Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Fighting Gamecocks players who continue their career in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of PJ Dozier Jr (17 points), James Reese V (16 points), and Alanzo Frink (8 points).
#1. PJ Dozier Jr, a 6'6'' guard/forward who graduated from South Carolina in 2017 and currently plays professionally in Turkey, showcased his skills in the recent game for Anadolu Efes Istanbul. Even though he delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 17 points and securing 5 rebounds, his team narrowly lost 60-59 to Fenerbahce, the top team in the league. Despite his impressive contributions, the champion Fenerbahce managed to edge out Anadolu Efes in a close derby match. Dozier Jr's efforts on the court were commendable as he emerged as the top scorer of the game. Throughout the season, he has maintained solid averages of 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in the 24 games he has played so far. In the face of tough competition, Dozier Jr continues to demonstrate his skills and determination, striving to help his team achieve success in the ongoing season.
#2. James Reese V, a 6'4'' guard and 27-year-old alum of the Fighting Gamecocks from 2022, showcased his skills in the Venezuelan Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto by leading Guaiqueries to a 71-64 victory over the closely-ranked Cocodrilos last Wednesday. In this highly anticipated match between two top 4 ranked teams, Reese V's stellar performance earned him the title of MVP. Scoring an impressive 16 points and grabbing 1 rebound in just 27 minutes of play, Reese V played a crucial role in securing the win for his team. This victory not only highlighted his exceptional talent but also reinforced his reputation as a champion. Currently averaging 10.0 points per game and 1.2 rebounds per game in five matches this season, Reese V continues to prove himself as a formidable finalist in the league.
#3. In a recent game in the Dominican Republic Liga Nacional de Baloncesto, the talented Dominican Republic player Alanzo Frink, a 6'8'' forward at 26 years old, showcased his skills for the Reales. Despite his best efforts, Frink could not lead his team to victory over the Metros, who are in the finalist position with a record of 13-4, while the Reales stand at 8-9. Frink managed to contribute 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist during the game, playing a total of 23 minutes. Unfortunately, the Reales, currently in first place, suffered a 78-91 defeat on the road against the Metros, who are ranked third in the Places 1-6 group. Even though Frink's performance was commendable, the Reales were unable to secure a win. With only one more game left in the Second Stage, Frink's team faces a crucial match ahead. Throughout this season, Frink has been averaging 6.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game over the course of 17 games, showing his consistency and value to the team.
#4. Experienced Filipino player Renaldo Balkman, a 6'8'' forward/center who is 41 years old and an alum of the Fighting Gamecocks class of 2006, currently plays professionally in Puerto Rico. Despite his efforts, Balkman could not lead the Vaqueros de Bayamon (16-10) to victory over the Gigantes (14-10) in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional. In the game, Balkman managed to contribute 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in 33 minutes of play. The Vaqueros de Bayamon, sitting in second place with a record of 16-10, suffered a narrow 94-93 loss to the Gigantes, who are ranked third in Group B. This defeat marked the first loss for the Vaqueros de Bayamon after a streak of three consecutive victories. Balkman displayed a commendable performance in the match against the Gigantes, showcasing his skills with 5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Despite his solid contributions, his team fell short and experienced a defeat on the court. Throughout this season, Balkman has maintained averages of 8.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game over 24 appearances. It is noteworthy that Balkman holds both American and Filipino citizenship, allowing him the flexibility to play in the Philippines as a domestic player.
#5. Sindarius Thornwell, a 6'5'' guard who graduated from South Carolina in 2017 at the age of 31, currently plays professionally in Mexico. Recently, he played a crucial role in the 2-point victory of Astros de Jalisco over the seventh-ranked Caballeros de Culiacan, with a final score of 105-103 in the Mexican Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacifico last Friday. Thornwell showcased his skills by scoring 19 points, securing 4 rebounds, and providing 2 assists in just 25 minutes of play. Astros de Jalisco, leading the league with a record of 38-2, achieved their 14th consecutive victory, with Thornwell's stellar performance contributing significantly to the team's success. His remarkable display on the court not only helped his team emerge victorious against Culiacan but also earned him the title of champion of the game. Throughout this season, Thornwell has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game across 25 games. His consistent contributions on both ends of the court have undoubtedly been instrumental in Astros de Jalisco's impressive run, positioning him as a key player for the team.
#6. Canadian Duane Notice, a 6'2'' guard who is 31 years old and an alumnus of the Fighting Gamecocks from 2017, currently plays professionally in Canada. In a recent game, Notice, a champion, was unable to lead the Vancouver Bandits to victory over the Blackjacks. Despite his efforts, Notice scored 7 points and contributed 3 assists in 20 minutes of play, but his team ultimately fell short, losing 105-114. In a commendable display of skill against Ottawa, Notice, a finalist, showcased his abilities by scoring 7 points, securing 2 rebounds, and distributing 3 assists. Nevertheless, his team was unable to secure the win. Throughout this season, Notice has maintained an average of 5.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game across seven games.
#7. Brandis Raley-Ross, a 39-year-old, 6'3'' shooting guard who graduated from South Carolina in 2010 and currently plays professionally in Vietnam, showcased an exceptional performance in the recent game for Saigon Heat. Despite his remarkable efforts, the Heat were narrowly defeated 85-82 by the lower-ranked Dolphins in Nha Trang. Raley-Ross demonstrated his skills by achieving a double-double, scoring 23 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and providing 5 assists during his 35 minutes on the court. His outstanding display against the Dolphins earned him the Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, highlighting his abilities as a champion player. Throughout the season, Raley-Ross has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 21.3 points per game (ranking fourth in the league), 9.0 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game (ranking third in the league), and 1.5 steals per game (also ranking third in the league) across four games.
Other former University of South Carolina players, who play in pro basketball:
Chris Silva (6'9''-PF-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Turkish BSL
Mindaugas Kacinas (6'8''-F-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Energa Trefl Sopot in Polish OBL
Collin Murray-Boyles (6'7''-F-2005, played in 2023-25) plays for Toronto Raptors in the NBA
A.J. Lawson (6'6''-SG-2000, played in 2018-23) plays for Toronto Raptors in the NBA
G.G. Jackson II (6'9''-SF-2004, played in 2024-25) plays for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Jamarii Thomas (6'0''-PG-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for MKS Dabrowa Gornicza in Polish OBL
Ta'Lon Cooper (6'4''-G-1999, played in 2023-24) plays for AEK Larnaca in Cypriot ECOMMBX BL
BJ Mack (6'8''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Niigata Albirex in Japanese B3 League
Keyshawn Bryant (6'5''-F-1999, played in 2018-22) plays for Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League
Maik-Kalev Kotsar (6'11''-C-1996, played in 2016-20) plays for Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japanese B1 League
Frank Booker (6'4''-G-1994, played in 2017-18) plays for Valur in Icelandic Subway League
Jacobi Wright (6'2''-G, played in 2021-25) plays for KK Radnicki Gorazde in Bosnia and Herzegovina Division I
Josh Gray (7'0''-C-2001, played in 2021-24) plays for Sloga Uppsala in Swedish Basketligan
Hassani Gravett (6'2''-G-1996, played in 2016-19) plays for Sabah in Azerbaijani ABL
A.J. Wilson (6'8''-F-1997, played in 2021-22) played for Lakeside Lightning in Australian NBL One few monts ago
Justin Minaya (6'6''-SF-1999, played in 2017-21) plays for Osceola Magic in the NBA G League
Michael Carrera (6'5''-F-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Spartans in Venezuelan SPB
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of South Carolina basketball alumni.
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