Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Trailblazers players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of DJ Brewton (16 points), Craig Porter Jr. (7 points), and Ronnie Rousseau III (24 points).
#1. DJ Brewton, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from CS Fullerton in 2024 and previously played for Vincennes, showcased his talent last Saturday in the Polish Orlen Basket Liga. Playing for Legia Warszawa, he led his team to a resounding 93-66 victory over GTK, one of the league's struggling teams with a record of 5-22. Brewton's exceptional performance earned him the MVP title of the game, as he contributed 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 20 minutes of play. This remarkable display of skill is even more impressive considering that Brewton is only in his second season of professional basketball. Currently, Legia Warszawa holds the second position in the league with a record of 19-8, thanks in part to Brewton's stellar contributions on the court. The recent win against GTK marked the team's fourth consecutive victory, highlighting their strong form as they head towards the end of the Regular Season, with only three games remaining. As every game becomes crucial in determining their final standing, Brewton's consistent performance will be vital in helping his team secure a top position. With an average of 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in the 10 games he has played this season, Brewton has been a key player for Legia Warszawa. His impressive stats and impactful presence on the court position him as a champion in the making, with the potential to lead his team to success in the upcoming playoffs.
#2. Craig Porter Jr., a 6'2'' guard and Shockers alumnus from the class of 2023, previously played at Vincennes between 2018 and 2020 where he earned the NJCAA All-Region IV Team award. He is currently a finalist in the NBA, playing professionally for the Cleveland Cavaliers. In a recent game against the Washington Wizards, who have a record of 17-65, Porter Jr. contributed significantly to the Cavaliers' 130-117 victory. He showcased his skills as a finalist by scoring 7 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and providing 4 assists in 28 minutes of play. Despite the Cleveland Cavaliers holding a somewhat weak 52-30 record this season, Porter Jr.'s arrival has been impactful as the team heads towards the end of the NBA Regular Season with only three games remaining. Every game is crucial at this point, and Porter Jr.'s performance has been noteworthy in his first year with the team. Throughout the season, he has maintained an average of 4.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game in the 64 games he has played so far. His recent standout performance against the Washington Wizards further solidified his position as a champion on the court.
#3. Ronnie Rousseau III, standing at 5'9'' and playing as a point guard, is a 30-year-old player who graduated from Antelope Valley in 2020. He previously played for Vincennes between 2014 and 2015, where he helped them reach the final of the NJCAA D1 District XVI that year. Currently, he is playing professionally in Portugal. In a recent game, Rousseau III couldn't prevent his team, Galomar (8-4), from suffering a heavy defeat of 108-88 against Lusitania on the road. Despite his exceptional performance, where he emerged as the top scorer with 24 points, Galomar faced their first loss after a remarkable streak of six consecutive victories. With only two games remaining until the end of the Second Stage, every upcoming game holds significant importance for the team. This season marks Rousseau III's debut with the team in Portugal. In the recent match against Lusitania, he showcased his skills by scoring 24 points, securing 2 rebounds, and providing 5 assists. Despite his outstanding contributions, Galomar couldn't secure the win. Individually, Rousseau III is having a remarkable season with impressive statistics. He maintains an average of 15.7 points per game, along with 1.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in the 13 games played so far.
#4. Nigerian Kevin Osawe, a 6'7'' small forward who is 26 years old, is a Highlanders alum from 2023. He previously played in Vincennes between 2018 and 2020 before turning pro in Germany. Despite his impressive performance, Osawe could not prevent Gartenzaun24 Baskets Paderborn (12-20) from losing their last game 75-87 to the second-ranked Hakro Merlins in Crailsheim. In the game, Osawe showcased his skills by scoring 17 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, making all of his seven free throws in just 29 minutes of play. This performance stands out, especially considering that he is only in his third season of professional basketball. As the Regular Season is nearing its end, every game becomes crucial for the team. Although Osawe delivered a remarkable performance against Crailsheim with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist, his team was unable to secure the victory. Despite the team's challenges, Osawe has been having an outstanding year individually, averaging 16.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game over 26 games. It is worth noting that in addition to his Nigerian background, Osawe also holds Canadian citizenship.
#5. Jamaican basketball player Romaro Gill, a towering 7'3'' center at 31 years old, completed his education at Seton Hall in 2020. However, his journey to becoming a champion started back in 2015 when he played for Vincennes, helping them secure the NJCAA D1 District XVI Champion title in 2017. Currently, Gill is showcasing his skills as a professional player in Spain. In a recent game for Ourense, despite his commendable performance, he could not prevent his team from suffering a 67-72 defeat at home to the lower-ranked Cantabria, who held the 12th position. Gill's contribution included a double-double, with 11 points and an impressive 15 rebounds in just 25 minutes of play. Unfortunately, this loss marked Ourense's fourth consecutive defeat. Nonetheless, Gill's exceptional display on the court against Cantabria did not go unnoticed. His remarkable stat line earned him the Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, recognizing his outstanding efforts as a champion player. Throughout the current season, Gill has been averaging 5.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game across 27 appearances, further solidifying his reputation as a finalist player to watch in the league.
