Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Golden Panthers alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Clevon Brown (13 points), Michael Kessens (6 points), and Eric Nottage (9 points).
#1. In the recent game, Clevon Brown, a 27-year-old forward standing at 6'8'' who graduated from FIU in 2022 and currently plays professionally in the Czech Republic, was unable to help Opava (18-18) in their matchup. Despite his commendable performance, Opava, which is ranked fifth with an 18-18 record, suffered a crushing 116-79 defeat on the road against the top-ranked Nymburk in the Places 1-8 group. Brown showcased his skills by contributing 13 points in just 20 minutes, making him the second-best scorer for Opava in the game against Nymburk. Even though he displayed a solid performance with 13 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, his team was unable to clinch the victory. Throughout this season, Brown has maintained relatively impressive statistics, averaging 11.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game, which ranks him as the second-best shot blocker in the league. In the 43 games he has played thus far, Brown has consistently demonstrated his value as a key player for Opava.
#2. Experienced Swiss player Michael Kessens, a 6'9'' center/forward at 35 years old and an alumnus of the Golden Panthers class of 2017, currently plays professionally in Germany. Despite his best efforts, Kessens was unable to help Telekom Baskets Bonn (21-13) secure a victory over the s Oliver Baskets (20-14) in the German easyCredit BBL. In the matchup, he contributed 6 points and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes of play. Unfortunately, Telekom Baskets Bonn suffered a 54-69 defeat at the hands of the lower-ranked (#5) s Oliver Baskets in Wuerzburg. Kessens displayed a commendable performance against Wuerzburg, adding 6 points and 5 rebounds to his stats. However, his individual efforts were not enough to prevent his team from losing the game. Throughout this season, Kessens has maintained an average of 7.1 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game across the 34 games he has participated in thus far. It is noteworthy that Kessens holds both American and Swiss citizenship, enabling him to play in Switzerland as a domestic player.
#3. Eric Nottage, a 6'2'' point guard who is 31 years old and a graduate of FIU in 2017, currently plays professionally in Belgium. In a recent game, Nottage made his debut for Val-Dieu Spirou Basket Charleroi this season against the Antwerp Giants. Despite his noteworthy performance of 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in 29 minutes of play, Val-Dieu Spirou Basket Charleroi suffered a significant 109-92 defeat at the hands of the second-ranked Giants. Nottage's skills on the court clearly demonstrated why he is a champion, even though his team was unable to emerge victorious. It is worth mentioning that Nottage is a former player of the prestigious Eurobasket Summer League, recognized as a top international summer league in the market.
#4. Tevin Brewer, a 5'8'' point guard and 27-year-old Dukes alumnus from 2023, who previously played for FIU between 2019 and 2022, is currently showcasing his talents as a professional basketball player in Austria. Although he was unable to lead UBSC Raiffeisen Graz to victory in their recent game against the leading Bulls, where they suffered a close 83-88 loss in Kapfenberg, Brewer's performance on the court was notable. Even though UBSC Graz faced their third consecutive loss, Brewer's individual contribution was impressive. In the game, he achieved a double-double with 10 points and 12 assists, displaying his accuracy by going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line during his 30 minutes of play. This marks Brewer's first season with the team, and he has been making a significant impact with his exceptional stats and on-court presence. Throughout the season, Brewer has maintained outstanding performance levels, averaging 19.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 8.6 assists (leading the league in this category), and 1.2 steals per game in the 37 games he has played so far. His consistent high-level play exemplifies his skills and contribution to the team, despite the recent string of losses for UBSC Raiffeisen Graz. Brewer's dedication and talent make him a key player to watch in the league as he continues to excel on the court.
