Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Vaqueros players who continue their career in pro basketball.
Look at great performance of Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser (8 points), Meekness Payne (19 points), and Rich Polanco (6 points).
#1. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, a 6'7'' forward who is 31 years old, graduated from UC Riverside in 2018. However, he also played for Central Arizona between 2013 and 2015, earning the All-ACCAC First Team award during that time. Currently, he is a professional basketball player in the Philippines. In a recent game, he played a key role in Talk N Text Tropang Giga's surprising victory over the league-leading Warriors with a score of 118-112. Despite only scoring 8 points in 23 minutes, his impact on the game was significant. The Talk N Text Tropang Giga, currently placed eighth in the league with a record of 6-6, benefitted from his impressive performance against NLEX, where he contributed 8 points and 3 rebounds to help secure the win. Ganuelas-Rosser's consistent contributions on the court have been crucial in leading his team to victory. This season, he has been averaging 8.4 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game. Notably, Ganuelas-Rosser holds both American and Filipino citizenship, allowing him to play in the Philippines as a domestic player.
#2. Meekness Payne, a 6'7'' forward aged 26, is an alum of the Thunderwolves class of 2023 who also played for Central Arizona between 2018 and 2019 before moving on to the professional scene in Australia. Despite his impressive credentials, Payne was unable to lead the Hills Hornets (3-6) to victory in their recent game last Saturday. The 11th-placed Hills Hornets suffered a tough 88-69 defeat on the road against the much higher-ranked Excellence (#4) in the East group, even though Payne delivered an outstanding performance as the team's top scorer with 19 points, along with 8 rebounds in 33 minutes on the court. This marks Payne's first season with the team, where he has been showcasing his skills with an average of 13.1 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game. His talent and dedication were evident in his recent game against BA CoE, where he displayed an impressive performance, contributing significantly with 19 points and 8 rebounds. However, despite his remarkable efforts, the team fell short of securing the victory. Payne's basketball journey has seen him participate as a former player in the prestigious Eurobasket Summer League, known as a top summer league for players aspiring to compete in international basketball leagues.
#3. Dominican Republic's talented basketball player, Rich Polanco, stands tall at 6'8'' and is 28 years old. He graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2020, but he also showcased his skills while playing for Central Arizona between 2019 and 2019, earning an All-ACCAC Third Team award during that season. Currently, Polanco is a professional player in the Dominican Republic. In a recent game, Polanco, a finalist, unfortunately couldn't lead his team, the Marineros, to victory against the formidable Indios, who boast an impressive 11-2 record compared to Marineros' 5-7. Despite his valiant efforts, with 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in 23 minutes of play, Marineros succumbed to Indios with a score of 95-87 in San Francisco. With only four games remaining in the Regular Season, each match becomes crucial for the teams fighting for a playoff spot. Polanco's consistent performance this season is evident through his averages of 6.7 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game. Though the outcome was not in his favor in the game against Indios, his determination and skills as a champion finalist remain evident on the court.
#4. Canadian Jonathan Rivera, a 6'9'' forward at 25 years old, has been making waves in the basketball scene. Having been part of the Lions alumni in 2026, Rivera honed his skills playing in Central Arizona between 2022 and 2023 before embarking on his professional career in El Salvador. In a recent game in the Salvadorean Liga Mayor Baloncesto, Rivera led his team, San Salvador, to a decisive 97-78 victory over Ahuachapan, one of the league's struggling teams with a 1-12 record. Rivera showcased his talent by achieving a double-double, scoring 16 points and securing 13 rebounds in just 27 minutes of play. This remarkable performance is particularly noteworthy as it is Rivera's debut season in professional basketball. San Salvador BC, currently standing at fifth place in the league with a 9-4 record, greatly benefits from Rivera's contributions on the court. Notably, Rivera's exceptional display against Ahuachapan earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further solidifying his reputation as a champion in the sport. Throughout the season, Rivera has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 16.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, highlighting his prowess as a finalist in the making. It is also interesting to mention that Rivera holds dual American and Canadian citizenship, affording him the opportunity to play as a domestic player in Canada, potentially expanding his career horizons.
Other former Central Arizona College players, who play in pro basketball:
Trey Davis (6'4''-G, played in 2018-19) plays for Wanderers in Uruguayan D4
Mycole Rodriguez (6'1''-G, played in 2019-22) plays for US Pilots in British ABA
Jalen Menzies (5'10''-PG-2000, played in 2019-21) played for Humber College in the OCAA-West few monts ago
Shakeil Bertrand (6'8''-F, played in 2019-21) played for Solola in Guatemalan D3 last year
Trace Dimeff (6'2''-SG-1998, played in 2014-16) played for San Diego Sharks in the TBL last year
Michael Nwabuzor (6'2''-G-1996, played in 2014-16) plays for Lyon in French NM1
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Central Arizona College basketball alumni.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser is last week best Vaqueros alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @thesanmiguelbeermen)
