Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Beavers players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Michael Rataj (11 points), Tres Tinkle (8 points), and Joe Burton (8 points).
#1. German champion Michael Rataj, a 6'8'' guard who is 22 years old and graduated from Baylor in 2026, previously played for Oregon St. between 2022 and 2025, where he received the All-WCC First Team award. Currently, he is playing professionally in Germany. In a recent game, despite his solid performance, Rataj could not assist ALBA Berlin (24-10) in securing a victory, as they lost 82-91 to the much lower-ranked (#10) Rasta Vechta on the road. Rataj emerged as the second-best scorer of the game, contributing 11 points and 5 rebounds in just 12 minutes of play. Although Rataj showcased an impressive display against Vechta, tallying 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist, his team ultimately fell short of claiming the victory. Throughout this season, Rataj has maintained an average of 6.6 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game in the nine games he has participated in so far.
#2. Tres Tinkle, a 6'8'' power forward and 29-year-old Beavers alum from 2020, currently plays professionally in Turkey. Despite his best efforts, Tinkle and his team, Trabzonspor (19-11), fell short against Bahcesehir (21-9) in the Turkish ING Basketbol Super Ligi. In the game, Tinkle showcased his skills by contributing 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in 31 minutes of play. Unfortunately, Trabzonspor suffered a tough 91-65 loss to Bahcesehir, who held the higher ranking (#3) in the league. Even though Tinkle put up a solid performance against Bahcesehir, his team was unable to secure a victory in the face of tough competition. Throughout the season, Tinkle has maintained an average of 7.0 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game in the 29 games he has played so far.
#3. Experienced champion Joe Burton, a 6'8'' Center/Forward who is 35 years old and graduated from Oregon State in 2013, currently plays professionally in France. Despite his best efforts, Burton couldn't lead BC Orchies (25-15) to victory against Provence Basket (26-14) in the French Nationale Masculine 1 (third division) match. In the game, he showcased his skills by scoring 8 points, securing 8 rebounds, and playing for 27 minutes. The match saw BC Orchies, ranked fifth, suffer a tough 77-61 loss to Provence Basket, who holds the third position in Group A. In another notable game against Fos-sur-Mer, Burton delivered an outstanding performance with 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist. Despite his exceptional contribution, BC Orchies couldn't clinch the win. This season, Burton has been performing well, boasting averages of 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, ranking him as the third best in the league in steals.
#4. Marcel Jones, a former Beavers alumni from 2008 and a professional player in New Zealand, recently played for the Taranaki Airs against the Rams in the New Zealand National Basketball League. Despite his efforts, Jones could not lead the Taranaki Airs to victory over the Rams, as his team suffered a 113-86 defeat in Christchurch. This loss marked the Taranaki Airs' fifth consecutive defeat in a row. In the game, Jones, a 6'8'' forward at 40 years old, showcased his skills by scoring 5 points and grabbing 1 rebound in just 9 minutes of play. His performance was notable, considering his overall contribution to the team throughout the season, averaging 10.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game over nine appearances. It is interesting to note that Marcel Jones holds both American and New Zealand citizenship, allowing him to compete in New Zealand as a domestic player. Despite his individual achievements and solid statistics, Jones and the Taranaki Airs were unable to overcome the Rams, who currently hold the second rank in the league standings.
#5. Belarusian Dzmitry Ryuny, a 6'9'' forward at 26 years old, who graduated from Oregon St. in 2023 and currently plays professionally in Russia, showcased his exceptional skills in a recent game. He led BC Chelbasket to a convincing 79-61 victory over the seventh-ranked Khimki in the Russian Superleague's second division. Ryuny's performance was outstanding as he scored 15 points, secured 8 rebounds, and contributed 1 assist in 33 minutes of play. This remarkable display of talent is even more impressive considering it is only his third season playing professional basketball. BC Chelbasket Chelyabinsk, where Ryuny is currently playing in his first year with the team, is positioned second in the league, largely due to his contributions on the court. The recent win against Khimki marked the team's sixth consecutive victory, highlighting Ryuny's impact as a key player. His overall performance this season has been remarkable, with an average of 11.1 points per game, 7.2 rebounds per game (ranking fourth best in the league), along with 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 36 games played. Ryuny's consistent and impressive stats demonstrate why he is truly a champion player and a vital asset to his team's success.
Other former Oregon State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Gary Payton II (6'3''-G-1992, played in 2014-16) plays for Golden State Warriors in the NBA
Ethan Thompson (6'5''-G-1999, played in 2017-21) plays for Indiana Pacers in the NBA
Drew Eubanks (6'10''-F-1997, played in 2015-18) plays for Sacramento Kings in the NBA
Kylor Kelley (7'0''-C-1997, played in 2018-20) plays for Converge FiberXers in Filipino PBA
Stephen Thompson Jr. (6'5''-G-1997, played in 2015-19) plays for Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rican BSN
Devon Collier (6'8''-F/C-1991, played in 2010-14) plays for Cangrejeros de Santurce in Puerto Rican BSN
Charles Barton (6'4''-PG-1992, played in 2011-14) plays for Estudiantes in Spanish Primera FEB
Warith Alatishe (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2020-22) plays for Cleveland Charge in the NBA G League
Gligorije Rakocevic (6'11''-C-1995, played in 2015-19) plays for Podgorica in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Roeland Schaftenaar (6'11''-C/F-1988, played in 2006-10) plays for ZZ Leiden in Dutch DBL
Eric Moreland (6'10''-F/C-1991, played in 2010-14) plays for Liaoning Flying Leopards in Chinese CBA
Maurice Calloo (6'10''-F-1999, played in 2020-22) plays for T71 in Luxembourg LBBL
Kyle Jeffers (6'10''-C-1985, played in 2003-07) played for Siglap in Singapore NBL few monts ago
Dexter Akanno (6'5''-G-2000, played in 2021-24) plays for Caen Basket Calvados in French ProB
Alfred Hollins (6'6''-F-1999, played in 2017-21) played for Saigon Heat in Vietnamese VBA last year
Omari Johnson (6'9''-F-1989, played in 2007-11) plays for JAM NT in Jamaican
Rodrigue Andela (6'8''-F-1999, played in 2020-23) plays for South China in Hong Kong D1
Jared Cunningham (6'5''-G-1991, played in 2009-12) plays for Heroes in Venezuelan SPB
Angus Brandt (6'10''-C-1989, played in 2009-12) plays for Shizuoka Veltex in Japanese B2 League
Shengzhe Li (6'11''-C/F-1999, played in 2019-20) played for Panthers in New Zealand NBL last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Oregon State University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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