Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Bulldogs players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. In a thrilling match on Monday night, the towering Mike Edwards, a 6'9'' center who graduated from Georgia in 2019 and now plays professionally in Bulgaria, showcased his talent by leading Rilski to a hard-fought 100-94 victory over the closely-ranked Cherno More team in the Bulgarian National Basketball League. In this highly anticipated game between two top 4 ranked teams, Edwards proved to be a key player, scoring 14 points and grabbing 3 rebounds in just 27 minutes of play. This significant win marked Rilski's sixth consecutive victory in a row, further solidifying their strong position in the league. Currently sitting at the top of the standings with a record of 25-5, Rilski Sportist Samokov is demonstrating their dominance under Edwards' leadership in his first season with the team. With an average of 11.2 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game in the 39 games he has played this season, Edwards has been a consistent and valuable asset to his team. His stellar performance against Cherno More highlighted his skills and determination as a true champion on the court, contributing to his team's success and cementing his status as a standout player in the league.
#2. Braelen Bridges, a towering 6'11'' center and a 27-year-old Bulldogs alumnus from the class of 2023, showcased his professional skills in Australia as he took the court for the West Adelaide Bearcats in their recent game. Despite Bridges' remarkable efforts, the eighth-placed West Adelaide Bearcats (3-9) fell short by a narrow margin of 97-95 against the higher-ranked (#4) Woodville Warriors in the Central group. In this challenging game, Bridges displayed his prowess by recording a double-double, scoring an impressive 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Additionally, he showcased his defensive abilities with 2 blocks, all within 34 minutes of play. Such a performance is truly commendable, especially considering that he is only in his third season of professional basketball. Facing off against the formidable Woodville Warriors, Bridges left it all on the court, contributing significantly with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists. Despite his outstanding individual performance, his team could not secure the win on this occasion. Nevertheless, Bridges' exceptional skills and dedication to the game rightfully earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, underscoring his status as a champion player. Throughout the season, Bridges has maintained high statistics, averaging an impressive 18.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game across the 12 games he has played so far. His consistent performance and valuable contributions on the court continue to solidify his reputation as a finalist player in the league.
#3. Experienced champion Trey Thompkins, a 6'10'' forward who graduated from Georgia in 2011 and received the All-SEC First Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Taiwan. In the recent game, Thompkins, despite his impressive performance, couldn't prevent the Formosa Dreamers (22-14) from suffering a heavy 109-84 defeat on the road against the lower-ranked (#5) Kings. Throughout the game, Thompkins showcased his skills by recording a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in just 32 minutes of play. Despite Thompkins' notable contributions, such as scoring 19 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, and providing 2 assists against the Kings, the Dreamers ultimately fell short of securing the victory. Individually, Thompkins has been having a standout season with impressive statistics. He boasts an average of 15.7 points per game, 9.1 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, and 1.5 steals per game (ranking fourth best in the league) across 24 games.
#4. In the recent game, Aaron Cook, a 6'2'' guard and 28-year-old Bulldogs alumnus from 2022 who currently plays professionally in New Zealand, showcased his skills for Taranaki Airs (3-7). Despite his exceptional performance, the Airs faced a tough 77-89 defeat against the higher-ranked (#7) Jets in Palmerston North. Cook had an impressive double-double, scoring 13 points and delivering 11 assists, while also contributing 4 steals during his 38 minutes on the court. Despite his notable efforts, the Airs suffered their sixth consecutive loss. Throughout the season, Cook has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game, ranking him as the second-best in the league in steals. His consistent performance on the court highlights his value as a key player for the team.
Other former University of Georgia players, who play in pro basketball:
Anthony Edwards (6'5''-G-2001, played in 2019-20) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
Nicolas Claxton (6'11''-F/C-1999, played in 2017-19) plays for Brooklyn Nets in the NBA
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (6'5''-G-1993, played in 2011-13) plays for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Asa Newell (6'1''-F-2005, played in 2024-25) plays for Atlanta Hawks in the NBA
Rayshaun Hammonds (6'9''-C-1998, played in 2017-20) plays for Hyundai Mobis Phoebus in South Korean KBL
Nemanja Djurisic (6'8''-PF-1992, played in 2011-15) plays for SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels in German BBL
John Florveus (6'11''-C-1990, played in 2009-13) plays for Spartak Pleven in Bulgarian NBL
Gerald Robinson (6'1''-G-1989, played in 2009-09) plays for Cantu in Italian Serie A
Dakota Leffew (6'5''-G, played in 2024-25) plays for Lavrio in Greek Elite League
Savo Drezgic (6'4''-G-2006, played in 2024-25) plays for Mega BG in Serbian KLS
Mardrez McBride (6'2''-G, played in 2022-23) plays for Cimarrones del Choco in Colombian LBP
Noah Thomasson (6'3''-G-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Arriva Polski Cukier Torun in Polish OBL
Terry Roberts (6'3''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Ostioneros de Guaymas in Mexican CIBACOPA
Tyree Crump (6'1''-G-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Al Shamal in Qatari QBL
Derek Ogbeide (6'9''-F/C-1997, played in 2015-19) plays for Hapoel Haifa in Israeli National League
Jabri Abdur-Rahim (6'8''-G-2002, played in 2021-24) plays for Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League
Yante Maten (6'7''-F-1996, played in 2014-18) plays for San-en NeoPhoenix in Japanese B1 League
Terrance Woodbury (6'8''-G-1987, played in 2005-09) plays for Fukuoka Rizing in Japanese B2 League
Tyrin Lawrence (6'4''-G, played in 2024-25) plays for Surrey 89ers in British SLB
J.J. Frazier (5'10''-PG-1995, played in 2013-17) plays for Absheron in Azerbaijani ABL
Travis Leslie (6'4''-F/G-1990, played in 2008-11) plays for Inowroclaw in Polish 1Liga
Jordan Harris (6'5''-G-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for IHC Apes in Mongolian MBL
Russell Tchewa (7'0''-C-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Shanghai in Chinese NBL
Jailyn Ingram (6'7''-F-1997, played in 2021-23) played for Tachikawa Dice in Japanese B3 League few monts ago
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Georgia basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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