Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Fighting Gamecocks alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Look at great performance of Ta'Lon Cooper (23 points), Mindaugas Kacinas (8 points), and James Reese V (19 points).
#1. Ta'Lon Cooper, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from South Carolina in 2024 and received the All-SEC Second Team award that same year, is currently playing professionally in Cyprus. In the recent game, although he played well, he was unable to help his team, AEK Larnaca, secure a victory against the second-ranked team, Keravnos. Despite the loss, Cooper showcased his skills by scoring 23 points and contributing 3 assists in 36 minutes of play. This performance is particularly notable considering that Cooper is only in his second season of professional basketball and it is his first year with the team. Throughout the season, Cooper has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in the 33 games he has played so far. His consistent performance on the court highlights his potential as a rising champion in the basketball world.
#2. Experienced Lithuanian player Mindaugas Kacinas, who stands at 6'9'' and is 32 years old, is a former Fighting Gamecocks alummi from 2016. Known for his achievements both on and off the court, he received the CoSIDA NCAA Division I Academic All-District 4 First Team award during his college years. Currently, he is playing professionally in Poland. In a recent game, Kacinas played for Trefl Sopot, but unfortunately, they were unable to secure a victory against Dziki in the Polish Orlen Basket Liga. Despite his solid performance of scoring 8 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in 38 minutes of play, Trefl Sopot suffered a 73-88 loss on the road to the lower-ranked Dziki, who held the #5 position in the league standings. This defeat marked Trefl Sopot's first loss after a series of four consecutive victories. It's worth noting that this is Kacinas' first season with the team, and he has been showcasing his skills with an average of 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in the 31 games he has played so far this season. Despite the loss, Kacinas continues to be a standout player for his team.
#3. James Reese V, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from South Carolina in 2022 and currently plays professionally in Venezuela, showcased his skills by leading Guaiqueries to a hard-fought victory over the closely-ranked Trotamundos with a score of 87-83 in the Venezuelan Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto last Sunday. Despite the opponent's strong record of 15-9, Reese V managed to score an impressive 19 points in just 26 minutes of play. Guaiqueries de Margarita, currently placed fourth in the league with a matching 15-9 record, benefited greatly from Reese V's performance. In addition to his scoring prowess, Reese V also contributed 2 rebounds and 1 assist against Trotamundos. Although his individual efforts were commendable, Guaiqueries ultimately fell short in the game. Throughout the season, Reese V has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game across 31 appearances. His consistent contributions on both ends of the court have solidified his position as a key player for Guaiqueries in their quest for success in the league.
#4. Dominican Republic champion Alanzo Frink, a 6'8'' forward who is 26 years old and an alum of the Pirates from 2022, previously played in South Carolina between 2018 and 2021 before turning pro in the Dominican Republic. In their recent game, Frink was unable to help the Reales (7-7) secure a victory. Despite his solid performance, the Reales suffered a 70-75 defeat to the higher-ranked (#3) Heroes in Moca. Frink showcased his skills by scoring 10 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dishing out 1 assist in 31 minutes of play. With only two games remaining in the Regular Season, each match becomes crucial for the Reales. Frink continues to put up impressive numbers this season, averaging 6.4 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game in the 14 games he has played so far. Despite his individual success, Frink's focus remains on helping his team achieve victory and secure a spot in the playoffs.
#5. Filipino Renaldo Balkman, a 6'8'' forward/center who graduated from South Carolina in 2006 and currently plays professionally in Puerto Rico, played a key role in leading Vaqueros de Bayamon to a narrow 80-79 victory over the third-ranked Gigantes. In this highly anticipated matchup between two top 3 teams in Group B of the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional, Balkman showcased his skills as a finalist by contributing 5 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 25 minutes of play. His performance against the formidable Gigantes team was truly outstanding, with his crucial plays helping Vaqueros de Bayamon secure the important victory. As a champion, Balkman's impact on the court was undeniable, and his impressive statistics for the game highlighted his value to the team. This season, Balkman has been averaging 8.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game over the course of 23 games. It is also noteworthy that Balkman holds American and Filipino citizenship, allowing him to play as a domestic player in the Philippines if he chooses to do so in the future.
