Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Purple Eagles players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Jordan Cintron (9 points), Sam Iorio (10 points), and Marcus Hammond (9 points).
#1. Jordan Cintron, a 27-year-old forward standing at 6'8'' who graduated from Niagara in 2022, has been making waves in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional. He earned the Latinbasket.com Puerto Rican BSN All-Rookie Team award in his debut year of professional play in Puerto Rico. Recently, Cintron played a crucial role in the Vaqueros de Bayamon's decisive victory over the fourth-ranked Mets, with a final score of 103-91. During the game, Cintron showcased his skills by scoring 9 points, pulling down 11 rebounds, and playing for 25 minutes on the court. His stellar performance helped propel the Vaqueros de Bayamon to the top spot in Group B with a record of 17-10. In another standout game against Guaynabo, Cintron demonstrated his versatility by not only contributing 9 points and 11 rebounds but also providing 2 assists. His exceptional efforts were pivotal in guiding his team to victory, ultimately leading them to be crowned as the champion. Throughout the season, Cintron has maintained an average of 6.3 points per game and 2.6 rebounds per game across 23 games played so far. It is notable that Cintron holds dual American and Puerto Rican citizenship, allowing him to compete in Puerto Rico as a domestic player, showcasing his talent and contributing significantly to his team's success.
#2. In the recent game, Sam Iorio, a 6'7'' forward and 27-year-old Purple Eagles alumni from 2023, showcased his skills while playing for Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva. Despite his commendable performance, the team, currently in eighth place with a 10-16 record, suffered a significant defeat on the road against the top-ranked Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Places 1-8 group, with a final score of 108-83. During the game against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Iorio contributed 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in 23 minutes of play. Although he displayed a strong individual performance, his team was unable to secure the win, leading to their defeat. Throughout this season, Iorio has maintained an average of 5.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game across 26 games. It is noteworthy that Iorio holds both American and Israeli citizenship, allowing him to play in Israel as a domestic player, which provides him with a unique advantage in the league.
#3. Marcus Hammond, a 25-year-old 6'3'' guard who graduated from Notre Dame in 2023, has been making waves in the basketball world. Despite his collegiate career at Niagara from 2018 to 2022, where he earned the prestigious All-MAAC First Team award, Hammond has continued to excel professionally, now playing in France. In a recent game for Union Poitiers Basket 86, Hammond showcased his skills by scoring 9 points and dishing out 7 assists in 31 minutes of play. However, despite his solid performance, his team fell short against Nantes in the French ELITE 2, the second division league, losing a close match 83-80 on Nantes' home court. Despite the loss, Hammond's individual performance against Nantes was notable, contributing 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 7 assists. His overall season statistics reflect his consistent contribution to the team, averaging 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in 39 appearances. Hammond's journey as a basketball player continues to evolve, with his determination and skill positioning him as a potential champion in the making.
#4. In the recent game, Jhaylon Martinez, a 24-year-old center standing at 6'11'' and an alum of the Purple Eagles from 2025, showcased his skills while playing for the South West Slammers in Australia. Despite his commendable performance, the struggling SW Slammers, currently holding the 14th position with a 1-13 record, were defeated 88-92 by the Hawks, who are ranked 7th in the West group. Martinez, the second-best scorer of the game, contributed 15 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and provided 3 assists during his 28 minutes on the court. This noteworthy performance is especially impressive considering it is Martinez's debut season in professional basketball. Unfortunately, this defeat marked the 13th consecutive loss for the South West Slammers. Even in a previous game against Perry Lakes Hawks, Martinez displayed his skills by scoring 15 points, securing 8 rebounds, and distributing 3 assists. Despite his individual efforts, his team was unable to secure a victory. Throughout this season, Martinez has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game over 14 appearances. Additionally, it is worth noting that Martinez's participation in the Eurobasket Summer League played a crucial role in securing his position in professional basketball.
#5. James Towns, a 28-year-old 5'10'' point guard who graduated from Niagara in 2020 and currently plays professionally in the TBL, was unable to lead the Tri-City Tide (20-3) to victory in their recent game against the Firebirds in Raleigh. Despite his commendable performance, the Tri-City Tide ultimately succumbed to a defeat with a final score of 88-103. During the game, Towns displayed his skills by achieving a double-double, scoring 14 points, distributing 10 assists, grabbing 4 rebounds, and making 3 steals, all within 31 minutes of play. Despite his notable contributions on the court, the Tri-City Tide was unable to secure the win against the Firebirds in Raleigh. Throughout the season, Towns has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game over the course of 11 games. His consistent performance on the court has been instrumental in the Tri-City Tide's success this season, although the recent loss against the Firebirds was a setback for the team despite Towns' efforts.
#6. Canadian Olumide Adelodun, a 6'5'' guard who is 22 years old and an alumnus of the Purple Eagles from 2025, showcased his talent by helping them reach the final of the CEBL that year. Currently playing professionally in Canada, Adelodun recently couldn't prevent the Calgary Surge (0-7) from suffering a defeat in their latest match. Despite his solid performance, Calgary, ranked at #5, faced a tough 96-80 loss against the Shooting Stars in Toronto. During the game, Adelodun displayed his skills by scoring 13 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in 29 minutes of play. In a previous match against Scarborough, he also had a notable performance, contributing 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist. However, despite his individual efforts, his team was unable to secure a victory. Throughout this season, Adelodun has maintained relatively good statistics, averaging 11.4 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and 1.1 steals per game over the course of seven games.
Other former Niagara University players, who play in pro basketball:
Yaw Obeng-Mensah (6'8''-PF-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Rogaska in Slovenian Liga OTP banka
Justice Smith (6'6''-G, played in 2024-25) plays for Pyrinto in Finnish Korisliiga
Chris Barton (6'3''-G-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Delta in Georgian Superleague
Luke Bumbalough (6'1''-G, played in 2023-24) played for Maia Basket in Portuguese Proliga few monts ago
Kahlil Dukes (6'0''-G-1995, played in 2015-15) plays for Kocaeli in Turkish TBL
Alioune Tew (6'9''-C-1992, played in 2017-18) played for V Islanders in Vietnamese D2 last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Niagara University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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