Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Hurricanes alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Nigerian Tonye Jekiri, a 7'0'' center aged 32, graduated from Miami, FL in 2016 and received the All-ACC Honorable Mention award that year. Currently playing professionally in Serbia, he recently led his Serbian team Partizan to a thrilling 86-84 victory over the 12th-ranked Bayern Muenchen in the Euroleague last Friday. In this game, Jekiri was named the MVP after scoring 17 points, securing 5 rebounds, and contributing 1 assist in just 18 minutes of play. His exceptional performance was pivotal in securing the win for his team, demonstrating his prowess as a champion player. KK Partizan Mozzart Bet Beograd, with a current record of 3-0, holds the fourth position in the league standings. The team has displayed strong form by winning all three of its games in the Regular Season so far. However, it is important to note that the season is still in its early stages, and there are many games to be played where anything can happen. Jekiri has been performing well this season, averaging 13.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in the three games he has played. His consistent contributions on the court highlight his value as a player and emphasize his potential to excel as a finalist in future games.
#2. Experienced champion Trey McKinney-Jones, a 6'6'' guard and Hurricanes alumnus from the class of 2013, is currently playing professionally in Japan. Most recently, he led the Gunma Crane Thunders to a notable 86-77 victory over the 13th-ranked Robots with an outstanding performance that earned him the MVP title of the game. McKinney-Jones put up an impressive 36 points, alongside 5 rebounds and 3 assists, all within 35 minutes of play. The Gunma Crane Thunders, with a perfect 4-0 record, currently hold the top spot in the Eastern Conference, having won all four games of the Regular Season thus far. This marks McKinney-Jones' seventh season with the team, and his impact on the court continues to be significant. His stellar performance against the Ibaraki R. not only showcased his exceptional skills but also contributed to his team's success as finalists. With an average of 15.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game over the season, McKinney-Jones is having an exceptional year individually, further solidifying his reputation as a top player in the league.
#3. Anthony Walker, a 6'9'' forward who is 25 years old and graduated from Indiana University in 2024, has been making waves in the Hungarian basketball scene. Despite playing in Miami, FL between 2019 and 2023, he has seamlessly transitioned to the professional league in Hungary, where he currently plays for Kometa Kaposvari KK. In a recent game, Walker was the standout player in Kaposvari's impressive victory over the tenth-ranked Duna Aszfalt, with a final score of 97-75. His stellar performance included scoring 17 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, dishing out 9 assists, and making 3 steals, all in just 23 minutes of play. This remarkable display of skill is even more impressive considering he is only in his third season of professional basketball. Thanks to Walker's contributions, Kometa Kaposvari KK currently holds the top spot in the league with a perfect 3-0 record in the Regular Season. This is Walker's first year with the team, and he has already proven himself to be a key player with an average of 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in the three games played so far. Walker's performance against Duna Aszfalt truly exemplified his capabilities as a champion on the court, leading his team to victory in spectacular fashion.
#4. In a recent game, Jalen Blackmon, a 6'3'' guard and Hurricanes alumni from 2025, showcased his talent while playing professionally in Russia for Dinamo Vladivostok. Despite his notable efforts, Dinamo V. faced a tough defeat against the leading UNICS, with a final score of 117-75. Blackmon emerged as the standout performer of the game, scoring an impressive 24 points in just 29 minutes of play, demonstrating his skill and potential in his second season as a pro basketball player. Even though the team was unable to secure a victory, Blackmon's individual performance was commendable. He not only excelled as the top scorer but also contributed with 1 rebound and 2 assists against a formidable opponent like UNICS. These statistics reflect his strong presence on the court and his ability to make an impact despite the challenging circumstances. Throughout the season, Blackmon has maintained a high level of performance, averaging 19.0 points per game and 2.5 assists per game over the course of two games. His consistent contributions and impressive stats indicate that he is a rising star in the professional basketball scene, with the potential to become a champion in the future.
#5. Matthew Cleveland, a 6'7'' guard hailing from Miami, Florida and a graduate of Miami, FL in 2025, is currently playing professionally in France. Despite his impressive individual performance, Cleveland was unable to lead Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball to victory in their recent game against Limoges CSP Elite. In the match, Cleveland showcased his skills by scoring 16 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and recording 2 blocks in 31 minutes of play. His contributions, however, were not enough to prevent Saint Quentin's 92-75 defeat on the road against the higher-ranked Limoges CSP Elite, who are currently ranked #6. This season marks Cleveland's debut with the team, and he has been a standout player with notable statistics. He has maintained an average of 15.5 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, and 2.0 steals per game across two matches. Despite the team's recent loss, Cleveland's performance continues to highlight his capabilities as a champion player on the court.
#6. Lynn Kidd, a 24-year-old former Hurricanes player from the class of 2025 standing at 6'10'' and currently playing professionally in France, showcased his talent as he led Cholet Basket to a significant 85-76 victory over Sluc Nancy, one of the weaker teams in the French Betclic ELITE league this past Saturday. In this game, Kidd was named the MVP after scoring 13 points and grabbing 5 rebounds in just 18 minutes of play. His remarkable performance against Nancy played a crucial role in securing the win for his team, solidifying his position as a standout player and ultimately earning him the prestigious title of champion. Throughout the season, Kidd has maintained solid stats, averaging 11.5 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game in the two games played so far. His consistent contributions on the court have been instrumental in his team's success, further establishing him as a key player to watch in the league.
