Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Dragons alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Experienced Shannon Shorter (6'4''-SG-1989, played in 2008-09, plays pro in Mexico) led Fuerza Regia Monterrey to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Diablos (20-8) 100-83 in the Mexican LNBP (second division) last Friday. He scored 14 points and had 3 steals in 24 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Fuerza Regia Monterrey (20-8) is placed fourth in the LNBP. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. This year Shorter averages 9.9ppg, 3.7rpg and 3.5apg in 41 games he played so far.
#2. Kenny Gabriel (6'9''-F-1989, played in 2008-09, plays in Romania) led his Romanian team Valcea to a 2-point victory against the closely-ranked Rasta Vechta (2-2) 90-88 in the FIBA Europe Cup on Wednesday night. Gabriel recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 10 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. CS Valcea 1924 Rm Valcea (1-3) is placed fourth in the FIBA Europe Cup. It was his team's first victory after three consecutive loses. There are only two games left until the end of the FIBA Europe Cup Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. It's Gabriel's first season with the team. This year he averages 9.3ppg, 6.5rpg and 2.3apg.
#3. Jalon Pipkins (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2018-19, currently in Lithuania), who plays in the Lithuanian LKL could not help Gargzdu (2-6) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Gargzdu lost 80-89 at home to the higher-ranked (#4) Lietkabelis. Pipkins scored 15 points in 23 minutes. It was Gargzdu's third consecutive loss in a row. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Pipkins has relatively good stats this year 11.4ppg, 1.1rpg, 2.1apg and 1.1spg in eight games.
#4. Emmanuel Akubuo (F, played in 2024-25, plays pro in United Kingdom) contributed to an easy victory against the 12th-ranked Lions (0-7) crushing them 95-63 in the British NBL D1 (third division) last Saturday. Akubuo recorded 7 points. Myerscough College (4-3) is placed fifth in Group A. But the season just started, so everything may happen. This year Akubuo averages 4.4ppg and 3.9rpg.
Other former Paris Junior College players, who play in pro basketball:
Shaquillo Fritz (6'8''-F/C-1994, played in 2016-17) played for Horsens IC in Danish BasketLigaen
Alonzo Campbell (7'0''-C-1996, played in 2017-18) played for Neftci in Azerbaijani ABL
O'Neal Mims (6'10''-PF-1983, played in 2001-02) played for Austin Bats in the ABA
KJ Stewart (6'10''-C-2001, played in 2020-21) played for Wallabies in Swiss NLB
Esteban Roacho (6'5''-G/F-2002, played in 2022-23) signed for Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico in the NBA G League
Charles Funches III (6'8''-F-1988, played in 2007-08) plays for Jersey Shore Breaks in the TBL
Lamar Everd (6'5''-G, played in 2019-20) plays for Winnipeg Sea Bears in CEBL
Jonathon Simmons (6'6''-G-1989, played in 2008-09) plays for Boston Ball Hogs in the Big3
Brandon Jackson (6'6''-F-2000, played in 2020-22) signed for ABA in Portuguese 1.Divisao
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Paris Junior College basketball alumni.
Shannon Shorter is last week best Dragons alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @kksplit)
