Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Musketeers players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Tyrique Jones (10 points), Dante Maddox Jr. (17 points), and Jalen Reynolds (8 points).
#1. Tyrique Jones, a 6'9'' center who graduated from Xavier in 2020 and received the All-Big East Second Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Greece. In a recent match, he played a crucial role in leading his team to a convincing 94-77 victory over the closely-ranked AEK team in the Greek Stoiximan Basketball League. This game, which featured two top 4 ranked teams, was a significant matchup. Olympiacos S.F.P. Piraeus, currently at the top of the league with a perfect 24-0 record, is dominating the competition in the Semi-Finals. During the game against AEK, Jones showcased his skills by contributing 10 points and 3 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play. His performance was instrumental in his team's success, ultimately leading them to be crowned as the champion of the game. Throughout the season, Jones has been consistent, averaging 10.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, making him one of the top performers in the league. With his valuable contributions, Jones is proving to be a key player for his team as they aim for continued success in the league.
#2. Dante Maddox Jr., a 6'2'' guard and Musketeers alumnus from 2025 who currently plays professionally in Belgium, recently showcased his skills in a game where his team, Okapi Aalst, faced off against one of the league's weakest teams, Oostende. Despite his outstanding performance, where he emerged as the top scorer with 17 points and contributed 7 rebounds in 38 minutes of play, Aalst was defeated 77-83 on the road. Maddox Jr.'s noteworthy display on the court highlighted his potential, especially considering that this is his debut season in professional basketball and his first year with the team. His remarkable performance against Oostende, where he not only scored 17 points but also secured 7 rebounds and provided 1 assist, underlined his growing impact on the team. Although Maddox Jr. has been excelling individually this season, boasting impressive averages of 20.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in the six games he has played so far, his efforts have not always translated into victories for his team. Despite this setback, Maddox Jr.'s talent and contributions on the court make him a standout player to watch in the league.
#3. Experienced champion Jalen Reynolds, a 6'10'' center who is 33 years old and graduated from Xavier in 2016, showcased his skills in UNICS's recent victory against the closely-ranked Zenit (28-12), with a final score of 64-52 in the VTB United League during Thursday night's game. In an impressive performance, he contributed 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist in just 25 minutes of play. This game, considered the highlight of the round, featured two top 4 ranked teams battling it out, with UNICS Kazan (33-7) currently holding the second position in the league standings. This marks Reynolds' fourth season with the team, and his exceptional display on the court not only helped secure the win against Zenit but also solidified his status as a finalist. Throughout the season, Reynolds has maintained high-level statistics, averaging 17.9 points per game (ranking third in the league), along with 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.4 steals per game across 47 games, further proving his prowess and value as a key player for his team.
#4. In a recent game, Malcolm Bernard, a 6'6'' guard/forward and Xavier Musketeers alumnus from 2017 currently playing professionally in Estonia, played a significant role in Tartu's unexpected triumph over the league-leading Kalev/Cramo team. The final score was 85-65 in favor of Tartu. Bernard's contribution was noteworthy, as he scored 6 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and provided 5 assists during his 32 minutes on the court. Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits, currently in seventh place in the league with a record of 2-5, showcased a strong performance led by Bernard against the previously undefeated Kalev/Cramo team. His solid all-around play, including scoring, rebounding, and playmaking, was instrumental in his team's victory, allowing them to claim the champion title. Throughout the season, Bernard has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 11.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game across eight games, showcasing his consistent performance and value to the team as a finalist.
#5. Adam Kunkel, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from Xavier in 2023, played a crucial role in helping his team reach the final of the Big East Tournament that year. Now playing professionally in Spain, Kunkel recently contributed significantly to Zunder Palencia's impressive victory over the seventh-ranked Fuenlabrada, with a commanding 76-51 win in the Spanish Primera FEB (second division) during a recent game on Friday night. In this game, Kunkel showcased his skills by scoring 5 points, making 3 assists, and playing for 15 minutes. Zunder Palencia, currently ranked third in the league with a record of 25-7, achieved its fifth consecutive victory. Kunkel's performance was crucial in securing the win against Fuenlabrada, highlighting his talent and impact on the court. Throughout the season, Kunkel has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game over 23 games. His consistent performance and determination have established him as a true champion in the world of professional basketball.
