Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Eagles alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Hunter Hale, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from Winthrop in 2020, is currently playing professionally in Italy for Itelyum Varese. In a recent game against Scafati, one of the league's weaker teams with a record of 0-2, Hale led his team to an 85-77 victory. He displayed an exceptional performance, scoring 25 points, securing 2 rebounds, and providing 6 assists in just 28 minutes of play. Unsurprisingly, he was named the MVP of the game, highlighting his abilities as a champion. Despite Itelyum Varese being placed eighth in the league with a record of 1-1, it is still early in the season, and there is room for improvement and changes in the standings. This marks Hale's first year with the team, and he has already made a significant impact with his impressive individual statistics. So far, he has been averaging 19.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game, showcasing his talent and potential as a finalist in the league.
#2. K.J. Doucet, a 6'7'' forward and 23-year-old Eagles alumni from 2025, is currently playing professionally in the Czech Republic. Recently, he led USK Praha to a resounding 105-89 victory over the closely-ranked Srsni Pisek (3-2) in the Czech Republic Maxa NBL. In this game held on a Saturday night, Doucet's exceptional performance earned him the MVP title. He showcased his skills by scoring an impressive 36 points, securing 8 rebounds, and providing 4 assists, all within 34 minutes of play. This remarkable display is even more noteworthy considering that Doucet is only in his second season of professional basketball. With this outstanding performance, he emerged as the champion of the game, greatly contributing to his team's success. Despite USK Praha's current placement as eighth in the league with a record of 2-3, Doucet's individual achievements shine brightly. He has been having an exceptional season with impressive stats, averaging 18.8 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 2.6 assists per game in the five games he has played thus far. Doucet's remarkable skills and contribution to his team's victories position him as a standout finalist in the league.
#3. Australian Xavier Cooks, a 6'8'' forward who graduated from Winthrop in 2018 and received the All-Big South Conference Player of the Year award that same year, currently plays professionally in Australia. In a recent game, he led the Sydney Kings to a convincing 93-78 victory over the fifth-ranked Bullets by contributing 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in 27 minutes of play. With this win, the Sydney Kings (3-0) secured the top spot in the league standings, having won all three games in the Regular Season. Cooks showcased an exceptional performance against Brisbane, making significant contributions on both ends of the court with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. His stellar display undoubtedly played a pivotal role in guiding his team to success. With impressive season averages of 12.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game (the third best in the league), Cooks has been a key player for the Sydney Kings this season.
#4. Nick Johnson, a 6'4'' guard who is 25 years old and an Eagles alum from 2025, played a crucial role in helping his team reach the final of the Big South Conference Tournament that year. Currently playing professionally in Lithuania, Johnson unfortunately could not lead Jonava to victory in their recent game. Despite his standout performance, Jonava suffered a tough 79-63 loss at home to the higher-ranked (#4) Siauliai. Johnson was the standout performer for Jonava, scoring 15 points in 34 minutes of play. This performance was commendable, especially considering he is only in his second season of professional basketball. Against Siauliai, Johnson displayed his skills by contributing 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. However, his individual efforts were not enough to secure a win for his team. Individually, Johnson is having an impressive season with high statistics. He currently leads the league in scoring with an average of 21.3 points per game. In addition to his scoring prowess, he is also averaging 3.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, ranking fourth in the league in steals. Despite the team's recent setback, Johnson's performance on the court has been noteworthy throughout the season.
#5. Joshua Ferguson, a 6'8'' power forward who graduated from Winthrop in 2020, has been making a significant impact in the Argentinian La Liga as a professional player. Recently, he played a key role in Argentino's victory over the 14th-ranked Ferro in a Wednesday night game. Despite it being his first game for Argentino this season, Ferguson demonstrated his prowess by contributing 7 points and 10 rebounds in just 24 minutes of play. His performance was instrumental in securing the win for his team and highlighting his abilities as a champion player. Currently, his team is positioned third in the league standings with only four games remaining in the Regular Season. With every game becoming increasingly critical, Ferguson's skills and contributions will be vital in helping his team maintain their position and potentially advance further in the league.
#6. Tommy Kamarad, a 6'8'' forward and 25-year-old Eagles alum from 2026, showcased his talents by helping his team reach the final of the Big South Conference Tournament in that year. Currently, Kamarad is playing professionally in Germany for VfL SparkassenStars Bochum. In a recent game against the Giessen 46ers, despite his solid performance of 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist in 25 minutes, Bochum suffered a tough loss on the road, falling 94-78 to the higher-ranked (#6) 46ers. Kamarad's contributions on the court have been noteworthy this season, as he is averaging 9.3 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game in the three games he has played so far. Though his individual efforts have been impressive, Kamarad's team has faced challenges in securing victories.
#7. Kareem Rozier, a 21-year-old point guard standing at 5'9" who graduated from Winthrop in 2026, is currently playing professionally in Kosovo. Recently, Rozier, an All-Big South Conference Second Team awardee, played a match where his team Rahoveci faced off against Bora. Despite his valiant efforts, Rozier couldn't lead his team to victory against Bora, as they were defeated by a significant margin of 19 points, with a final score of 84-65. During the game, Rozier showcased his skills by contributing 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in 29 minutes of play. His individual performance was notable, considering his overall stats this season, averaging 11.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in the three games played so far. Although Rozier's performance was commendable, his team was unable to secure the win. Despite the setback, Rozier continues to demonstrate his capabilities as a promising player in the league.
#8. Italian champion Micheal Anumba, a 6'4'' guard and 27-year-old Eagles alumnus from 2024, currently playing professionally in Italy, unfortunately could not lead Cremona (0-2) to victory in their recent game. Despite his commendable performance, Cremona fell short with a close 87-84 loss to the much higher-ranked (#6) Pesaro on their home court. Anumba showcased his skills by contributing 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist during the game against Pesaro. Despite his efforts, the final result did not go in Cremona's favor. Throughout this season, Anumba has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game over the course of two games.
Other former Winthrop University players, who play in pro basketball:
Kasen Harrison (6'2''-G-2002, played in 2022-25) signed for Bigbank/Kalev in Estonian KML
Andre Jones (6'3''-G-1990, played in 2008-12) signed for Voluntari in Romanian Liga Nationala
Kelton Talford (6'7''-F, played in 2020-25) plays for Stella Artois Leuven Bears in Belgian Pro Basketball League
Jarad Scott (6'8''-PF -1995, played in 2013-16) played for Pelican BF in Bahamas GBBA
Drew Buggs (6'3''-G-1997, played in 2021-22) plays for Cuenca BC in Ecuadorian Liga Basquet Pro
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Winthrop University basketball alumni.
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