Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Gauchos alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. TJ Shorts (5'9''-PG-1997, played in 2015-17, plays pro in France) led Paris Basketball to a 2-point victory over the closely-ranked Cholet Basket (19-12) 92-90 in the French Betclic ELITE ProA on Wednesday night. Shorts was MVP of the game. He recorded 25 points and added 6 assists in 32 minutes. Paris Basketball (1-7) is placed sixth in the Betclic ELITE ProA. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. It's Shorts' first season with the team. Shorts has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages 15.9ppg, 3.5rpg, 6.7apg and 1.4spg. Shorts is a naturalized North Macedonian. He is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top summer league for players who want to play basketball overseas.
#2. Eric Thompson (6'9''-C-1993, played in 2018-20, plays in Japan) led Iwate Big Bulls to a 1-point victory against the fourth-ranked Watts (29-31) 87-86 in the Japanese B2 League in Saturday night's game. Thompson had a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 17 rebounds. Iwate Big Bulls (20-40) are placed sixth in East group. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. The Regular Season already ended. This year Thompson averages 9.6ppg, 9.5rpg and 1.2apg in 41 games he played so far.
#3. Nikola Lipovic (6'3''-SG-2000, played in 2018-20, currently in Serbia), who plays in the Serbian 2MLS (second division) could not help KK Zeleznicar Cacak (15-15) in their game last Saturday. Despite Lipovic's good performance KK Zeleznicar Cacak was defeated 104-92 on the road by the higher-ranked Pirot (#5). He scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 28 minutes. The Regular Season already ended. Lipovic has relatively good stats this season 10.3ppg and 1.7rpg. He is a naturalized Serbian.
#4. Lyletacoma Hexom (6'8''-F-1995, played in 2015-16, plays pro in the TBL) was the major contributor in a Great Falls Electric's victory against the Salem Capitals (8-6) 118-104 in the TBL on Friday night. He had a double-double by scoring 27 points and getting 11 rebounds. The Great Falls Electric has 7-6 record this season. Hexom has very impressive stats this year 21.5ppg, 11.8rpg, 1.2apg and 1.5bpg in 13 games.
Other former Saddleback College players, who play in pro basketball:
Maurice Jones (6'7''-F-1995, played in 2014-16) played for IRT Tanger in Moroccan DEX-H few monts ago
Franklin Session II (6'2''-G-1989, played in 2007-09) played for Killers 3s in the Big3 last year
Jay Norton (6'1''-G) played for Chula Vista Suns in the ABA last year
Shawn Stith Jr. (6'8''-F-1999, played in 2017-19) played for Enid Outlaws in the TBL last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Saddleback College basketball alumni.
TJ Shorts is last week best Gauchos alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @parisbasketball)
