Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Gauchos players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Ajare Sanni, a 6'3'' guard who graduated from UCSB in 2023 and was instrumental in helping them become Big West Regular Season Co-Champion that year, currently plays professionally in France. In a recent game, Sanni's team, Saint Thomas Basket Le Havre, faced a tough opponent in Aix-Maurienne and unfortunately suffered a loss with a score of 85-100 on the road. Despite the defeat, Sanni stood out as the top scorer of the game, contributing 19 points and 5 assists in just 28 minutes of play. Although the season is still in its early stages, Sanni has been showcasing an outstanding individual performance, averaging 26.5 points per game (ranking him third best in the league), along with 2.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.0 steals in the two games he has played so far. His impressive display against Aix-Maurienne, where he not only scored but also grabbed 3 rebounds and facilitated 5 assists, highlights his valuable contributions to the team despite the unfortunate loss. It's worth noting that Sanni, a naturalized Nigerian, has been making a significant impact in the league with his remarkable stats, indicating a promising season ahead for both him and his team.
#2. Zach Harvey, a 25-year-old guard standing at 6'5'' and an alumnus of Gauchos from 2023, has been making a significant impact in the Italian Serie A2 league. As a member of Reale Mutua Basket Torino, he played a crucial role in their recent triumph against the 18th-ranked Pistoia, scoring an impressive 23 points in just 31 minutes of play. Despite Torino's current position at 13th in the league standings with a record of 1-1, Harvey's exceptional performance on the court has not gone unnoticed. His first season with the team has been marked by stellar contributions, culminating in a standout display against Pistoia where he not only scored 23 points but also secured 2 rebounds and provided 2 assists. Harvey's remarkable individual stats further underscore his impact this season, averaging 18.0 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game across two matches. His consistent excellence on the court solidifies his reputation as a champion player, showcasing his prowess and determination to succeed at the highest level of competition.
#3. Josh Pierre-Louis, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from UCSB in 2024 and currently plays professionally in Hungary, played a pivotal role in Szolnok's recent victory over the 12th-ranked NKA Pecs, with a final score of 74-70 in the Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnoksag I/A match on Saturday night. In an impressive display, Pierre-Louis contributed 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 28 minutes of play. This performance is particularly noteworthy as he is only in his third season of professional basketball. Szolnoki Olajbanyasz, the team Pierre-Louis plays for, is currently ranked sixth in the league, with a record of 2-1. Notably, this is Pierre-Louis' first year with the team. Against NKA Pecs, Pierre-Louis shone brightly, scoring 16 points, securing 4 rebounds, and distributing 4 assists, ultimately leading his team to victory as the champion. Pierre-Louis is having a standout season, boasting impressive averages of 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.7 steals per game, making him the league's leader in steals after three games.
#4. Mali Amadou Sow, a 27-year-old center standing at 6'9" and an alum of Gauchos from 2022, was honored as a finalist for the prestigious Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award. Currently playing professionally in Turkey, he recently showcased his skills in a remarkable game where his team, Esenler Erokspor Istanbul, secured an impressive victory against Gence with a score of 92-63 in the FIBA Europe Cup on Wednesday night. In his debut game of the season, Sow demonstrated his prowess by scoring 10 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and providing 1 assist in just 22 minutes of play. This performance was crucial in securing the win for his team, who are currently ranked third in the league. The game was highly anticipated as it featured two top 4 ranked teams battling it out, and Sow's contributions on the court proved instrumental in leading his team to victory. As a result of his outstanding performance, he was rightfully hailed as the champion of the match.
#5. Calvin Wishart, a 6'2'' guard who is 27 years old and graduated from UCSB in 2023, is currently playing professionally in Germany. Wishart played a crucial role in helping UCSB to win the Big West Regular Season Co-Champion title in 2023. He now plays for FIT/One Wuerzburg Baskets and recently contributed to their victory over the closely-ranked Telekom Baskets with a score of 83-76 in a German easyCredit BBL game on a Friday night. In the game, Wishart showcased his skills by recording 6 points and delivering 6 assists in just 24 minutes of play. Despite being in his first season with the team, his performance on the court has been commendable. FIT/One Wuerzburg Baskets currently holds the sixth position in the league with a record of 2-1. Wishart's impact goes beyond just one game. In another match against Bonn, he scored 6 points and provided 6 assists, which played a significant role in his team's victory, making them the champions of that game. Throughout this season, Wishart has been averaging 9.3 points per game, along with 3.7 assists and 2.0 steals in the three games he has played so far.
