Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Cougars players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Nighael Ceaser, a 26-year-old 6'8'' forward, graduated from Texas St. in 2023 after playing for Collin CC from 2018 to 2020, where he received the NJCAA All-Region V Team award. Currently, he is playing professionally in Romania. In a recent game last Thursday, Ceaser led Cluj Napoca to a remarkable 88-83 victory over the league leader, Oradea, in the Romanian Liga Nationala Baschet de Masculin. He contributed 12 points and 6 rebounds in just 18 minutes of play. This matchup was highly anticipated as it featured two of the top 3 ranked teams in group Joins LN in the second stage. U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca, Ceaser's team, emerged victorious and is now placed first in the Joins LN in the second stage group. This marks Ceaser's first season with the team, and his performance against Oradea showcased his skill and impact on the court. With an average of 8.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in the nine games he has played this season, Ceaser has proven to be a key player for his team. His standout performance against Oradea not only helped secure the victory but also solidified his position as a champion in the game.
#2. Trazarien White, a 6'6'' forward and Horned Frogs alumni from 2025, who also spent time playing at Collin CC between 2020 and 2020, showcased his talent in the Australian NBL One, leading the Knox Raiders to a resounding 109-92 victory over the 19th-ranked Miners. In this impressive performance, White, the game's MVP, scored a remarkable 33 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and played a key role in his team's success. Despite being in his first professional basketball season, White's exceptional skills and contribution on the court have quickly established him as a champion. In another standout game against Ballarat M., White once again proved his prowess by scoring 33 points, securing 5 rebounds, and providing 2 assists, leading his team to another victory. His consistent high-level performance has been instrumental in Knox Raiders' success, propelling them to third place in the South group standings. Individually, White has had an outstanding year, boasting impressive statistics with an average of 24.6 points per game, which ranks him as the fourth-best scorer in the league. Additionally, he has been contributing significantly with 5.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in the 14 games he has played so far, further solidifying his status as a finalist in the league.
#3. In a recent match, the seasoned Puerto Rican player Gilberto Clavell, standing at 6'7'' and 36 years old, who graduated from SHSU in 2011 but honed his skills at Collin CC from 2007 to 2009 before turning pro in Puerto Rico, made a significant contribution to Criollos de Caguas' victory over the second-ranked Capitanes. The game ended with Criollos de Caguas dominating 113-79 in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional last Tuesday. Despite only scoring 4 points in 9 minutes of play, Clavell played a crucial role in the team's triumph. This game was a highly anticipated matchup between two of the top 3 ranked teams in Group B, with Criollos de Caguas (16-8) securing the top spot after this win. This victory marked the fifth consecutive win for Clavell's team, showcasing their strong performance this season. In another game against Arecibo, Clavell scored 4 points and provided 1 assist, contributing significantly to his team's success on the court. Throughout the season, Clavell has been averaging 3.5 points per game in the two games played so far. His experience and skill have been instrumental in leading Criollos de Caguas to victory and ultimately emerging as the champion of the league.
#4. Puerto Rican Geancarlo Peguero, a 6'6'' forward who is 22 years old and an alum of the Cougars from 2025, currently plays professionally in Puerto Rico. In a recent Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional game, Peguero, alongside his teammate Gilberto Clavell, helped their team, Criollos de Caguas, secure a decisive victory over the second-ranked Capitanes with a score of 113-79. Despite only scoring 2 points in 5 minutes on the court, Peguero's contributions were valuable to the team's success. In another game against Arecibo, Peguero scored 2 points and grabbed 3 rebounds, playing a key role in his team's triumph, ultimately leading them to emerge as the champion of that match. So far this year, Peguero has been averaging 1.0 points per game and 1.3 rebounds per game in four games, showcasing his skills and dedication to his team's success.
Other former Collin County College players, who play in pro basketball:
Aleksandar Stoimenov (6'6''-SG-2001, played in 2022-23) plays for Vojvodina NS in Serbian KLS
Liam O'Reilly (6'2''-G-1996, played in 2014-16) plays for PGE Start Lublin in Polish OBL
Taz Sherman (6'5''-PG-1999, played in 2017-19) plays for Sopron KC in Hungarian A Division
Tino Sebalj (6'9''-F-1999, played in 2017-20) played for Hermes in Croatian Druga Liga few monts ago
Joshua Apple (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2017-18) plays for Al Gharafa in Qatari QBL
Jordan Cooke (5'11''-G, played in 2023-24) played for Carolina Crusaders in the ECBL last year
Danny Agbelese (6'8''-C-1990, played in 2008-10) plays for Palma BM in Spanish Primera FEB
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Collin County College basketball alumni.
Nighael Ceaser is last week best Cougars alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @BasketballNymburk)
