Marek Nelson
Staverne Joseph

Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball Alumni in the Pros Update

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:
 
Marek Nelson (2020-22) recorded his fourth-straight double-double scoring a game-high 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while adding one assist and two steals in Kalamunda Eastern's 102-76 loss to Willetton in the Australian NBL One. Nelson is averaging 22.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.3 steals through six games.
 
Luis Valera (2008-10) scored 22 points with seven, two assists, and one steal in Guadalajara's 101-61 victory over Azudense in the regular season-finale in Group B-A of the Spanish EBA. Valera averaged 16.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 26 games. Guadalajara finished the season in third place with a 20-6 record.
 
Perry Petty (2010-11) scored 14 points with seven rebounds, one assist, and one steal in Mahram's 76-70 loss to Gorgan in game two of a three-game series for the Iran Superleague Quarterfinals, eliminating Mahram from the playoffs. Petty averaged 20.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.1 steals in 17 games.
 
Shaquille Hines (2012-16) recorded his 15th double-double of the year, scoring 17 points and grabbing 13 rebounds while adding two assists in Bambitious Nara's 77-62 loss to Ehime OV in the regular-season finale of the Japanese B2 League. Hines is averaging 17.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 60 games.
 
Mike Adewunmi (2021-22) scored 14 points with five rebounds and five assists in Lakeside's 94-87 loss to Perry Lakes in the Australian NBL One. Adewunmi is averaging 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.2 steals through six games.
 
Javon Levi (2017-21) scored a season-high 22 points with five rebounds, seven assists, and five steals in Dubrovnik's 86-75 win over Sibenka in the Croatian Premijer Lega regular season finale. Levi is averaging 10.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and a league-leading 3.1 steals. Dubrovnik qualified for the quarterfinals and will take on Split.
 
Justin Johnson (2021-23) scored two points with three rebounds in Handlova's 81-79 loss to Komarno of the Slovak Basketball League. Johnson is averaging 18.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists through 11 games.
 
Janari Joesaar (2014-15) scored seven points with five rebounds, one assist, and two steals in Anwil Wloclawek's 91-70 win over Twarde Peimiki in the Polish OBL. Joesaar is averaging 7.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists through 30 games. Anwil earned the number one seed and will face Spojnia in the quarterfinals. Dubrovnik swept the home-and-home regular season series against Spojnia.
 
Johnny Crnogorac (2017-19) scored five points with eight rebounds and one assist in the Sydney Comets 96-73 loss to Manly Warringah in the Australian NBL One. Crnogorac is averaging 5.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks.
Paul Stoll (2006-08) currently plays for Halcones de Xalapa in the FIBA Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA). Halcones de Xalapa defeated Hebraica Macabi 101-99 in the third-place game becoming the first Mexican club to medal in BCLA history. Earlier this season, Stoll won his second Mexican LNBP Championship with Fuerza Regia with a 4-1 series win over Astros de Jalisco.
 
Dan Kimasa (2014-18) plays for APR and is gearing up to compete in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) starting May 4. The BAL was established by both the NBA and FIBA in 2019 to be the premier basketball league for Africa. APR is in the three-team Sahara Conference and will play a six-game schedule featuring two games against every opponent in the conference.
 
Other former UTRGV players who are playing professional basketball:
Lesley Varner II (2016-20) played for SK Slavia Praha of the Czech Republic NBL. Varner averaged 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.9 steals in 33 games.
 
Jordan Jackson (2017-20) plays for the Boston Celtics' G-League affiliate, the Maine Celtics. The Maine Celtics lost 117-100 to the OKC Blue in the deciding game three of the G-League Finals. Jackson averaged 2.1 points through 16 games.
 
Terry Winn III (2017-19) signed with Flexachem KCYMS Killorglin of the Irish Super League on Jan. 5.

Support UTRGV Men's Basketball | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Justin Johnson

#1 Justin Johnson

G/F
6' 6"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Justin Johnson

#1 Justin Johnson

6' 6"
Senior
G/F