Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Hornets players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Look at great performance of Izayah Le'afa (13 points), Hunter Marks (12 points), and Yung-Cheng Wu (11 points).
#1. New Zealand champion Izayah Le'afa, a 6'2'' guard aged 29, graduated from Sacramento St. in 2020 and received an All-Big Sky Conference Honorable Mention award that year. Currently playing professionally in New Zealand, Le'afa recently competed for Wellington Saints but could not help them secure a victory in their latest game. Despite his commendable effort, the Saints suffered an 88-96 defeat on the road against the league-leading Tuatara. During the game, Le'afa showcased his skills by scoring 13 points, securing 1 rebound, and providing 5 assists in 31 minutes of play. This game marked Wellington Saints' first loss after a successful streak of three consecutive wins. Throughout the season, Le'afa has maintained an average of 8.6 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and 7.3 assists per game, which ranks him as the third-best in the league in terms of assists. Additionally, he has been contributing 1.4 steals per game in the eight games he has participated in so far.
#2. Australian Hunter Marks, a 6'9'' forward and 27-year-old pro player who graduated in 2023, showcased his skills by leading Logan Thunder to a resounding 124-84 victory over the eighth-ranked Spartans in a recent Australian NBL One game. Marks contributed significantly to the win with 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 25 minutes of play. Logan Thunder, currently third in the North group with a 7-2 record, benefited greatly from Marks' stellar performance against the SD Spartans. His consistent contributions on the court have been instrumental in his team's success, ultimately leading them to secure the champion title in the match. With impressive season averages of 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game in the nine games he has played so far, Marks continues to be a key player for Logan Thunder as they strive for success in the league.
#3. In an exciting game on Sunday night, Taiwanese player Yung-Cheng Wu, standing at 6'2'' and 29 years old, a graduate of Sacramento St. in 2019 and currently playing professionally in Taiwan, showcased his talent as a basketball player. Wu led the Taipei Fubon Braves to a remarkable 87-78 victory against the league-leading Pilots, who held a record of 21-3. In just 15 minutes of play, Wu contributed 11 points to his team's win. The matchup was highly anticipated as it featured two of the top 4 ranked teams in the league. Taipei Fubon Braves, with a record of 12-12, currently hold the second position in the standings. This victory marked their fifth consecutive win, highlighting the team's strong performance in recent games. Wu's outstanding performance against the Pilots, where he not only scored 11 points but also grabbed 3 rebounds, was instrumental in securing the victory for his team. His display of skill and determination on the court truly exemplified his qualities as a champion. Throughout the season, Wu has maintained an average of 3.2 points per game across 28 games, further solidifying his contribution to the team's success.
#4. Nick Hornsby, a 30-year-old 6'7'' forward and Hornets alumnus from 2017, made his debut for the Edmonton Stingers in their recent game against the Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Despite his solid performance of scoring 8 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and dishing out 7 assists in 24 minutes of play, the Edmonton Stingers (#3) suffered a tough 95-78 loss to the Shooting Stars. This defeat came as the Shooting Stars improved their record to 7-1. Although the Stingers were unable to secure a victory in Toronto, it is important to note that this is still early in the season, and there are plenty of opportunities for improvement and turnaround. In a promising display of skill against Scarborough, Hornsby once again showcased his abilities by contributing 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. Despite his efforts, the team fell short in securing the win. As the season progresses, Nick Hornsby's contributions and presence on the court will likely play a crucial role in the Edmonton Stingers' journey towards becoming contenders and potentially reaching the championship as a finalist.
#5. Experienced champion Mikh McKinney, a 6'1'' guard who is 34 years old and graduated from Sacramento State in 2015, currently plays professionally in Mexico. In a recent game, McKinney, who received the All-Big Sky Conference Player of the Year award in 2015, unfortunately was unable to help his team, Astros de Jalisco, secure a victory. Despite his solid performance, the league-leading Astros were narrowly defeated 93-92 by the fifth-ranked Angeles in Ciudad de Mexico. During the game, McKinney showcased his skills by contributing 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist in just 16 minutes of play. His efforts were commendable, but ultimately his team fell short of securing the win. Throughout this season, McKinney has maintained an average of 7.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game across 22 games. It is worth noting that McKinney is a naturalized Filipino, adding to his diverse background and experience in the world of basketball.
Other former Sacramento State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Ethan Esposito (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2018-21) plays for Brindisi in Italian Serie A2
Brandon Davis (6'2''-G-2000, played in 2018-18) played for Capitanes de Arecibo in Puerto Rican BSN few monts ago
Jacob Holt (6'9''-F-2003, played in 2023-25) plays for Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt in German BBL
Cody Demps (6'4''-G-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva in Israeli Winner League
Akol Mawein (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2022-24) plays for Nanjing Monkey Kings in Chinese CBA
Marcus Graves (6'1''-G-1996, played in 2014-17) plays for Phoenix Hagen in German ProA
Joshua Patton (6'8''-C-1997, played in 2015-15) plays for Sopron KC in Hungarian A Division
Christian Terrell (6'5''-G-1997, played in 2019-19) played for Bisons in Finnish Korisliiga last year
Justin Strings (6'7''-F-1996, played in 2014-18) plays for Goes in Uruguayan LUB
Brandon Betson (6'1''-G, played in 2023-24) played for Cair 2030 in North Macedonian Super League last year
Callum McRae (7'1''-C-1999, played in 2022-23) played for Nelson Giants in New Zealand NBL last year
Julian Vaughns (6'3''-PG-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Kosice Wolves in Slovakian Tipos SBL
John Dickson (6'6''-F-1990, played in 2009-13) played for Kwa-Zulu Marlins in South African BNL last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Sacramento State University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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