Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Gators alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Kevarrius Hayes (10 points), Walter Hodge Jr. (7 points), and Tyrese Samuel (18 points).
#1. In a recent match between AS Monaco Basket and Paris Basket in the French Betclic ELITE league, Central Africa's Kevarrius Hayes, a 6'9'' center aged 29, who graduated from Florida in 2019 and currently plays professionally in France, made a significant impact. Hayes' contribution was crucial in AS Monaco Basket's 96-84 victory over the closely-ranked Paris Basket, with Hayes scoring 10 points and making 3 steals in just 18 minutes of play. This game, which pitted two top 4 ranked teams against each other, was a standout match of the round. AS Monaco Basket, currently leading the league with a record of 23-7, showcased their strength in this intense competition. Despite this being Hayes' first season with the team, his performance on the court was exceptional, proving instrumental in securing the win and establishing himself as a finalist. Hayes' impressive stats for the season further highlight his talent, averaging 7.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game in the 35 games he has played thus far. It is worth noting that although he is of Central African origin, Hayes is a naturalized American, bringing a unique blend of skills and experience to the team.
#2. Experienced U.S. Virgin Islands champion Walter Hodge Jr., who stands at 6 feet tall and is a 39-year-old point guard, is a notable alum of the Gators from 2009. Currently playing professionally in Puerto Rico, Hodge Jr. recently made significant contributions to Cangrejeros de Santurce's victory over the fifth-ranked Mets with a score of 99-92 in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional last Monday. During the game, he showcased his skills by scoring 7 points and making 6 assists in just 17 minutes of play. Cangrejeros de Santurce, holding a record of 15-15, currently occupies the fourth position in Group B. The recent win marked his team's fourth consecutive victory, highlighting their strong performance in the league. With only four games remaining in the Regular Season, each upcoming match holds crucial importance for the team's standing. In a recent game against Guaynabo, Hodge Jr. delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 7 points, securing 1 rebound, and distributing 6 assists, ultimately leading his team to another victory. His exceptional display on the court further solidified his reputation as a true champion. Throughout the season, Hodge Jr. has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.7 points, 1.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in the 19 games he has played so far. It is noteworthy that he holds dual citizenship of both American and U.S. Virgin Islands, allowing him to play in U.S. Virgin Islands competitions as a domestic player.
#3. Canadian Tyrese Samuel, a 6'10'' forward/center who graduated from Florida in 2024 after helping them reach the final of the SEC Tournament that year, is now playing professionally in Canada. Recently, he led the Vancouver Bandits to a dominant victory over the Honey Badgers with a score of 102-81 in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. In this game, Samuel showcased his skills by achieving a double-double, scoring 18 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and contributing 3 blocks in just 25 minutes of play. This remarkable performance is even more impressive considering that Samuel is only in his second season of professional basketball. Despite the Vancouver Bandits holding a rather modest 8-4 record this season, Samuel's individual achievements stand out. He is currently averaging 19.1 points per game, 9.1 rebounds per game (ranking third best in the league), and 2.3 assists per game across 10 games. In a recent game against Brampton, Samuel once again displayed his talent by scoring 18 points, securing 10 rebounds, and providing 1 assist, leading his team to victory as the finalist.
#4. In the recent game, the Ottawa Blackjacks, led by Alex Fudge, faced a tough challenge against the Shooting Stars and unfortunately suffered a heavy defeat with a score of 108-80. Despite Fudge's commendable performance, where he contributed 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 blocks in just 25 minutes of play, the team was unable to secure a victory. This game marked the Blackjacks' fourth consecutive loss, reflecting a challenging period for the team. Despite the team's struggles, Alex Fudge showcased his talent and potential as a player, especially considering that he is only in his third season of professional basketball. His performance in the game against Scarborough, where he scored 16 points, collected 4 rebounds, and provided 2 assists, highlighted his versatility and skills on the court. However, despite his individual contributions, the Blackjacks were unable to clinch a win in that match. Throughout the season, Fudge has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and leading the league with 2.0 blocks per game in the 10 games played so far. As a young player with promising abilities, Fudge continues to make significant contributions to his team despite facing challenges and tough competition in the league.
