Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Penguins alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Kendrick Perry (6 points), Tevin Olison (21 points), and Bryce McBride (13 points).
#1. Experienced champion Kendrick Perry, a 6'0'' point guard at 33 years old, graduated from YSU in 2014 and received the All-Horizon League First Team award that year. Currently playing professionally in Spain, Perry showcased his skills for Unicaja Malaga but couldn't lead his team to victory against Baskonia in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Despite his noteworthy performance of 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 assists in 23 minutes, Unicaja Malaga narrowly lost 92-89 to the higher-ranked Baskonia on the road. As the regular season winds down with only one more critical game for Perry's team, every match becomes increasingly important. This marks Perry's fourth season with Unicaja Malaga, where he has maintained solid statistics this year, averaging 11.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game - ranking fourth in the league for steals. Known as a naturalized American player, Perry continues to be a key asset for his team as they strive for success in the league.
#2. Tevin Olison, a 27-year-old guard standing 6'5" and an alumnus of the Penguins from 2022, currently plays professionally in the Czech Republic. In a recent game, he played a crucial role as Brno emerged victorious against the fifth-ranked Opava with a score of 99-97 in the Czech Republic Maxa NBL. Olison's stellar performance included scoring 21 points and dishing out 6 assists in just 20 minutes on the court. His remarkable contributions were instrumental in securing the win for his team, positioning them as the champion of the match. Basket Brno, currently holding a 23-13 record, sits at third place in the Places 1-8 group standings. Throughout the season, Olison has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 14.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game in the 22 games he has participated in so far. His consistent performance and leadership on the court have undoubtedly played a significant role in Brno's success, solidifying his position as a standout champion and a key player for his team.
#3. Bryce McBride, a 6'2'' guard who is 26 years old and graduated from YSU in 2023 after helping them secure the Horizon League Regular Season Champion title that year, currently plays professionally in Estonia. In a recent game, he led Tartu to a convincing victory over league leader Kalev/Cramo, who had a perfect 7-0 record, with a final score of 85-65 in the Estonian Paf Korvpalli Meistriliiga. McBride put up an impressive performance, scoring 13 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists in 34 minutes of play. Despite Tartu Ulikool Maks & Moorits being placed seventh in the league with a 2-5 record, McBride's exceptional display against Kalev/Cramo highlighted his skills and determination on the court. His significant contributions of 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists not only secured the win for his team but also emphasized why he is recognized as a champion. Throughout the season, McBride has maintained high individual statistics, averaging 15.8 points per game (ranking him fourth best in the league), along with 3.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists in the 10 games he has played so far. His consistent performance showcases his talent and dedication to the sport, solidifying his reputation as a finalist.
#4. DJ Burns, a 25-year-old 6'7'' forward and Penguins alumnus from 2024, is currently playing professionally in Israel. Despite his commendable performance, Burns could not lead M.Rishon (12-14) to victory against Hapoel Tel-Aviv (22-4) in the Israeli Winner League. In the recent matchup, Burns scored 7 points and contributed 4 assists in 22 minutes of play. The final score saw M.Rishon, ranked seventh with a record of 12-14, suffer a tough 95-69 loss at home to the second-ranked Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the Places 1-8 group. This season marks Burns' debut with the team, where he has been displaying solid statistics of 12.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game over 26 games. It's noteworthy that Burns previously participated in the Eurobasket Summer League, an experience that likely played a role in securing his position in professional basketball. Despite his team's defeat in the recent game, Burns showcased his skills by contributing 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists against Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
Other former Youngstown State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Adrian Nelson (6'8''-PF-1999, played in 2022-23) plays for JL Bourg en Bresse in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Brandon Rush (6'4''-G, played in 2022-24) signed for FMP BG in Serbian KLS
Naz Bohannon (6'6''-F-1999, played in 2017-21) plays for Science City Jena in German BBL
Nico Galette (6'6''-F-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Menorca in Spanish Primera FEB
Brett Thompson (6'1''-G, played in 2023-24) plays for Jedinstvo in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Dwayne Cohill (6'2''-PG-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Delaware Blue Coats in the NBA G League
Noe Anabir (6'8''-PF-1995, played in 2017-19) plays for Geneve in Swiss SBL
Siem Uijtendaal (6'6''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Den Helder in Dutch DBL
Raheem Williams (6'6''-G-1994, played in 2016-18) played for Cockburn Cougars in Australian NBL One few monts ago
Malek Green (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2023-24) plays for VfL SparkassenStars Bochum in German ProA
EJ Farmer (6'5''-G/F-2003, played in 2023-25) plays for Massagno in Swiss SBL
Ziggy Reid (6'6''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Vellaznimi in Kosovan Superliga
Vytautas Sulskis (6'7''-G-1988, played in 2007-11) plays for Omega-Tauras in Lithuanian NKL
Bryson Langdon (5'9''-PG-1999, played in 2023-24) played for Elan Coton in Beninese Pro-League 1 last year
Jaylen Bates (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Apolonia in Albanian Superliga
Sidney Umude (6'7''-F-1995, played in 2014-18) played for Longueau in French NM2 last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Youngstown State University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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