Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Huskies players who continue their career in pro basketball.
Look at great performance of RJ Cole (13 points), Adama Sanogo (26 points), and Stephon Castle (17 points).
#1. RJ Cole, a 6'0'' point guard who is 26 years old and graduated from UConn in 2022, has been making waves in the Italian Serie A as a professional player. Recently, he showcased his skills by leading Umana Reyer Venezia to a significant victory over the league-leading Virtus Bologna, with a final score of 91-83. In this highly anticipated matchup between two top 4 ranked teams, Cole played a pivotal role, scoring 13 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists in just 26 minutes of play. Notably, he displayed great accuracy from the free-throw line, making all eight of his attempts. His exceptional performance on the court against Virtus Bologna not only helped his team secure a crucial win but also solidified his reputation as a champion in that particular game. Throughout the season, Cole has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 16.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game in the 35 games he has played so far. His consistent contributions and standout play have undoubtedly made him a standout finalist in the Italian Serie A.
#2. Mali Adama Sanogo, a 24-year-old center standing at 6'9'' and an alumnus of the Huskies from 2023, is currently playing professionally in Israel. He recently led Hapoel Holon to a significant 99-84 victory over the fourth-ranked Bnei Hertzeliya in the Israeli Winner League, showcasing an exceptional performance. Sanogo, who received the USBWA All-District I Player of the Year award in 2023, was named the MVP of the game after scoring an impressive 26 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in just 27 minutes of play. This remarkable display is even more noteworthy considering it is only his third season in professional basketball. Hapoel Holon, with a current record of 15-11 and placed fifth in the Places 1-8 group, has been on a winning streak, securing their third consecutive victory. Sanogo's outstanding year is reflected in his high statistics, averaging 18.1 points per game and 10.6 rebounds per game (leading the league in this category) over 14 games. His exceptional contributions on the court have been instrumental in his team's success, with his recent standout performance against Bnei Hertzeliya being a testament to his skill and impact as a champion player.
#3. Stephon Castle, a 6'6'' guard who graduated from UConn in 2024, is now playing professionally in the NBA. Known for helping UConn win the Big East Regular Season Champion title that year, Castle showcased his talent once again when he led the San Antonio Spurs to a decisive victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, with a final score of 118-91. In this game, Castle demonstrated his skills by scoring 17 points, securing 5 rebounds, and providing 9 assists in just 32 minutes of play. This remarkable performance is even more impressive considering he is only in his second season in professional basketball. Despite the San Antonio Spurs having a relatively weak record of 62-21 this season, Castle's individual contributions have been exceptional, averaging 17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in 88 appearances. Castle's outstanding play has undoubtedly been a key factor in his team's recent success, culminating in their third consecutive victory. The finalist's stellar performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder exemplifies his basketball prowess and leadership on the court, solidifying his reputation as a rising star in the NBA.
#4. Experienced South Sudanese player Ater Majok, a 6'11'' center who is 38 years old and an alumnus of the Huskies from 2010, showcased his skills in a recent game for Beirut Club in Lebanon. Despite his impressive performance, Beirut Club (10-12) suffered a crushing 98-71 defeat to the leading Al Riyadi in a derby match. In his debut game for Beirut Club this season, Majok demonstrated his prowess on the court by securing a double-double with 12 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists in 36 minutes of play. Despite his notable contributions, Beirut Club faced its fourth consecutive loss. Majok's exceptional display against Al Riyadi earned him recognition, including the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, highlighting his versatility and talent in the game. It is noteworthy that Majok holds both American and South Sudanese citizenship, allowing him to play in South Sudan as a domestic player.
#5. In the recent game, the talented player Josh Carlton, a 6'10'' forward/center who is 27 years old and a former Houston graduate of 2022, showcased his skills for Zhejiang Guangsha Lions. Despite his notable performance, the team, with a record of 33-9, suffered a crushing 110-77 defeat on the road against the dominant Sharks. During the match, Carlton displayed his prowess by scoring 10 points, securing 7 rebounds, making 4 assists, and contributing 2 blocks in just 22 minutes of play. His contributions were commendable, yet unfortunately, Guangsha Lions could not overcome the Sharks' strong performance. In a previous game against Shanghai Sharks, Carlton once again demonstrated his abilities by scoring 10 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and providing 4 assists. Despite his remarkable efforts, his team fell short of securing the victory in that game as well. Throughout this season, Carlton has maintained an average of 6.4 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game across 46 games, showcasing his consistency and value as a key player for Zhejiang Guangsha Lions.
#6. Malachi Smith, a former Huskies alumnus from 2026 and a standout at 6'1'' as a guard, had a notable presence in the NCAA, guiding his team to the final that year. Currently, he is showcasing his skills in Puerto Rico as a professional player. In a recent game for Capitanes de Arecibo, despite Smith's commendable performance, the team suffered a significant defeat with a score of 113-79 against the leading Criollos in the Group A. Smith emerged as the second-highest scorer of the game, contributing 13 points while also showcasing his playmaking abilities with 3 assists in just 17 minutes of play. In the match against the formidable Criollos, Smith displayed his versatility on the court by recording 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Despite his impressive individual efforts, Capitanes de Arecibo fell short, resulting in a loss. So far this season, Smith has been averaging 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game across eight appearances.
#7. Hassan Diarra, a 6'2'' guard who graduated from UConn in 2025 and currently plays professionally in Lithuania, showcased his talent by leading Juventus to a resounding 103-90 victory over the third-ranked Neptunas in the Lithuanian Betsafe Lietuvos krepsinio lyga last Wednesday. In that game, Diarra delivered an impressive performance, scoring 12 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and dishing out 1 assist in 31 minutes of play. His contributions were instrumental in Juventus emerging as the champion in that matchup. Throughout the season, Diarra has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game across 26 appearances. His consistent performance on the court has undoubtedly been a key factor in Juventus' success, as evidenced by his impactful display in the recent game against Neptunas.
