Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Buffaloes players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Experienced Andre Roberson, a 6'7'' forward at 34 years old who graduated from Colorado in 2013 and received the USBWA All-District VIII Player of the Year award, is currently playing professionally in Russia. In a thrilling match on Monday night, Roberson played a key role in Zenit's narrow 82-80 victory over Lokomotiv, a closely-ranked opponent with a record of 27-13 in the VTB United League. During the game, Roberson showcased his skills by contributing 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 26 minutes of play. The highly anticipated matchup featured two top 4 ranked teams, with Zenit Saint Petersburg (28-12) currently holding the third spot in the league standings. This season marks Roberson's debut with the team, and he has been making a significant impact on the court. His exceptional performance against Lokomotiv demonstrated his versatility and leadership, ultimately helping Zenit secure the important victory. With an impressive season average of 9.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, Roberson has proven to be a valuable asset for his team. His consistent contributions and standout plays exemplify the qualities of a true champion, further solidifying his reputation as a skilled and determined finalist.
#2. McKinley Wright IV, a 6'0'' point guard and alumni of the Buffaloes class of 2021, is currently playing professionally in the United Arab Emirates. Recently, he showcased his skills in a significant game against league leaders Buducnost, helping his team secure a dominant 103-77 victory in the AdmiralBet ABA League. Wright IV's impressive performance included scoring 7 points, making 5 assists, and recording 3 steals in just 24 minutes of play. The match was a highly anticipated showdown between two top 4 ranked teams, with BC Dubai (21-3) leading the league. This win marked Wright IV's team's third consecutive victory, highlighting their strong form this season. Despite it being his first season with the team, Wright IV has already made a notable impact with his averages of 8.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. In the game against Buducnost, Wright IV's contributions were pivotal in the victory, solidifying his position as the champion of the game. His all-around performance, including scoring, rebounding, and facilitating the offense, demonstrated his versatility and value to the team.
#3. Shane Gatling, a 28-year-old guard standing at 6'2'' who graduated from Colorado in 2020 and currently plays professionally in New Zealand, showcased his exceptional skills as he led the Nelson Giants to a 94-85 victory over the Hawks, who are currently struggling in the league with a 2-9 record. In the game held on Thursday night in the New Zealand National Basketball League, Gatling's remarkable performance earned him the title of MVP, scoring an impressive 29 points in just 36 minutes of play. Notably, he displayed flawless accuracy from the free-throw line, going a perfect 8-for-8. Despite the Nelson Giants being placed ninth in the league with a 3-7 record, Gatling's standout performance against the Hawks marked a significant turning point for his team, securing their first win after enduring five consecutive losses. His 29 points, coupled with 1 rebound and 2 assists, not only propelled his team to victory but also solidified his position as the champion of the game. Throughout the season, Gatling has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 27.5 points per game, along with 1.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists. His consistent high-level performance reflects his dedication and skill on the court. As a former participant in the prestigious Eurobasket Summer League, known for attracting top talent seeking opportunities to play basketball internationally, Gatling's success in the New Zealand National Basketball League further underscores his talent and potential as a standout player in the league.
#4. Belgian champion Thomas Akyazili, a 6'3'' shooting guard, is a 29-year-old professional basketball player currently playing in Turkey. A former Buffaloes alumnus from 2017, Akyazili showcased his skills for Erokspor but couldn't assist his team in overcoming Fenerbahce, the current finalist with a record of 25-5 in the Turkish ING Basketbol Super Ligi. In a disappointing defeat for Erokspor at 96-73, Akyazili managed to score 3 points in 9 minutes during the game. Although he displayed his determination and talent on the court, it wasn't enough to secure a win for his team. This game, where Akyazili scored 3 points, was not one of his standout performances. Throughout the season, Akyazili has been averaging 1.3 points per game.
Other former University of Colorado players, who play in pro basketball:
Spencer Dinwiddie (6'6''-PG-1993, played in 2011-14) plays for FC Bayern Muenchen Basketball in German BBL
Andrej Jakimovski (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Dolomiti Energia Trentino in Italian Serie A
Lucas Siewert (6'10''-F-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Paulistano/Corpore Sao Paolo in Brazilian NBB
Askia Booker (6'1''-G-1993, played in 2011-15) played for Shenzhen Leopards in Chinese CBA few monts ago
Tristan Da Silva (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2020-24) plays for Orlando Magic in the NBA
Jabari Walker (6'8''-F-2002, played in 2020-22) plays for Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA
KJ Simpson Jr. (6'1''-G-2002, played in 2021-24) plays for Denver Nuggets in the NBA
Cody Williams (6'7''-F-2004, played in 2023-24) plays for Utah Jazz in the NBA
Derrick White (6'4''-G-1994, played in 2015-15) plays for Boston Celtics in the NBA
Alec Burks (6'6''-SG-1991, played in 2009-11) played for Miami Heat in the NBA last year
Tyler Bey (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2017-20) plays for Trotamundos in Venezuelan SPB
D'Shawn Schwartz (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2017-21) plays for Rostock Seawolves in German BBL
George King (6'6''-G/F-1994, played in 2013-14) plays for VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier in German BBL
Julian Hammond III (6'2''-G-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Vrsac in Serbian KLS
Wesley Gordon (6'9''-C/F-1994, played in 2012-12) plays for Tauron GTK Gliwice in Polish OBL
Xavier Johnson (6'7''-PF-1993, played in 2012-17) plays for Hapoel Haifa in Israeli National League
Josh Fortune (6'5''-SG-1994, played in 2014-17) plays for Randers in Danish BasketLigaen
Lazar Nikolic (6'7''-SG-1999, played in 2015-19) plays for Valur in Icelandic Subway League
Ethan Wright (6'3''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Caledonia Gladiators in British SLB
Trevor Baskin (6'9''-F-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Nuernberg Falcons BC in German ProA
Josh Scott (6'11''-C/F-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Okayama Try Hoop in Japanese B3 League
Xavier Talton (6'2''-G-1994, played in 2012-16) played for Cashville in the P&G League in Miami last year
Marcus Hall (6'1''-G-1985, played in 2003-06) played for Team Heartfire in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Colorado basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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