Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Wranglers players who continue their career in pro basketball.
Look at great performance of LJ Figueroa (22 points), James Reese V (22 points), and Daniel Rivera (16 points).
#1. Dominican Republic native LJ Figueroa, a 6'6'' forward who is 28 years old, completed his education at Oregon in 2021. Notably, he honed his skills at Odessa JC between 2017 and 2018, earning the prestigious All-WJCAC Player of the Year award during his time there. Currently, he showcases his talent as a professional player in Israel. In the recent matchup last Wednesday, Figueroa, despite his commendable performance, could not lead Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva to victory. The team suffered a significant defeat of 108-83 against the formidable Maccabi Tel-Aviv while playing on the road. Figueroa, the standout player, contributed 22 points in 29 minutes, emerging as the second-highest scorer of the game. Against the dominant Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Figueroa displayed an impressive performance, scoring 22 points, gathering 2 rebounds, and distributing 2 assists. Despite his remarkable efforts, Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva was unable to secure a win. Throughout the season, Figueroa has maintained exceptional individual statistics, averaging 18.7 points per game, along with 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.4 steals. His consistent performance underscores his status as a champion in the making.
#2. James Reese V, a 6'4'' guard and 27-year-old alumnus of the Fighting Gamecocks from 2022, with prior experience playing at Odessa JC from 2018 to 2019 where he assisted in their triumph as the WJCAC Regular Season Champion, currently showcases his talent as a professional player in Venezuela. In a recent game, he was a pivotal contributor to Guaiqueries' victory over the closely-ranked Cocodrilos, with a final score of 86-83 in the Venezuelan Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto. Reese V's remarkable performance included scoring 22 points in 38 minutes of play, proving his value on the court. This highly anticipated match between two top 4 ranked teams highlighted his skills, ultimately leading his team to success. With impressive stats for the season, averaging 11.4 points per game and 1.6 rebounds per game, Reese V continues to demonstrate his prowess and determination as a finalist.
#3. Daniel Rivera, a 6'7'' forward, 23 years old, graduated from UAB in 2026. Before playing professionally in Puerto Rico, he played for Odessa JC between 2021 and 2022, where he helped the team secure the WJCAC Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently, Rivera plays for Gigantes de Carolina in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional. In a recent game, Rivera led Gigantes de Carolina to a 91-86 victory against the fifth-ranked Indios with his impressive performance. He scored 16 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots in just 24 minutes of play. This remarkable performance is particularly notable as it is his first season in professional basketball. Gigantes de Carolina, with a record of 15-10, holds the third position in Group B, with Rivera contributing significantly to the team's success. Rivera's impact on the team's recent triumphs is evident, as Gigantes de Carolina secured their third consecutive victory. In another game against Mayaguez, Rivera showcased his talent by scoring 16 points, securing 4 rebounds, and providing 1 assist, ultimately helping his team emerge victorious. His consistent stellar performances on the court highlight his skills as a champion. Throughout the season, Rivera has been averaging 9.7 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and 1.2 assists per game, demonstrating his valuable contributions to Gigantes de Carolina.
#4. Australian basketball champion Lino Manhom, a 7'0'' forward/center who is 28 years old, is an alumnus of the Falcons class of 2023. Before joining the Falcons, he played at Odessa JC between 2019 and 2020. Currently, he is playing professionally in Australia. In a recent game, Manhom's team, the Goldfields Giants, who are currently ranked 13th with a 3-10 record, faced a tough challenge against the Cougars, who are ranked 6th in the West group. Despite Manhom's stellar performance, where he scored 17 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and blocked 2 shots in 35 minutes, the Goldfields Giants were defeated 91-82 by the Cougars in Hamilton Hill. In another matchup against Cockburn, Manhom once again showcased his skills by scoring 17 points, securing 12 rebounds, and providing 2 assists. Despite his impressive efforts, Goldfields Giants were unable to secure a victory. Manhom's exceptional performance in this game even earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com. Throughout the season, Manhom has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.8 points per game, 10.3 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, and 1.5 blocks per game. His consistent contributions on the court make him a valuable asset to his team as they strive to improve their standing in the league.
