a 24-year-old forward, is an Aggies alumni from the class of 2025 who currently plays professionally in Lithuania. Despite his best efforts, Prongos was unable to lead Mazeikiai to victory against Telsiai in a recent game, where he scored 8 points in 30 minutes of play. Despite his strong performance, his team ultimately fell short, losing 72-83. Even though Prongos showcased his skills by contributing 8 points and 2 rebounds against Telsiai, his team was unable to secure the win. Throughout this season, Prongos has maintained an average of 8.3 points per game and 2.7 rebounds per game across three matches.
#9. Estonian Ran Andre Pehka, a 6'4'' point guard who is 25 years old and graduated from UC Davis in 2021, showcased his talent while playing professionally in Estonia. In a recent game, despite his remarkable performance, Pehka could not lead his team, Tamsalu (1-2), to victory. They faced off against the higher-ranked team, Ulikool/Estiko, and unfortunately lost 95-102 in a closely contested derby match. Pehka stood out as the top scorer of the game, contributing 27 points to his team's effort. Additionally, he displayed his versatility by grabbing 9 rebounds and distributing 8 assists, all within a span of 30 minutes on the court. Despite his exceptional individual performance, Tamsalu fell short in their bid for victory against the formidable opponents. Throughout the season, Pehka has consistently delivered impressive performances, maintaining high statistics across various categories. He has been averaging 20.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists (ranking fourth best in the league), and 1.3 steals per game over the course of three games. Pehka's consistent contributions highlight his skill and value as a key player for his team, despite the challenging result in the recent matchup against Ulikool/Estiko.
#10. Leo DeBruhl, a 6'3'' guard and 24-year-old Aggies alumnus from 2025, showcased his skills as a champion player in a recent game for Caen Basket Calvados in the French ELITE 2 league. Facing off against the fifth-ranked Hyeres-Toulon, DeBruhl's performance was instrumental in his team's 90-77 victory on Friday night. In the game, he scored 11 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and delivered 6 assists in just 26 minutes on the court, highlighting his versatility and impact on the game as a finalist player. DeBruhl's consistent contributions were a key factor in securing the win for Caen Basket Calvados, further solidifying his reputation as a valuable asset to the team. Throughout the season, he has maintained relatively good statistics, averaging 10.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game across three games, further establishing himself as a reliable and skilled player in the league.
Other former University of California - Davis players, who play in pro basketball:
Ade Adebayo (6'5''-G-2000, played in 2019-24) signed for London Lions in British SLB
Christian Anigwe (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2020-23) played for Rigas Zelli in Latvian LBL
Niko Rocak (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2022-26) signed for Burgos in Spanish Primera FEB
Kane Milling (6'5''-G-2001, played in 2021-24) plays for Levallois Metropolitans BC in French ELITE 2
Samuel Manu (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2022-24) played for Taipei Taishin Mars in Taiwanese TPBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of California - Davis basketball alumni.
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