Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Runnin' Utes players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. In a thrilling Euroleague match on Wednesday night, the 27-year-old 6'7'' forward, Both Gach, a Utah graduate who now plays professionally in France, showcased his talent by leading LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket to a narrow 98-96 victory over Paris Basket. With an impressive stat line of 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists in just 27 minutes of play, Gach's impact on the game was undeniable. Despite LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket currently holding the tenth spot in the league with a record of 2-2, it's still early in the season, leaving room for potential changes in the standings. This marks Gach's debut season with the team, and his performance against Paris was nothing short of exceptional, earning him the title of the game's champion. Gach's contributions on the court have been instrumental, with an average of 7.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game across the four games he has played this season. It's worth noting that Gach, a naturalized South Sudanese player, continues to make a significant impact in the Euroleague with his skills and determination.
#2. Justin Bibbins, a 5'9'' point guard and 30-year-old former player for the Runnin' Utes, who graduated in 2018, is currently playing professionally in France. Recently, he showcased his talent in a game where his team, JDA Dijon Bourgogne, emerged victorious against Pau-Lacq-Orthez with a commanding 89-61 scoreline in the French Betclic ELITE league. In this game, Bibbins stood out by achieving a double-double, scoring 18 points and distributing 10 assists within 27 minutes of play. As a key player for JDA Dijon Bourgogne, Bibbins' exceptional performance against Pau-Lacq-Orthez not only displayed his scoring ability but also his playmaking skills, contributing significantly to his team's success. With his impressive stats this season averaging 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists (ranking him third best in the league), and 1.5 steals per game in the two matches played so far, Bibbins continues to prove himself as a standout player in the league.
#3. Finnish player Mikael Jantunen, a 6'9'' forward who recently graduated from Utah in 2021 and now plays professionally in Spain, showcased his talent by leading Real Madrid to a thrilling victory over the eighth-ranked Monbus Obradoiro with a score of 114-107 in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Despite playing for only 19 minutes, Jantunen managed to contribute significantly to his team's win by scoring 13 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in his debut game for Real Madrid this season. Currently, his team holds the second position in the league standings. This marks Jantunen's first season with Real Madrid, and his impactful performance against Obradoiro exemplifies his potential as a key player for the team as they strive to reach the final.
#4. Brandon Taylor, a 5'10'' point guard and 32-year-old Runnin' Utes alumnus from 2016, currently plays professionally in Turkey. Despite his stellar performance in the recent game, Taylor could not prevent Bursaspor Basketbol (0-2) from losing 69-78 to the formidable Turk Telekom, who held the #3 ranking at the time. During the game, Taylor emerged as the team's second-highest scorer, contributing 19 points, along with 5 rebounds and 6 assists, all within 35 minutes of play. This season marks Taylor's debut with the Bursaspor team, where he has been showcasing impressive skills. Although Taylor displayed a remarkable performance against Turk Telekom, his statistical contributions have been consistently notable throughout the season. Currently, he boasts an average of 19.5 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, 8.5 assists per game (leading the league in this category), and 2.0 steals per game across two matches.
#5. Mason Madsen, a 6'4'' guard who is 25 years old and a graduate of Utah in 2025, recently made his debut for Energa Icon Sea Czarni Slupsk in their game against Legia. Despite his noteworthy performance, where he contributed 15 points and 2 assists in just 25 minutes of play, Czarni Slupsk narrowly lost the game 79-76 on the road against the #10 ranked Legia. Madsen, a promising finalist in pro basketball, showcased his skills on the court as he demonstrated his scoring abilities. This game marked his first appearance for Energa Icon Sea Czarni Slupsk this season, and his performance as a finalist player was quite impressive, even though his team couldn't secure a victory.
#6. Rollie Worster, a 6'4'' guard and Cornhuskers alumnus from 2025, previously playing for Utah between 2021 and 2024, currently showcases his skills professionally in Bulgaria. In a recent game, he was unable to lead Spartak Pleven to victory against AEL, with his team suffering a tough defeat by 18 points with a final score of 79-61. Despite the loss, Worster stood out as the second-best scorer of the game, contributing 9 points, along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists during his 24 minutes on the court. His impressive individual performance showcased his versatility and impact on the game. Throughout the season, Worster has been consistently performing well, maintaining an average of 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game, making him a standout player in the league with his steal average leading the league.
#7. British player James Okonkwo, a 6'8'' forward aged 23, who graduated from Utah in 2026 and currently plays professionally in the United Kingdom, made a significant impact in Liverpool Basketball's recent triumph over league leaders Manchester, with a final score of 73-64 in the British Super League Basketball. In the game held on Sunday night, Okonkwo showcased his skills by scoring 7 points, securing 12 rebounds, and providing 1 assist during his 28 minutes on the court. His stellar performance was instrumental in Liverpool's victory, earning him the title of champion of the game. Throughout this season, Okonkwo has been maintaining an average of 6.0 points per game and 6.7 rebounds per game across three matches, solidifying his reputation as a key player for his team.
#8. Czech Republic native Jakub Jokl, standing at an impressive height of 6'11'' and aged 30, is a former Runnin' Utes alumni from 2018. In that year, he played a crucial role in helping his team reach the final of the NIT. Currently, he is showcasing his skills as a professional basketball player in Austria. Recently, he led the Mistelbach Mustangs to a resounding victory against the eighth-ranked United with a score of 77-63 in the Austrian Basketball Zweite Liga, which is the second division of Austrian basketball. This victory was achieved in a game played on Saturday night. During the game, Jakub Jokl displayed an impressive performance, contributing 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists in the 34 minutes that he played. This marked his debut game for the Mistelbach Mustangs this season. His remarkable performance against the Vienna United team not only highlighted his individual skills but also played a pivotal role in securing the win for his team. Jakub Jokl's exceptional abilities on the court truly exemplified his qualities as a champion, showcasing his talent and determination as a basketball player.
Other former University of Utah players, who play in pro basketball:
Jordan Loveridge (6'6''-F-1993, played in 2012-16) played for Instituto in Argentinian La Liga
Ben Carlson (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2022-24) played for VEF Riga in Latvian LBL
Delon Wright (6'5''-G-1992, played in 2013-15) played for Indiana Pacers in the NBA
Jakob Poeltl (7'0''-C/F-1995, played in 2014-16) plays for Toronto Raptors in the NBA
Lawson Lovering (7'1''-C-2003, played in 2023-25) signed for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Kyle Kuzma (6'9''-F-1995, played in 2014-17) plays for Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA
Branden Carlson (7'0''-C-1999, played in 2019-24) signed for Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA
Cole Bajema (6'7''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) played for Naestved in Danish BasketLigaen
Marco Anthony (6'6''-G-1999, played in 2021-23) plays for Santos de San Luis Potosi in Mexican LNBP
Parker Van Dyke (6'3''-SG-1994, played in 2013-19) played for Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League
Sedrick Barefield (6'2''-G-1996, played in 2016-19) plays for Blackwater Bossing in Filipino PBA
Gabe Madsen (6'6''-G-2001, played in 2021-25) played for Atlanta Hawks in the NBA Summer League
Dakarai Tucker (6'5''-SF-1994, played in 2012-16) plays for Gotham City Bockers in the The Basketball Tournament
Jason Washburn (7'0''-C-1990, played in 2009-13) played for New Taipei Kings in Taiwanese TPBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Utah basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
