RIO GRANDE VALLEY – There are at least 10 players who previously played for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men's basketball team that currently play or will play professional basketball in 2023-24, including Jordan Jackson (2017-20), who won the NBA G-League dunk contest on Saturday. Here is an update on how Jackson and his fellow alumni are doing, courtesy of Eurobasket:
Former UTRGV players that are currently playing professional basketball:
Jackson earned some hardware during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis by winning the NBA G-League Dunk Contest. Jackson currently plays for the Maine Celtics.
Perry Petty (2010-11) scored 20 points with three rebounds, two assists, and a game-high five steals in Mahram's nailbiting 80-79 victory over Zob Ahan in the Iranian Superleague. Petty is averaging 22.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.4 steals in seven games. Mahram is currently in fourth place with a 12-7 record.
Lesley Varner II (2016-20) scored 14 points with five rebounds and two steals in SK Slavia Praha's 100-77 loss to Olomoucko in the Czech Republic NBL. Varner is averaging 19.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 2.0 steals through 25 games.
Luis Valera (2008-10) scored 15 points while adding six rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in Guadalajara's 84-78 loss to Chlorella in Group B-A of the Spanish EBA. Valera is averaging 16.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.0 assist through 19 games. Guadalajara sits in second place with a 15-4 record.
Shaquille Hines (2012-16) recorded his tenth double-double of the year, scoring a game-high 31 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in Bambitious Nara's 95-75 blowout win over Niigata Albirex in the Japanese B2 League. Hines is averaging 17.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists through 41 games.
Janari Joesaar (2014-15) scored eight points with nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in Anwil Wloclawek's 90-88 loss to King in the Polish OBL. Joesaar is averaging 7.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists through 20 games. Anwil sits in first place with a 17-3 record.
Javon Levi (2017-21) scored a game-high 20 points with six rebounds and six assists in KK Dubrovnik's 58-57 loss to KK Alkar Sinj in the Croatian Premijer Liga. Levi is averaging 10.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and a league-leading 3.3 steals through 19 games.
Other former UTRGV players who are playing professional basketball:
Terry Winn III (2017-19) signed with Flexachem KCYMS Killorglin of the Irish Super League on Jan. 5.
Paul Stoll (2006-08) won his second Mexican LNBP Championship with Fuerza Regia with a 4-1 series win over Astros de Jalisco. Stoll finished the season averaging 6.3 points, 4.5 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 32 games.
Johnny Crnogorac (2017-19) played for Sydney City Comets in Australian NBL One during the 2023 season. Crnogorac averaged 11.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.6 blocks in 20 games played last season.
Note: The list above includes only some of the alumni currently playing in pro basketball. For the full list, click here.
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