#7. Nijel Pack, a 25-year-old point guard standing at 5'10'' who graduated from Oklahoma in 2026 and previously played in Miami, FL from 2022 to 2025, showcased his skills as he guided his Belgian team, Windrose Giants Antwerp, to a dominant victory over the 13th-ranked Belfius Mons-Hainaut in the BNXT League last Saturday. In this game, Windrose Giants Antwerp triumphed with a commanding scoreline of 100-63. In his debut game of the season for Windrose Giants Antwerp, Nijel Pack made a significant impact, contributing 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 18 minutes of play. His performance was instrumental in securing the victory for his team against Mons-Hainaut. Pack's stellar play on both ends of the court truly exemplified his capabilities as a champion in the game.
#8. Bensley Joseph, a 6'2'' guard and 24-year-old Friars alumnus from the class of 2025, previously played in Miami, FL between 2021 and 2024 before embarking on his professional basketball career in France. Although he currently plays for Stade Rochelais Basket and had an impressive performance in their recent game, he couldn't prevent his team from losing to the higher-ranked (#4) Hyeres-Toulon with a score of 97-103 on their opponent's court. During the game, Joseph showcased his skills by scoring 18 points, making him the top scorer of the match. Additionally, he contributed 3 assists in 26 minutes of play. Despite his noteworthy performance, La Rochelle was unable to secure a victory against the formidable Hyeres-Toulon team. Throughout the season, Joseph has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.5 points per game and 1.5 assists per game over the course of two matches. His consistent contributions on the court demonstrate his value as a key player for Stade Rochelais Basket as they strive to compete against tough opponents and work towards achieving success in the league.
#9. Spanish player Ivan Cruz-Uceda, a 6'10'' center/forward who graduated from Miami, FL in 2016 and currently plays professionally in Spain, was unable to lead Fuenlabrada (0-2) to victory in their recent game. Despite Cruz-Uceda's strong performance, Fuenlabrada suffered a 68-79 home defeat against the higher-ranked (#3) Gran Canaria. Cruz-Uceda showcased his skills on the court by recording a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in 30 minutes of play. His impressive stat line of 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 assist against Gran Canaria highlighted his talent and contributions to the team. Although Cruz-Uceda's outstanding efforts earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, his team ultimately fell short in the game. Nevertheless, Cruz-Uceda's exceptional display solidified his reputation as a champion player. Individually, Cruz-Uceda has been having a remarkable year with impressive statistics, averaging 17.0 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game over the course of two games. His consistent performance and contributions on the court demonstrate his prowess as a finalist player.
#10. Shane Larkin, a 34-year-old guard standing at 5'11'' and an alumnus of the Hurricanes from 2013, is currently playing professionally in Turkey. Despite scoring just 3 points in 17 minutes during his first game of the season for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Larkin's impact was undeniable. His contribution, including 1 rebound, was instrumental in securing a narrow 1-point victory (85-84) against closely-ranked Glint Korfez in the Turkish ING Basketbol Super Ligi last Sunday. Larkin, who received the All-ACC All-Tournament MVP award during his college years, showcased his experience and skill on the court, proving himself to be a true champion. It is noteworthy that Larkin holds both American and Turkish citizenship, allowing him to play in Turkey as a domestic player. His performance not only helped his team emerge victorious but also highlighted his value as a key player for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul.
Other former University of Miami players, who play in pro basketball:
Keith Stone (6'9''-F-1997, played in 2019-20) signed for Regatas in Argentinian La Liga
Tre Donaldson (6'3''-G-2003, played in 2025-26) signed for Miami Heat in the NBA
Kyshawn George (6'7''-SF-2003, played in 2023-24) plays for Washington Wizards in the NBA
Jordan Miller (6'6''-G-2000, played in 2025-25) plays for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA
Ernest Udeh Jr. (6'11''-C-2004, played in 2025-26) signed for Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA
Lonnie Walker IV (6'5''-SG-1998, played in 2017-18) signed for Denver Nuggets in the NBA
Bruce Brown (6'5''-SG-1996, played in 2016-18) plays for Denver Nuggets in the NBA
Ebuka Izundu (6'10''-C-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Crvena zvezda in Serbian KLS
Angel Rodriguez (5'11''-PG-1992, played in 2013-13) plays for Cangrejeros de Santurce in Puerto Rican BSN
Dejan Vasiljevic (6'3''-G-1997, played in 2016-20) signed for New Zealand Breakers in Australian NBL
Samuel Waardenburg (6'10''-F-1999, played in 2018-20) signed for Melbourne United in Australian NBL
Brandon Johnson (6'8''-F-2002, played in 2024-25) signed for Scafati in Italian Serie A
Charlie Moore (6'0''-PG-1998, played in 2021-22) signed for Scafati in Italian Serie A
Wooga Poplar (6'5''-G-2003, played in 2021-24) played for Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League
DeQuan Jones (6'8''-F-1990, played in 2008-12) plays for NLEX Road Warriors in Filipino PBA
Noam Dovrat (6'5''-G-2002, played in 2025-26) signed for Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona in Israeli Winner League
Kameron McGusty (6'6''-SG-1997, played in 2018-18) signed for Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japanese B.Premier League
Gary Hamilton (6'10''-C/F-1984, played in 2002-06) signed for Kagawa Five Arrows in Japanese B.One League
Rion Brown (6'6''-SF, played in 2010-14) played for Al Rayyan in Qatari QBL
Deng Gak (7'0''-C/F-1998, played in 2018-22) played for Black Fortress in Georgian Superleague
Anthony Lawrence II (6'7''-G-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Cupes in Dominican Rep. Santiago League
Isaiah Wong (6'4''-SG-2001, played in 2024-24) played for Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Summer League
Dewan Hernandez (6'11''-C/F-1997, played in 2016-18) signed for Taoyuan Pilots in Taiwanese PLeague+
Julian Gamble (6'10''-C-1989, played in 2007-07) plays for Raleigh Firebirds in the TBL
Davon Reed (6'6''-G/F-1995, played in 2013-17) played for Saga Ballooners in Japanese B.Premier League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Miami basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