#5. Victor Evans, a talented 6'4'' small forward who graduated from Vanguard in 2017 and previously played at Odessa JC from 2014 to 2015, showcased his skills playing professionally in Belize. Despite his notable performance for Cayo Western Ballers (7-4), they were unable to secure a victory in their recent game against the Running Rebels in Belize City, resulting in a disappointing 86-68 loss for his team. Evans, the standout player for Western Ballers, contributed significantly by scoring 14 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in the challenging 40-minute game. Although Evans displayed a commendable effort against the Running Rebels, emerging as the second-best scorer for his team, his stellar performance was not enough to lead Western Ballers to a win. Throughout the season, Evans has consistently delivered outstanding individual stats, averaging 18.4 points per game, 6.7 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game (ranking fourth in the league). Additionally, his impressive defensive skills are highlighted by his average of 2.4 steals per game, positioning him as the third-best in the league in this category. Despite the team's recent setback, Evans continues to excel individually and make a significant impact on the court.
Other former Odessa College players, who play in pro basketball:
Keandre Cook (6'5''-G-1997, played in 2016-18) plays for Hapoel Shlomo Tel-Aviv in Israeli Winner League
Daniss Jenkins (6'4''-G-2001, played in 2021-22) plays for Detroit Pistons in the NBA
Tyree Robinson (6'5''-PF-1995, played in 2015-17) plays for Valdivia in Chilean LNB
Devin Davis (6'6''-F-1995, played in 2015-16) plays for Koroivos in Greek Elite League
Stefan Lakic (6'7''-F-1995, played in 2015-16) plays for Dynamic VP in Serbian KLS
Jermaine Haley Jr. (6'7''-G-1997, played in 2017-18) played for Santos de San Luis Potosi in Mexican LNBP few monts ago
Alonzo Walker (6'6''-F-1996, played in 2017-18) plays for Basket Zivinice in Bosnia and Herzegovina Division I
Daishon Knight (6'1''-PG-1991, played in 2011-13) plays for ES Sahel in Tunisian ProA
Evan Taylor (6'5''-G-1996, played in 2015-16) plays for Nuernberg Falcons BC in German ProA
Jonah Tuilata (F, played in 2023-24) played for Bankstown Bruins in Australian NBL One last year
Jalen Hawkins (6'4''-SG-1999, played in 2018-19) plays for Ohrid AV in North Macedonian First League
Joshua Gray (6'1''-PG-1993, played in 2013-14) plays for Ylli in Kosovan Superliga
Lucas Capalbo (5'9''-PG-2000, played in 2019-20) plays for Palma Fibwi in Spanish Primera FEB
Demetrius Thomas (6'8''-G/F, played in 2013-14) plays for San Pedro Tiger Sharks in Belizean BEBL
Kadeem Coleby (6'9''-C/F-1989, played in 2009-10) plays for Rockets in Bahamas NPBA
Darrius Miles (6'11''-F-2002, played in 2020-21) plays for Mineros de Parral in Mexican LBE
Jaycson BeReal Jr (6'7''-SF-1999, played in 2019-20) plays for Leones in Peruvian LBL
Jawaun Daniels (6'7''-G/F-1998, played in 2018-19) played for Happy Valley Hoopers - Penn State Alumni in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Carlos Berroteran (6'9''-C-1989, played in 2005-09) plays for Arequipa Sting in Peruvian MBL
Dancell Leter (6'8''-F-1997, played in 2020-21) plays for Vancouver Bears in the USBL
Donovan Fields (5'10''-PG-1996, played in 2015-16) played for Sindri in Icelandic Division I last year
Mam Ayuel (7'0''-F, played in 2019-20) plays for Camberwell Dragons in Australian Big V
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Odessa College basketball alumni.
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