Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Aggies alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Brynton Lemar, a 6'4'' shooting guard who is 31 years old and graduated from UC Davis in 2017 after helping them win the Big West Tournament that year, currently plays professionally in Turkey. Despite his impressive performance, Lemar could not prevent Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (25-5) from being narrowly defeated 98-95 by Bahcesehir in their recent game, which was a highly anticipated derby match. As the top scorer of the game with 18 points in 31 minutes, Lemar showcased his skills on the court. Against Bahcesehir, he demonstrated his versatility by contributing 18 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Despite his individual efforts, Besiktas ultimately fell short against their opponents. Throughout this season, Lemar has maintained an average of 10.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in the 30 games he has played so far. It is worth noting that Lemar is a naturalized American, adding to his unique background and experience in the sport.
#2. Elijah Pepper, a 6'4'' guard and 25-year-old Aggies alumni from the class of 2024, has been making waves in the professional basketball scene in New Zealand. Recently, he showcased his talent by leading the Wellington Saints to a resounding 105-84 victory over the eighth-ranked Jets in the New Zealand National Basketball League. In this game, Pepper's stellar performance earned him the title of MVP, as he scored an impressive 45 points, along with 3 assists and 3 steals, in just 35 minutes of play. This remarkable display of skill is made even more impressive by the fact that Pepper is only in his second season of professional basketball. Pepper's exceptional contributions on the court have not gone unnoticed, as he has been consistently putting up impressive numbers throughout the season. Currently leading the league in scoring with an average of 30.5 points per game, he has also been averaging 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. Such impressive statistics have solidified Pepper's reputation as a champion player, earning him the prestigious Elite Badge from eurobasket.com. With Pepper's leadership and standout performances, the Wellington Saints have been on a winning streak, securing their third consecutive victory. Despite being placed fourth in the league with a record of 8-3, Pepper's impact on the team has been undeniable. As he continues to excel on the court, it is clear that Elijah Pepper is a rising star in the world of professional basketball, destined for greatness as a finalist player in the making.
#3. TJ Shorts, a 5'9'' point guard who is 28 years old and graduated from UC Davis in 2019, currently plays professionally in Greece. Despite his best efforts, Shorts, an All-Big West First Team awardee, was unable to lead Panathinaikos to victory against the undefeated Olympiacos in the Greek Stoiximan Basketball League. In a closely contested game, Shorts contributed 8 points, 1 rebound, and 6 assists in just 20 minutes of play as Panathinaikos fell short 76-82 on the road. Throughout the season, Shorts has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game across 28 appearances. His standout performance against Olympiacos showcased his skill and determination on the court, despite the final outcome not being in his team's favor. It is noteworthy that Shorts, a naturalized American, also participated in the Eurobasket Summer League, an experience that ultimately paved the way for his professional basketball career.
#4. French champion Kane Milling, a 6'4'' guard and 25-year-old Aggies alumnus from 2024, who helped them reach the final of the Big West Tournament that year, is currently playing professionally in France. Recently, he led Levallois Metropolitans BC to a commanding 91-73 victory over the tenth-ranked Lorient in the French Nationale Masculine 1 league, which is the third division in France. In this game, he showcased his skills and was named the MVP after an outstanding performance where he scored 15 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists in just 27 minutes of play. This remarkable display of talent is even more impressive considering it is only his second season in professional basketball. Levallois Metropolitans BC currently holds the fourth position in Group A with a record of 26-14. This is Milling's first year with the team, and he has been making a significant impact with his average of 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in 43 appearances this season. His exceptional performance against Lorient truly exemplifies his abilities as a champion on the court.
Other former University of California - Davis players, who play in pro basketball:
Chima Moneke (6'6''-PF-1995, played in 2015-15) plays for Crvena zvezda in Serbian KLS
Ran Andre Pehka (6'4''-PG-2001, played in 2020-21) plays for TalTech in Estonian KML
Christian Anigwe (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2020-23) plays for Rigas Zelli in Latvian LBL
Ty Johnson (6'3''-G-2003, played in 2022-25) plays for Vilpas in Finnish Korisliiga
Oliver Gehrke (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2019-20) signed for Umea in Swedish Basketligan
AJ John (6'8''-F-1996, played in 2016-16) plays for Kosice Wolves in Slovakian Tipos SBL
Leo DeBruhl (6'3''-G, played in 2021-25) plays for Vitre in French NM1
Joshua Fox (6'8''-F/C-1994, played in 2013-16) played for FIJ NT in Fijian few monts ago
Ade Adebayo (6'5''-G, played in 2019-24) plays for Sol Girones in Spanish Segunda FEB
Samuel Manu (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2022-24) plays for Taipei Taishin Mars in Taiwanese TPBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of California - Davis basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