#6. Gabonese champion Chris Silva, a 6'9'' power forward who is 29 years old and an alum of the Fighting Gamecocks from 2019, currently plays professionally in Turkey. Despite his talents, Silva was unable to lead Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul to victory against Olympiacos. The recent game on Friday was not one of his standout performances as he only scored 2 points in 9 minutes on the court. Regrettably, his team suffered a significant 18-point loss with a final score of 79-61. In the match against Olympiacos, Silva managed to contribute 2 points and 1 rebound, but his efforts were not enough to secure the win for his team. Throughout this year, Silva has been averaging 4.4 points per game and 1.7 rebounds per game across 16 games.
#7. Jamarii Thomas, a 6'0'' point guard aged 23, graduated from South Carolina in 2025 and currently plays professionally in Poland. In a recent game, his team MKS Dabrowa Gornicza faced off against Legia but unfortunately could not secure the win. Despite his best efforts, Thomas could not lead his team to victory. In the match, he managed to score 3 points and grab 4 rebounds in just 7 minutes of playtime. The final score saw his team falling short with a score of 86-98 against Legia. Although Thomas put up a commendable performance with his 3 points and 4 rebounds, he acknowledged that Thursday's game was not one of his best showings. Despite the loss, Thomas continues to showcase his skills this season, averaging 8.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in the 13 games played so far.
#8. Sindarius Thornwell, a 6'5'' guard and 31-year-old alum of the Fighting Gamecocks from 2017, who received the All-SEC Player of the Year award that same year, currently plays professionally in Mexico. In a recent game, he played a pivotal role in Astros de Jalisco's victory over the seventh-ranked Caballeros de Culiacan with a final score of 94-80 in the Mexican Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacifico last Tuesday. Thornwell showcased his skills by scoring 17 points, securing 6 rebounds, providing 6 assists, and making 3 steals in just 30 minutes of gameplay. His exceptional performance against Culiacan, where he demonstrated his scoring ability, rebounding prowess, and playmaking skills, was instrumental in his team's triumph. Thornwell's valuable contributions on the court were crucial in securing the win, further solidifying his reputation as a champion. Throughout the season, Thornwell has maintained strong statistics, averaging 12.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game over 23 appearances.
#9. Venezuelan basketball champion Michael Carrera, a 6'5'' forward aged 33, graduated from South Carolina in 2016 and received the USBWA All-District III Team award that same year. Currently playing professionally in Venezuela, Carrera recently showcased his skills in a game where his team, the Spartans, faced off against the lower-ranked Marinos in a highly anticipated derby match. Despite Carrera's stellar performance, scoring 18 points and grabbing 9 rebounds in 33 minutes of play, the Spartans ultimately fell to the Marinos with a final score of 58-73. Carrera's standout performance against the Marinos highlighted his scoring ability and tenacity on the boards, contributing significantly to the game. Throughout the season, Carrera has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game across 27 appearances. While Carrera's individual efforts have been impressive, the Spartans will look to regroup and bounce back from this defeat as they continue their journey in the league.
#10. Canadian Duane Notice, a 6'2'' guard and 31-year-old finalist of the Fighting Gamecocks alumni from 2017, showcased his talent as a champion by leading the Vancouver Bandits to a 111-101 victory against the Surge in the Canadian Elite Basketball League last Sunday. Notice played a key role in the game, contributing 12 points and 2 rebounds in 25 minutes of play. His impressive performance, including a notable 12-point contribution against Calgary, was instrumental in securing the win for his team. Notice's consistent display of skill and determination on the court this year has been reflected in his average of 4.8 points per game across four games, further solidifying his reputation as a champion.
Other former University of South Carolina players, who play in pro basketball:
PJ Dozier Jr (6'6''-G/F-1996, played in 2015-17) plays for Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Turkish BSL
G.G. Jackson II (6'9''-SF-2004, played in 2024-25) plays for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
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
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
Brandis Raley-Ross (6'3''-SG-1987, played in 2006-10) plays for Saigon Heat in Vietnamese VBA
Justin Minaya (6'6''-SF-1999, played in 2017-21) plays for Osceola Magic in the NBA G League
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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