Other former University of Florida players, who play in pro basketball:
Scottie Wilbekin (6'2''-G-1993, played in 2010-14) plays for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Turkish BSL
Egor Koulechov (6'5''-G/F-1994, played in 2017-18) plays for Hapoel Shlomo Tel-Aviv in Israeli Winner League
Wilfried Yeguete (6'8''-C/F-1991, played in 2010-14) plays for Le Mans Sarthe Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Nick Calathes (6'5''-PG-1989, played in 2007-09) signed for PAOK in Greek GBL
Samson Ruzhentsev (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2020-21) plays for CSKA in Russian VTB United League
Will Richard (6'4''-G-2002, played in 2022-25) plays for Golden State Warriors in the NBA
Alijah Martin (6'2''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Toronto Raptors in the NBA
Dorian Finney-Smith (6'7''-F-1993, played in 2012-12) plays for Houston Rockets in the NBA
Al Horford (6'9''-C/F-1986, played in 2004-07) plays for Golden State Warriors in the NBA
Tre Mann (6'4''-G-2001, played in 2019-21) plays for Charlotte Hornets in the NBA
Walter Clayton Jr. (6'3''-G-2003, played in 2023-25) plays for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Zyon Pullin (6'4''-G-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
Bradley Beal (6'4''-G-1993, played in 2011-12) plays for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA
Colin Castleton (6'10''-C/F-2000, played in 2020-23) plays for Orlando Magic in the NBA
Kenny Boynton (6'2''-PG-1991, played in 2009-22) played for Zhejiang Guangsha Lions in Chinese CBA few monts ago
John Egbunu (6'11''-C-1994, played in 2014-14) plays for Hyundai Mobis Phoebus in South Korean KBL
Devin Robinson (6'8''-F-1995, played in 2014-17) plays for Casademont Zaragoza in Spanish Liga Endesa
Chris Chiozza (6'0''-PG-1995, played in 2014-18) plays for Cantu in Italian Serie A
Kyle Lofton (6'3''-G-1999, played in 2022-23) plays for EWE Baskets Oldenburg in German BBL
Phlandrous Fleming Jr. (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2021-23) plays for Sluc Nancy Basket Pro in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Kerry Blackshear Jr. (6'10''-F-1997, played in 2019-20) plays for Gunma Crane Thunders in Japanese B1 League
Casey Prather (6'6''-F/G-1991, played in 2010-14) plays for Brisbane Bullets in Australian NBL
KeVaughn Allen (6'2''-G-1995, played in 2015-19) plays for BBC Bayreuth in German ProA
Brandon McKissic (6'3''-F-1999, played in 2021-22) plays for CSM Steaua Bucuresti in Romanian Liga Nationala
Myreon Jones (6'3''-G-2000, played in 2023-23) plays for VfL SparkassenStars Bochum in German ProA
Anthony Duruji (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2019-19) played for Saint Chamond Basket Valle du Gier in French ProB last year
Scottie Lewis (6'5''-G-2000, played in 2019-21) plays for Johor Tigers in Malaysian MBL
Jason Jitoboh (6'11''-C-2001, played in 2019-23) plays for Heroes in Venezuelan SPB
Chris Walker (6'10''-PF-1994, played in 2013-15) played for Osceola Magic in the NBA G League last year
Alex Tyus (6'8''-C-1988, played in 2007-11) plays for Bordo in Turkish TBL
Corey Brewer (6'9''-G/F-1986, played in 2004-07) played for Houston Rig Hands in the Big3 last year
Michael Frazier II (6'4''-G-1994, played in 2012-15) plays for Taipei Taishin Mars in Taiwanese TPBL
Jalen Hudson (6'6''-G/F-1996, played in 2016-16) plays for Hefei in Chinese NBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Florida basketball alumni.
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