#5. Daviyon Draper, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from FIU in 2016 and currently plays professionally in Argentina, recently showcased his skills for Obera (23-13) in their latest match. Despite his commendable performance, Obera was unable to secure a victory, falling 78-86 to the lower-ranked (#8) Boca Juniors in Buenos Aires. In the game, Draper emerged as the second-best scorer for Obera, tallying 17 points and grabbing 8 rebounds during his 32 minutes on the court. His contributions were notable, yet his team could not clinch the win against Boca Juniors. Throughout the season, Draper has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 15.6 points per game (ranking third best in the league), along with 6.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 31 games. Despite Obera's recent setback, Draper's consistent performance highlights his significant impact on the team. It is worth noting that Draper, a naturalized American, continues to excel on the court and remains a key player for Obera as they strive for success in the league.
#6. Trejon Jacob, a 6'5'' shooting guard who is 28 years old and an alumnus of the Golden Panthers from 2020, currently plays professionally in Denmark. In a recent game, he was unable to lead Horsens IC to victory against Svendborg. Despite his solid performance of scoring 8 points and grabbing 5 rebounds in 25 minutes, Jacob's team suffered a heavy defeat, losing by 25 points with a final score of 103-78. Although Jacob showcased an impressive performance against Svendborg, his individual efforts were not enough to secure the win for his team. Throughout the season, he has maintained relatively good statistics, averaging 11.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, ranking him as the fourth-best player in the league for steals. In addition to his current professional endeavors, Jacob has a background as a former participant in the Eurobasket Summer League, known as a top summer league for players aspiring to play basketball internationally.
#7. Bahamas Rashad Davis, a 6'5'' forward aged 29 who graduated from FIU in 2021 and currently plays professionally in France, recently led Caen Basket Calvados to a 93-86 victory against the closely-ranked Olympique Antibes in the French ELITE 2 (second division) last Friday. Displaying his skills on the court, Davis contributed 12 points and 2 rebounds in just 23 minutes of play. His noteworthy performance not only helped secure the win but also highlighted his abilities as a true champion. Throughout the season, Davis has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.7 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game across 35 appearances.
#8. Ronald Whitaker, a 6'7'' guard/forward and 31-year-old Golden Panthers alum from 2018 who currently plays professionally in the TBL, played a crucial role in the recent victory of the DMV Soldiers over the Lehigh Valley Flight. Despite scoring only 4 points in 15 minutes of play, his performance was significant in the team's dominating 137-83 win in a derby game in The Basketball League last Sunday. In the match against the Lehigh Valley Flight, Whitaker contributed 4 points and 3 rebounds, aiding his team in securing the victory. His presence on the court proved to be vital in guiding his team to success, ultimately leading them to emerge as the champion of the game. Throughout the season, Whitaker has been having an exceptional year individually, showcasing impressive statistics. He maintains an average of 17.3 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game, and 1.2 steals per game across 10 games, solidifying his position as a standout finalist in the league.
Other former Florida International University players, who play in pro basketball:
Nikola Gacesa (6'9''-F/C-1987, played in 2006-10) played for Gajdobra in Serbian KLS few monts ago
Petar Krivokapic (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2020-24) plays for Mornar in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Jonathan Aybar (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2023-25) played for Leones in Dominican Rep. LNB last year
Gabriel Belardo (6'2''-G-1989, played in 2012-13) played for Indios de Mayaguez in Puerto Rican BSN last year
Donte McGill (6'3''-G-1995, played in 2015-17) plays for Al Arabi in Qatari QBL
Javaunte Hawkins (5'11''-PG-2000, played in 2020-24) plays for Tikvesh in North Macedonian Super League
John Williams (6'4''-SG-1999, played in 2022-23) plays for Bayer Giants Leverkusen in German ProA
Mohamed Sanogo (6'9''-F-2002, played in 2021-24) plays for JCA in Ivorian National 1
Seth Pinkney (7'1''-C-2000, played in 2021-24) plays for Vellaznimi in Kosovan Superliga
D'Evon Andrews (6'6''-F-1996, played in 2018-20) played for Tri-City Tide in the TBL last year
Eric Lovett (6'5''-G/F-1998, played in 2019-22) played for Wenatchee Bighorns in the TBL last year
Michael Douglas (6'5''-F, played in 2015-19) plays for Howard Hoops in Thailand Warriors League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Florida International University basketball alumni.
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