#6. Miles Norris, a 6'7'' forward and 26-year-old Gauchos alumni from 2023, played a crucial role in helping his team clinch the Big West Regular Season Co-Champion title that year. Currently, he is showcasing his skills as a professional player in Germany. In a recent matchup against Partizan while representing FC Bayern Muenchen Basketball, Norris unfortunately fell short in leading his team to victory. Despite his best efforts, including contributing 4 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists in just 13 minutes of play, his team was narrowly defeated 86-84. Despite the loss, Norris displayed commendable performance on the court. His overall season average this year stands at 3.7 points per game and 2.0 rebounds per game across three games. As a dedicated player, Norris continues to strive for excellence and make valuable contributions to his team in each game he competes in.
#7. Devearl Ramsey, a 29-year-old guard standing at 5'11'' who graduated from UCSB in 2021 after helping them secure the Big West Regular Season Champion title that year, currently plays professionally in Bulgaria. In his debut game this season for Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Ramsey faced a tough challenge against VEF Riga. Despite his remarkable performance, where he emerged as the top scorer with 21 points while also contributing 9 assists in 34 minutes of play, Lokomotiv Plovdiv suffered a crushing defeat of 106-83 at the hands of the formidable VEF Riga. Ramsey's skills and talent were on full display as he showcased his scoring ability and playmaking skills, but unfortunately, it was not enough to lead his team to victory in this matchup.
#8. Belgian champion Stephan Swenson, a 6'2'' guard who is 24 years old and an alumnus of Gauchos from 2025, currently plays professionally in Belgium. In a recent match, Swenson, despite his very good performance, could not help Oostende (0-1) secure a victory. Oostende suffered a 87-95 loss against the much higher-ranked (#4) Okapi in Aalst. Swenson, the finalist, was the standout player of the game, leading the scoring with 17 points in just 18 minutes of play. This game marked his debut appearance for Oostende this season. Alongside his scoring prowess, Swenson also contributed 2 rebounds and 1 assist during the match against Aalst. Despite his impressive individual performance, his team ultimately faced defeat in the game.
#9. Swedish Kenny Pohto, a 6'11'' forward who is 24 years old and graduated from UCSB in 2025, currently plays professionally in Lithuania. In a recent game, Pohto, an All-Big West Honorable Mention award recipient, unfortunately could not assist Juventus in their match against Unicaja in the Basketball Champions League. This performance was not one of his best, as he only managed to score 3 points in 11 minutes of play. This game marked his first appearance for Juventus this season. Regrettably, Pohto's team suffered a significant defeat, losing by 36 points with a final score of 105-69 against Unicaja. Despite Pohto's contribution of 3 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists, Juventus was unable to emerge victorious in the game.
#10. Jay Nagle, a 6'9'' forward and Bengals alumnus from 2023, previously played for UCSB between 2018 and 2022 before turning professional in the United Kingdom. Despite his efforts, he was unable to propel the Caledonia Gladiators to victory against the Newcastle Eagles in the British Super League Basketball. Nagle managed to contribute 5 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in the game, but his team suffered a crushing defeat, losing by 24 points with a final score of 91-67. Despite this setback, Nagle has been averaging 5.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in the current season, showcasing his skills and determination as a player.
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
Max Heidegger (6'3''-G-1997, played in 2016-20) signed for Hapoel Shlomo Tel-Aviv in Israeli Winner League
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
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
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
Aidan Mahaney (6'3''-G-2003, played in 2025-26) played for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Summer League
Jaquori McLaughlin (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2018-21) played for Valley Suns in the NBA G League
Ar'Mond Davis (6'6''-G/F-1995, played in 2018-19) signed for Antranik in Lebanese DLBL
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.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
