RIO GRANDE VALLEY – There are at least 14 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. Here is an update on how some of them are doing, courtesy of Eurobasket:
Former UTRGV players that are currently playing professional basketball:
Lesley Varner II (2016-20) recorded his fourth consecutive 20+ point game with 23 points while adding seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals in Slavia's 87-81 win over Srsni Pisek in the Czech Republic NBL. Varner is averaging 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.9 steals through 33 games.
Marek Nelson (2020-22) scored a game-high 25 points and added eight rebounds, two steals, and one assist in Kalamunda Eastern's 99-83 loss to East Perth in the Australian NBL One West. Nelson is averaging 19 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2.5 steals through two games.
Luis Valera (2008-10) scored a game-high 19 points with one rebound and one assist in Guadalajara's 84-79 victory over La Matanza in Group B-A of the Spanish EBA. Valera is averaging 16.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assist through 25 games. Guadalajara is in fourth place with a 19-6 record and is two games behind first place.
Perry Petty (2010-11) scored a game-high 17 points with five rebounds and two assists in Mahram's 88-71 win over Kerman in the game one of a three-game series for the Iran Superleague Quarterfinals. Petty is averaging 22.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.2 steals through 14 games.
Shaquille Hines (2012-16) recorded his 12th double-double of the year, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds while adding two assists, one block, and one steal in Bambitious Nara's 79-72 win over Nishinomiya in the Japanese B2 League. Hines is averaging 17.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists through 56 games.
Mike Adewunmi (2021-22) scored a 14 points with seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals in Lakeside's 83-80 loss to Goldfields in the Australian NBL One West. Adewunmi is averaging 26 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.5 steals through two games.
Javon Levi (2017-21) scored 11 points with five rebounds and six assists in Dubrovnik's 74-60 loss to Skrljevo in the Croatian Premijer Lega. Levi is averaging 9.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and a league-leading 3.0 steals.
Justin Johnson (2021-23) scored seven points with three rebounds and one assist in Handlova's 84-68 loss to Inter Bratislava of the Slovak Basketball League. Johnson is averaging 18.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.0 steals through seven games.
Janari Joesaar (2014-15) scored four points with six rebounds, three assists, and one steal in Anwil Wloclawek's 70-64 win over Spojnia in the Polish OBL. Joesaar is averaging 6.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists through 27 games. Anwil sits atop the standings with an 22-5 record.
Johnny Crnogorac (2017-19) grabbed six rebounds and blocked four shots in the Sydney Comets season-opening 94-78 win over Albury in the Australian NBL One.
Dan Kimasa (2014-18) scored three points while adding four rebounds and one assist in APR's 78-75 victory over REG in the Rwandan RBL. Kimasa is averaging 2.5 points and 4.4 rebounds through eight games. APR currently rests in second place with an 8-1 record.
Other former UTRGV players who are playing professional basketball:
Paul Stoll (2006-08) currently plays for Halcones de Xalapa in the FIBA Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA). They will face Flamengo in the semifinals of the BCLA which starts on April 13. Earlier this season, Stoll won his second Mexican LNBP Championship with Fuerza Regia with a 4-1 series win over Astros de Jalisco.
Jordan Jackson (2017-20) plays for the Boston Celtics' G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics. The Maine Celtics have advanced to the NBA G-League Finals as the Eastern Conference champions. They will take on the Oklahoma City Blue for game one of a best-of-3 series tonight at 7 p.m. Jackson is averaging 2.1 points through 16 games.
Terry Winn III (2017-19) signed with Flexachem KCYMS Killorglin of the Irish Super League on Jan. 5.
