Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Gauchos players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Mali Amadou Sow, a 27-year-old center standing at 6'9'' who graduated from UCSB in 2022 and was a finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award that same year, is currently showcasing his skills playing professionally in Turkey. In a recent game for Esenler Erokspor Istanbul, he was a major contributor in their impressive 94-62 victory against Rilski in the FIBA Europe Cup last Wednesday. During the game, Sow demonstrated his versatility on the court by scoring 17 points, securing 4 rebounds, distributing 4 assists, and blocking 2 shots, all within just 23 minutes of play. These contributions played a crucial role in his team's dominant win over Rilski. Esenler Erokspor Istanbul currently holds a 2-0 record in the league, placing them third overall. However, as it is still early in the season, the team's position may change as the competition progresses. This season marks Sow's first year with Esenler Erokspor Istanbul, and he has already made a significant impact with his impressive statistics, averaging 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game in the two matches he has played so far. Sow's stellar performance against Rilski not only secured a crucial victory for his team but also further solidified his reputation as a true champion on the court.
#2. Devearl Ramsey, a 29-year-old guard standing at 5'11'' and an alumnus of Gauchos from 2021 where he helped them clinch the Big West Regular Season Champion title, currently plays professionally in Bulgaria. In his debut game for Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian National Basketball League, Ramsey exhibited an outstanding performance, leading his team to a resounding 92-73 victory over Spartak Pleven, one of the league's weaker teams. Ramsey showcased his versatility on the court by achieving a double-double with 19 points scored, 9 rebounds grabbed, and 10 assists made in just 29 minutes of play. Despite narrowly missing out on a triple-double, his impact was undeniable as he played a pivotal role in securing the win for Lokomotiv Plovdiv. Notably, this remarkable performance highlighted Ramsey's skills and determination as a true champion in the game of basketball. Currently, Lokomotiv Plovdiv stands fifth in the league standings, and with Ramsey's exceptional abilities and leadership, the team is well-positioned to continue their success throughout the season.
#3. Miles Norris, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from UCSB in 2023, played a key role in helping his team achieve Big West Regular Season Co-Champion status that year. Currently playing professionally in Germany, Norris recently contributed to FC Bayern Muenchen Basketball's victory over the 15th-ranked Chemnitz with a score of 87-83 in the German easyCredit BBL. In that game, he showcased his skills by scoring 10 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and providing 2 assists in just 21 minutes of play. FC Bayern Muenchen Basketball currently leads the league with a perfect 4-0 record in the Regular Season, and Norris has been instrumental in their success. His consistent performance on the court has been evident, as he maintains an average of 9.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game in three games played this year. His stellar contributions continue to demonstrate his value as a champion and a vital player for his team.
#4. Max Heidegger, a 29-year-old guard standing at 6'3" and an alumnus of Gauchos from 2020, currently plays professionally in Israel. Known for receiving the All-Big West First Team award in 2020, Heidegger showcased his talent in a recent match where Hapoel Shlomo Tel-Aviv triumphed over the ninth-ranked Hapoel Beer Sheva with a score of 95-82 in the Israeli Winner League last Sunday. In his debut game for Hapoel Shlomo Tel-Aviv this season, Heidegger made a significant impact by contributing 10 points in just 14 minutes of play. His team currently holds the third position in the league standings. During the match against Hapoel Beer Sheva, he not only scored 10 points but also provided 1 assist, playing a crucial role in his team's success. His exceptional performance on the court guided his team to victory, ultimately leading them to be crowned as the champion of the game. It is noteworthy that Heidegger possesses both American and Israeli citizenship, allowing him to play in Israel as a domestic player.
#5. Zach Harvey, a 25-year-old guard standing at 6'5'' who graduated from UCSB in 2023, made a significant impact in Italy's Serie A2 league. Having previously helped UCSB to clinch the Big West Regular Season Co-Champion title, Harvey now plays professionally for Torino in Italy. In a recent game against Cividale, a closely-ranked opponent, Harvey shone brightly and led his team to a 76-59 victory. He was named the MVP of the game after contributing 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in just 30 minutes of play, showcasing his skills as a true champion on the court. Despite Torino's current ninth-place standing in the league, Harvey's stellar performance has been pivotal in their success. With an average of 18.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game over the course of three games, Harvey has had an outstanding season individually. His consistent high stats and exceptional gameplay continue to demonstrate why he is a formidable finalist in the world of professional basketball.
#6. Calvin Wishart, a 6'2'' guard and 27-year-old Gauchos alumni from the class of 2023, played a key role in helping his team to become Big West Regular Season Co-Champion that year. Currently playing professionally in Germany for FIT/One Wuerzburg Baskets, Wishart unfortunately couldn't prevent his team from suffering a heavy defeat in their last game against the #8 ranked Seawolves, where they lost 101-62 on the road. Despite the tough loss, Wishart stood out as the top scorer for Wuerzburg, contributing 12 points and 5 assists in just 18 minutes of play. In a previous game against Rostock, he also showcased his skills by scoring 12 points, grabbing 1 rebound, and dishing out 5 assists, although his team ended up on the losing side. Throughout the current season, Wishart has been averaging 10.0 points per game, along with 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game over the course of four games. His contributions on the court demonstrate his talent and dedication as he continues to make an impact for his team in Germany.