#8. German Niels Giffey, a 6'7'' forward who is 34 years old and an alumnus of the Huskies from 2014 when he helped them win the NCAA Champion that year, currently plays professionally in Germany. Recently, he played a significant role in FC Bayern Muenchen Basketball's victory over the closely-ranked Telekom Baskets with a score of 83-78 in the German easyCredit BBL last Saturday. In the game, Giffey contributed 5 points in just 11 minutes of play. Furthermore, in another match against Bonn, Giffey showcased his skills by scoring 5 points, grabbing 1 rebound, and providing 1 assist. His efforts were instrumental in helping his team secure a win and advance as the finalist. Throughout this season, Giffey has maintained an average of 7.3 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game in 37 appearances.
#9. Ghanaian center Amida Brimah, standing at 7 feet tall and 32 years old, is a UConn graduate from the class of 2017 who currently plays professionally in Spain. In a recent game, Brimah showcased his skills for Coviran Granada but was unable to lead his team to victory over Burgos. Despite his limited playing time of just 10 minutes, he managed to contribute 8 points to the team's efforts. Unfortunately, Coviran Granada fell short, losing the game 105-110 to Burgos. Brimah's performance against Burgos was notable, as he not only scored 8 points but also grabbed 2 rebounds and provided 1 assist. His all-around contribution on the court was commendable. Despite his individual efforts, Coviran Granada could not secure the win, and Burgos emerged as the victors. Throughout this season, Brimah has been averaging 4.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game across 25 appearances. His consistent contributions on both ends of the court have been valuable for Coviran Granada as they strive for success in the league.
#10. Tyler Polley, a 6'8'' forward and 27-year-old alumni of the Huskies class of 2022, currently plays professionally in Canada. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to lead the Brampton Honey Badgers to victory over the Bandits, resulting in a 87-93 loss. In a disappointing performance, Polley only scored 3 points in 18 minutes of play, making it a game he would not consider one of his best. However, in a more commendable showing against Vancouver, Polley managed to score 3 points and secure 3 rebounds, showcasing his skills on the court. Unfortunately, his individual efforts were not enough to secure a win for his team. Throughout this season, Polley has been averaging 2.3 points per game and 1.7 rebounds per game over the course of six games. Despite facing challenges, Polley continues to strive for success as he competes at the professional level in Canada.
Other former University of Connecticut players, who play in pro basketball:
Shabazz Napier (6'1''-PG-1991, played in 2010-14) played for FC Bayern Muenchen Basketball in German BBL few monts ago
Christian Vital (6'2''-G-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Tortona in Italian Serie A
Cam Spencer (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Donovan Clingan (7'2''-C-2004, played in 2022-24) plays for Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA
Tristen Newton (6'5''-G-2001, played in 2022-24) plays for Houston Rockets in the NBA
Andre Drummond (6'11''-C-1993, played in 2011-12) plays for Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA
Liam McNeeley (6'7''-F-2005, played in 2024-25) plays for Charlotte Hornets in the NBA
Andre Jackson Jr. (6'6''-G-2001) plays for Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA
Jordan Hawkins (6'5''-G-2002) plays for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
Tyrese Martin (6'6''-G-1999, played in 2020-22) plays for Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA
Jalen Adams (6'3''-SG-1995, played in 2015-19) plays for Parma-Pari in Russian VTB United League
Gavin Edwards (6'9''-F/C-1988, played in 2006-10) plays for Link Tochigi Brex Utsunomiya in Japanese B1 League
Isaiah Whaley (6'9''-F/C-1998, played in 2017-22) plays for Napoli in Italian Serie A
Alterique Gilbert (6'0''-PG-1997, played in 2016-20) played for Gornik Zamek Ksiaz Walbrzych in Polish OBL last year
Terry Larrier (6'8''-F-1995, played in 2015-15) plays for Soles in Dominican Rep. LNB
Samson Johnson (6'10''-C-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Noblesville Boom in the NBA G League
Omar Calhoun (6'6''-G-1993, played in 2012-16) played for Bisons in Finnish Korisliiga last year
Rodney Purvis (6'4''-SG-1994, played in 2013-13) plays for Kozuv in North Macedonian Super League
Uri Cohen Mintz (6'9''-F/C-1973, played in 1994-95) plays for Ramat Hasharon in Israeli National League
Kentan Facey (6'9''-PF-1993, played in 2013-17) plays for Caen Basket Calvados in French ProB
Hasheem Thabeet (7'2''-C-1987, played in 2006-09) plays for Dar City in Tanzanian NBL
Tarin Smith (6'3''-G-1995, played in 2018-19) played for LA Ignite in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Daniel Hamilton (6'7''-SG-1995, played in 2014-16) plays for Al Faisaly in Jordanian Premier League
Ryan Boatright (6'0''-PG-1992, played in 2011-15) played for Stars of Storrs - UConn Alumni in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Lasan Kromah (6'6''-SG-1991, played in 2013-14) plays for Taiwan Beer Leopards in Taiwanese TPBL
DeAndre Daniels (6'9''-F-1992, played in 2011-14) played for Stars of Storrs - UConn Alumni in the The Basketball Tournament last year
James Bouknight (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2019-21) plays for Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico in the NBA G League
Joey Calcaterra (6'3''-G-1998, played in 2024-25) plays for Memphis Hustle in the NBA G League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Connecticut basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
