Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Golden Eagles alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Rafael Munford (15 points), Brandon Sly (14 points), and Neema Namdar (25 points).
#1. Portuguese champion Rafael Munford, standing at 6'5'' and 27 years old, graduated from Augusta in 2020 after playing at USU Eastern between 2017 and 2018, where he received the NJCAA D1 All-Region 18 First Team award. Currently playing professionally in Brazil, Munford recently played a significant role in Sport Club Corinthians Paulista's victory over the 13th-ranked Caxias do Sul with a score of 92-79 in the Brazilian Novo Basquete Brasil. He showcased his prowess by scoring 15 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and contributing 2 assists in 32 minutes of play. Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, with a record of 27-11, holds the sixth position in the league standings as the Regular Season has concluded. Munford's impressive season stats include averaging 11.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. It is noteworthy that Munford holds both American and Portuguese citizenship, making him eligible to play in Portugal as a domestic player. His exceptional performance against Caxias do Sul demonstrated his skills and determination as a true champion and finalist.
#2. Brandon Sly, a 29-year-old 5'11'' point guard and former Grizzlies alumnus from 2018, has been making waves in Serbia as a professional player. Despite his stellar performance, Sly couldn't lead Cacak 94 to victory in their recent game against Sloga KR, where they were defeated 104-91. Sly was the standout performer for his team, scoring 14 points in just 16 minutes of play. Sly, who previously played for USU Eastern between 2014 and 2016 and received the NJCAA D1 All-Region XVIII Second Team award, has been a key player for Cacak 94 in his first season with the team. With impressive averages of 17.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, Sly has been a consistent performer throughout the season. As Cacak 94 heads into their final game of the Regular Season, Sly's contributions will be crucial for the team. Despite the tough loss against Sloga KR, Sly's individual success and strong performances have been a bright spot for his team throughout the season.
#3. Neema Namdar, a 6'2'' guard at 28 years old, graduated from HPU in 2020 and previously played at USU Eastern between 2017 and 2018, earning the NJCAA D1 All-Region 18 Honorable Mention award during that time. Currently, he is playing professionally in Denmark. In a recent game, Namdar, despite his stellar performance, couldn't prevent third-placed Vejen (10-21) from suffering a significant 103-83 defeat at home to the lower-ranked Holbaek-Stenhus (#4) in the Places 7-12 group. Namdar stood out as the top scorer with 25 points, along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 39 minutes of play. As Namdar's team heads into their final game of the Second Stage, it holds critical importance for their standings. This marks Namdar's debut season with the team, and despite his notable individual season with impressive stats averaging 15.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, the team has faced challenges. A naturalized American, Namdar previously participated in the prestigious Eurobasket Summer League, a top choice for players looking to venture into overseas basketball opportunities.
#4. Experienced Angolan player Valdelicio Joaquim, standing at 6'10'' and aged 36, has a rich basketball background. He is an alumnus of the Rainbow Warriors from 2013 and also played at USU Eastern between 2009 and 2010. Currently, he competes professionally in France and recently played a crucial role in Etoile Charleville-Mezieres' triumph over the fifth-ranked Union Rennes with a score of 97-91 in the French Nationale Masculine 1, which is the third division of French basketball. In the game, Joaquim showcased his skills by contributing 9 points, securing 6 rebounds, and making 2 blocks in just 12 minutes of play. This outstanding performance helped Etoile Charleville-Mezieres, who are currently placed sixth in Group B, achieve their seventh consecutive victory. This winning streak highlights Joaquim's impact since joining the team for his first season. Joaquim's noteworthy statistics this season include averaging 10.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. His impressive display against Rennes underscores his value to his team, leading them to success and ultimately emerging as the finalist. Additionally, his participation in the Eurobasket Summer League played a significant role in paving the way for his professional basketball career.
#5. Serbian basketball player Milan Surlic, a 6'2'' guard at the age of 28, is a graduate of Sioux Falls (2020) who previously played for USU Eastern from 2016 to 2018. During his time at USU Eastern, he received the NJCAA D1 All-Region 18 Honorable Mention award in 2018. Currently playing professionally in Serbia, Surlic recently showcased his skills in a game against the 12th-ranked Proleter, where his team secured a dominant 102-75 victory in the Serbian Druga Muska Liga Srbije (second division) on Saturday night. In the game, Surlic made a significant impact by scoring 6 points in just 14 minutes of play and also contributing 2 rebounds. This performance played a crucial role in helping his team achieve success on the court, resulting in him being recognized as a finalist. KK Nis, his team, holds the second position in the league standings with a record of 25-5, having secured their sixth consecutive victory. With the Regular Season already concluded, Surlic's consistent performance throughout the season is evident as he maintains an average of 6.4 points per game.
Other former Utah State University Eastern players, who play in pro basketball:
Peter Filipovity (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2020-21) plays for Kaposvari in Hungarian A Division
Max Richards (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2019-20) played for Ringwood Hawks in Australian NBL One few monts ago
Malek Malual (6'5''-F, played in 2020-23) plays for Sydney City Comets in Australian NBL One
James Kinney (6'2''-PG-1990, played in 2009-11) plays for JKSE in Hungarian B Red
Julian Vaughns (6'3''-G-2001, played in 2020-21) plays for Kosice Wolves in Slovakian Tipos SBL
Hamdi Karoui (6'7''-F-1993, played in 2012-16) played for Trappes SQ in French Regional League last year
Chase Berry (6'6''-F-1998, played in 2018-19) played for Al Khewaildia in Saudi Arabian SBL last year
Donaval Avila Jr. (6'3''-G, played in 2019-21) played for Solola in Guatemalan D3 last year
Alioune Tew (6'9''-C-1992, played in 2013-14) played for V Islanders in Vietnamese VBA last year
Ivan Chmyrenko (6'5''-G-1999, played in 2017-19) played for Self Made in Ukrainian Higher League last year
Dashaun Wiggins (6'2''-G-1991, played in 2010-12) played for MTB in Moroccan DEX-H last year
Michael Glover (6'5''-C-1987, played in 2009-10) played for Mount Vernon Power in the MBL last year
Solomon Rolls-Tyson (6'8''-F-1994, played in 2015-16) played for Bristol Hurricanes in British BCB last year
Kurt-Curry Wegscheider (6'5''-G-2001, played in 2021-22) played for City Oilers in Ugandan NBL last year
Thiago Nunes (6'3''-G-1999, played in 2016-20) played for Sao Paulo FC in Brazilian NBB last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Utah State University Eastern basketball alumni.
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