#7. Josh Pierre-Louis, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from UCSB in 2024 and currently plays professionally in Hungary, gave a strong performance in Szolnok's recent game against Dinamo. Despite his efforts, Szolnok, with a 0-2 record, suffered a defeat of 93-76 in Bucuresti to the higher-ranked (#3) Dinamo. In the game, Pierre-Louis showcased his skills by scoring 14 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, distributing 5 assists, and blocking 2 shots in 27 minutes of play. He was the second-best scorer for Szolnok in this match. Throughout the season, Pierre-Louis has maintained solid statistics, averaging 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game over the course of two games. Despite his individual achievements, he and his team are still striving for their first win of the season.
#8. Belgian champion Stephan Swenson, a 6'2'' guard and 24-year-old Gauchos alumnus from 2025, showcased his talent on the professional stage in Belgium. He recently guided his team, Oostende, to a resounding victory over the 12th-ranked Zwolle in the BNXT League, triumphing with a commanding score of 98-70 last Saturday. In a standout performance, Swenson demonstrated his prowess by contributing 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists in just 21 minutes of gameplay. Swenson's exceptional display against Zwolle not only highlighted his scoring ability but also underscored his playmaking skills, crucial to his team's success. These noteworthy contributions not only secured the win but also reinforced his reputation as a finalist. Throughout this season, Swenson has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game across two matches. His consistent performance on the court reflects his dedication and determination to excel as a champion in the competitive realm of professional basketball.
#9. Ajare Sanni, a 6'3'' guard who graduated from UCSB in 2023, has been making waves in the French basketball scene. Having helped UCSB to win the Big West Regular Season Co-Champion title during his college years, Sanni is now playing professionally in France. Recently, he led Saint Thomas Basket Le Havre to a resounding 94-79 victory over Provence Basket in the French ELITE 2 league, where he was named the MVP of the game for his outstanding performance. In the game against Provence Basket, Sanni showcased his skill and talent by scoring 14 points in just 20 minutes of play. His contribution was crucial in securing the win for his team, highlighting his capabilities as a true champion on the court. Furthermore, Sanni continued to impress in another game against Fos-sur-Mer, where he scored 14 points and provided 2 assists, further solidifying his reputation as a standout player in the league. His impressive individual statistics speak for themselves, with an average of 22.3 points per game, ranking him as the fourth-best scorer in the league, along with 1.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. It is worth noting that Sanni, a naturalized Nigerian, has been having a remarkable year in the French basketball scene, demonstrating his prowess and talent both as a player and as a leader on the court.
#10. Swedish Kenny Pohto, a 24-year-old forward standing at 6'11'' and an alum of Gauchos from 2025, currently competes professionally in Lithuania. Recently, Pohto, an All-Big West Honorable Mention award recipient, played for Juventus but couldn't lead them to victory against Siauliai. Despite his valiant efforts, including scoring 6 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists in 28 minutes, his team fell short with a final score of 71-83. Throughout the game, Pohto showcased his skills with an impressive performance, demonstrating his versatility on the court. Despite his individual contributions, Juventus couldn't secure the win. In this season, Pohto has been averaging 4.0 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game across five matches, showing consistent performance and dedication to his team.
Other former University of California Santa Barbara players, who play in pro basketball:
James Nunnally (6'7''-SF-1990, played in 2008-12) plays for AEK in Greek GBL
Gabe Vincent (6'3''-G-1996, played in 2014-18) plays for Atlanta Hawks in the NBA
Ajay Mitchell (6'5''-G-2002, played in 2021-24) plays for Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA
Jalen Canty (6'8''-F-1995, played in 2016-18) plays for Valdivia in Chilean LNB
Alan Williams (6'8''-C-1993, played in 2011-15) played for Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in Japanese B.Premier League
Jay Nagle (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2018-22) signed for Caledonia Gladiators in British SLB
Robinson Idehen (6'10''-F-1997, played in 2018-22) signed for Clavijo in Spanish Segunda FEB
Zack Moore (6'5''-G-1997, played in 2017-17) plays for Yokohama Excellence in Japanese B.One League
Max Murrell (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2024-25) played for Holbaek-Stenhus in Danish BasketLigaen
Alex Hart (6'11''-C/F-1995, played in 2013-13) played for Red Devils in Swiss NLB
Ar'Mond Davis (6'6''-G/F-1995, played in 2018-19) signed for Antranik in Lebanese DLBL
Aidan Mahaney (6'3''-G-2003, played in 2025-26) played for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Summer League
Michael Bryson (6'4''-G-1994, played in 2012-16) played for Marinos in Venezuelan LSB
Matt Freeman (6'10''-F-1997, played in 2019-20) plays for Franklin Bulls in New Zealand NBL
Jaquori McLaughlin (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2018-21) played for Valley Suns in the NBA G League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of California Santa Barbara basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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