Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Bulldogs players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Colombian baller Jesse Zarzuela, standing tall at 6'2'' and playing as a point guard, completed his studies at Oregon in 2024. Before that, he honed his skills at Navarro JC from 2020 to 2020. Currently, Zarzuela is making waves in the professional basketball scene in Venezuela. In a recent game, Zarzuela led his team, Gaiteros, to a resounding victory over the eighth-ranked Brillantes with a dominating scoreline of 100-76 in the Venezuelan Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto. His remarkable performance earned him the title of MVP of the game. Zarzuela put up an incredible 26 points and also contributed with 5 assists in just 24 minutes of play, showcasing his talent and impact on the court. This outstanding display is particularly noteworthy as he is only in his second season of professional basketball. Gaiteros de Zulia currently holds the top spot in the league with a record of 20-3. In the match against Brillantes, Zarzuela demonstrated his prowess by scoring 26 points, securing 1 rebound, and distributing 5 assists. His exceptional skills and leadership were instrumental in securing the victory for his team. Throughout the season, Zarzuela has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 17.0 points per game, along with 2.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. It is worth noting that in addition to his Colombian background, Zarzuela also holds Dominican Republic nationality, adding to his diverse and multicultural identity as a basketball champion.
#2. Experienced Greek player Nikolaos Stylianou, standing at 6'6'' and 37 years old, is a former Buffaloes alumnus from 2009. Although he played at Navarro JC between 2006 and 2008, he currently competes professionally in Cyprus. Stylianou, a valued member of the team for seven seasons, recently faced AEK Larnaca, the leading team in the Cypriot ECOMMBX Basket League. Despite his noteworthy performance contributing 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist in 21 minutes, Stylianou and his team, Keravnos, were unable to secure a victory, falling to AEK Larnaca with a final score of 68-64 on the road. Throughout the season, Stylianou maintains an average of 7.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game. Notably, Stylianou possesses both American and Greek citizenship, enabling him to play as a domestic player in Greece.
#3. Emmanuel Egbuta, a 6'7'' forward at 29 years old, who graduated from Tennessee State in 2020 but honed his skills at Navarro JC from 2016 to 2018, is currently playing professionally in the Dominican Republic. In a thrilling match on Friday night, Egbuta played a pivotal role in the Titanes' narrow 76-75 victory over the closely-ranked Heroes, who held a 9-7 record in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto. Despite it being his first game for the Titanes this season, Egbuta showcased his talent by contributing 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in just 23 minutes on the court. The Titanes, currently placed fifth in the league standings, secured their third consecutive victory with Egbuta's remarkable debut performance. With only one more game remaining in the Regular Season, every match is critical for the team's playoff hopes. Egbuta's impressive display against the Heroes highlighted his skills as a champion, as he played a crucial role in helping his team secure the important win. His contribution not only boosted the team's morale but also demonstrated his capabilities as a finalist on the court.
#4. Trey Pulliam, a 6'3'' guard and 27-year-old Aztecs alum from 2022, previously played at Navarro JC between 2017 and 2019, where he helped them reach the final of NJCAA D1 District XIV that year. Currently playing professionally in Lithuania, Pulliam recently faced Neptunas while representing Gargzdu. Despite his best efforts, Gargzdu (15-17) was unable to secure a victory against Neptunas (17-15) in the Lithuanian Betsafe Lietuvos krepsinio lyga. Pulliam's performance in the game was not one of his best, as he only managed to score 2 points in 11 minutes of play. Additionally, he contributed 3 rebounds in the match. However, despite his individual efforts, Neptunas emerged victorious with a final score of 84-74, extending Gargzdu's defeat at home. Pulliam's season averages stand at 7.6 points per game, 2.1 rebounds per game, and 3.6 assists per game.
#5. Australian champion Kobe Shannon, a 6'4'' guard at 25 years old, graduated from Midland in 2023 after playing at Navarro JC between 2019 and 2021. He currently plays professionally in Australia and recently showcased his skills in a dominant performance that led to an easy victory against the 11th-ranked Bruins, with a final score of 108-80 in the Australian NBL One, the second division league, on Saturday night. Shannon played a crucial role in the game, contributing 8 points and 3 assists in 29 minutes of play. His standout performance helped the Inner West Bulls, currently placed sixth in the East group with a 6-5 record. In a recent game against Bankstown B, Shannon displayed his versatility by scoring 8 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists, ultimately aiding his team in securing the win. His consistent contributions on the court have been instrumental in guiding his team to success. Throughout the season, Shannon has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. His all-around performance and impactful presence make him a key player for his team as they strive for success in the league.
Other former Navarro College players, who play in pro basketball:
Akol Mawein (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2021-22) plays for Nanjing Monkey Kings in Chinese CBA
Makur Jongkuch (6'9''-C-1999, played in 2021-22) played for Penrith Panthers in Australian NBL One few monts ago
Josh Williams (6'3''-G, played in 2011-13) played for Texas Red Wolves in the ABA last year
Shakem Johnson (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2018-19) played for Chennai Heat in Indian INBL last year
Princeton Onwas (6'6''-G/F-1993, played in 2012-13) plays for Sony Centre Fury in Scottish SBC
German Kasanzi (6'5''-G-1999, played in 2019-23) plays for Getafe in Spanish Segunda FEB
Ja'Quaye James (5'9''-PG-1999, played in 2018-19) played for Albany Patroons in the TBL last year
Anthony Williams (5'10''-PG-1995, played in 2014-15) played for Keysborough Cougars in Australian Big V last year
John Egbuta (6'6''-F, played in 2020-21) plays for Stekas in Lithuanian NKL
My'Quan Gooding (6'6''-G, played in 2015-16) plays for Winston-Salem Wolves in the ECBL
D'Angelo Hunter (6'7''-G-1996, played in 2015-17) played for Richards Elite in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Kelvon Fuller (6'8''-PF-1997, played in 2017-18) plays for Glass City Wranglers in the TBL
John Millsap (6'6''-F-1982, played in 2001-03) played for Dallas Power in the Big3 last year
Sabry Philip (6'4''-G, played in 2020-22) played for Edmonton Stingers in CEBL last year
Terrill Curb (6'4''-G, played in 2020-22) played for Team Sacrifice in the MBL last year
Kyndall Dykes (6'4''-SG-1987, played in 2005-07) plays for Petrojet in Egyptian Superleague
Eric McCollum (6'9''-F, played in 2016-17) played for Mount Vernon Power in the MBL last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Navarro College basketball alumni.
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