#6. Kyle Castlin, a 30-year-old 6'4'' guard and Xavier Musketeers alumnus from 2019, currently playing professionally in Germany, recently faced off against the Kirchheim Knights with his team, Giessen 46ers. Despite his efforts, Castlin could not lead his team to victory as they fell short to the Knights by a close margin of 85-89. During the game, Castlin managed to score only 4 points and grab 1 rebound in 24 minutes of play. Although his individual performance was decent, it was not enough to secure the win for his team. Throughout the season, Castlin has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in 42 appearances. Despite his performance in the game against Kirchheim Knights, Castlin continues to be a key player for Giessen 46ers as they strive for success in the league.
Other former Xavier University players, who play in pro basketball:
Kaiser Gates (6'7''-F-1996, played in 2015-18) plays for Universidad Catolica de Murcia CB in Spanish Liga Endesa
Zachary Hankins (6'11''-C-1996, played in 2018-19) plays for Maccabi Playtika Tel-Aviv in Israeli Winner League
Edmond Sumner (6'6''-G-1995, played in 2014-14) plays for Guangdong Southern Tigers in Chinese CBA
Paul Scruggs (6'3''-G-1998, played in 2023-23) plays for Energa Trefl Sopot in Polish OBL
Naji Marshall (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2017-20) plays for Dallas Mavericks in the NBA
Zachary Freemantle (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2019-23) plays for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA
Dayvion McKnight (6'0''-PG-2002, played in 2023-25) plays for Siauliai in Lithuanian LKL
Marcus Foster (6'5''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels in German BBL
JP Macura (6'5''-G/F-1995, played in 2014-18) plays for Treviso in Italian Serie A
Semaj Christon (6'3''-PG-1992, played in 2012-14) plays for Udine in Italian Serie A
Travis Taylor (6'8''-C-1990, played in 2010-13) plays for AEL in Cypriot ECOMMBX BL
Bryan Griffin (6'8''-C-1998, played in 2020-21) plays for PGE Start Lublin in Polish OBL
Sean O'Mara (6'10''-F/C-1995, played in 2014-18) plays for Toyotsu Fighting Eagles Nagoya in Japanese B1 League
Trevon Bluiett (6'6''-G-1994, played in 2014-18) plays for Atomeromu in Hungarian A Division
Jack Nunge (7'0''-C/F-1999, played in 2023-23) plays for Fukushima Firebonds in Japanese B2 League
Isaiah Philmore (6'8''-F-1989, played in 2011-11) plays for Alba in Hungarian A Division
Tu Holloway (6'0''-PG-1989, played in 2008-12) played for Metros in Dominican Rep. LNB few monts ago
Kerem Kanter (6'10''-F/C-1995, played in 2017-18) plays for Seoul Samsung Thunders in South Korean KBL
Jamel McLean (6'8''-C-1988, played in 2006-11) plays for Akita Northern Happinets in Japanese B1 League
Remy Abell (6'4''-G-1992, played in 2013-13) plays for NKA Pecs in Hungarian A Division
Souley Boum (6'3''-G-1999, played in 2023-23) plays for BC Vienna in Austrian BSL
Jerome Hunter (6'8''-F-1999, played in 2021-25) plays for Raiffeisen Swans Gmunden in Austrian BSL
Darwin Davis (5'10''-PG-1993, played in 2012-15) plays for Union Rennes Basket 35 in French NM1
James Farr (6'10''-F-1992, played in 2012-16) played for Barrolle in Liberian LBA D1 last year
Josh Duncan (6'8''-F/C-1986, played in 2004-08) played for Cincinnati Warriors in the TBL last year
Nate Johnson (6'4''-PG-1998, played in 2020-22) plays for Hefei in Chinese NBL
Jordan Crawford (6'4''-G-1988, played in 2007-08) played for LA Riot in the Big3 last year
Quincy Olivari (6'3''-G-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Motor City Cruise in the NBA G League
Colby Jones (6'6''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Memphis Hustle in the NBA G League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Xavier University basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