#6. Kingsley Okanu, a 6'8'' power forward and former Lakers alumnus from 2023, previously played for Vincennes between 2018 and 2020, where he received the NJCAA All-Region IV Team award. Currently, he is playing professionally in Spain. Okanu is a teammate of the aforementioned Romaro Gill, and both recently played together in the final Spanish Primera FEB game. In the most recent match, Okanu, despite his commendable performance, was unable to lead Ourense (11-16) to victory. Ourense suffered a 67-72 defeat on their home court to the lower-ranked (#12) Cantabria. Okanu managed to score 11 points in just 16 minutes of play, showcasing his skills on the court. Throughout the season, Okanu has been averaging 8.4 points per game and 4.1 rebounds per game in 27 appearances. His consistent contributions have been noteworthy, demonstrating his value to the team. It is worth noting that Okanu, a champion in his own right, is a naturalized Nigerian, adding to his diverse background and experiences in the world of basketball.
#7. Canadian Kevin Kangu, a 6'4'' guard who is 27 years old and a graduate of Lenoir-Rhyne in 2022, previously played for Vincennes between 2018 and 2019. During his time at Vincennes, he played a crucial role in helping them secure the NJCAA Division I Champion title in 2019. Kangu currently showcases his talent as a professional basketball player in Indonesia. Recently, Kangu led Satya Wacana to a remarkable victory over the third-ranked Borneo with a score of 77-75 in the Indonesian Basketball League. In this game, Kangu's exceptional performance earned him the title of MVP. He contributed significantly by scoring 24 points, making 6 assists, and recording 4 steals in the 40-minute game. His remarkable display of skills and determination as a finalist truly shone through on the court. Throughout the season, Kangu has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 17.5 points per game, 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.3 steals in 15 games. His consistent performance highlights his prowess as a champion in the sport of basketball. It is also noteworthy that Kangu holds DR Congolese citizenship, adding to the diversity and richness of his background and experience in the world of basketball.
#8. Christopher Darrington, a 6'1'' point guard aged 29, has an impressive basketball background having been part of the Rockets alumni in 2019. Prior to that, he played for Vincennes between 2015 and 2017, where he significantly contributed to their success as they clinched the NJCAA D1 District XVI Championship. Currently playing professionally in the TBL, Darrington recently led the Glass City Wranglers to a resounding 126-101 victory over the Hamilton County Huskers in The Basketball League. During the game, Darrington showcased his exceptional skills and determination, earning himself the title of MVP by scoring 20 points in just 26 minutes of play. His all-around performance included 2 rebounds and 2 assists, highlighting his versatility on the court. Throughout the season, Darrington has maintained high statistics, averaging an impressive 27.3 points per game, ranking him third in the league in scoring. Additionally, he contributes 3.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game over the course of eight games, further solidifying his position as a champion player in the league.
#9. Experienced Jamaican player Tyran De Lattibeaudiere, standing at 6'5'' and playing as a power forward, showcased his skills on the court during a recent game in the Mexican Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacifico. Despite being 35 years old, he proved to be a pivotal player for the Astros de Jalisco, helping them secure a decisive 91-76 victory over the Halcones de Ciudad Obregon, a closely-ranked opponent. In this game, De Lattibeaudiere notably scored 15 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and provided 1 assist in just 24 minutes of play. His remarkable performance not only contributed significantly to his team's win but also reaffirmed his reputation as a champion in the sport. Throughout the season, De Lattibeaudiere has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 15.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game across 16 appearances. His consistent contributions and leadership on the court have undoubtedly played a key role in the success of the Astros de Jalisco, positioning him as a formidable finalist in the league.
Other former Vincennes University players, who play in pro basketball:
Vilhelm Bodingh (6'9''-C-2004, played in 2023-24) plays for Uppsala in Swedish Basketligan
Jalen Harper (6'1''-G-2000, played in 2020-21) plays for M.Haifa in Israeli National League
Donte McGill (6'3''-G-1995, played in 2014-15) plays for Al Arabi in Qatari QBL
A.J. Patty (6'9''-F-1995, played in 2013-15) plays for Rahoveci in Kosovan Superliga
Kevin Kone (6'9''-PF-1999, played in 2018-20) plays for Caen Basket Calvados in French ProB
John Ukomadu (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2019-21) plays for Motor City Cruise in the NBA G League
Dequandre Dentmond (6'8''-F-1995, played in 2014-15) played for Bangkok Sharks in Thailand TEBA few monts ago
Mychal Mulder (6'4''-SG-1994, played in 2013-15) plays for Vancouver Bandits in CEBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Vincennes University basketball alumni.
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