Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Wildcats players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Chase Audige, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from Northwestern in 2023, has been playing professionally in Spain and currently competes for Unicaja Malaga. In a recent match against Joventut, despite being the top scorer for his team with 12 points in just 16 minutes, Unicaja suffered a crushing 95-74 defeat on the road. Audige, who received the All-Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year award during his final year in college, has been showcasing his skills in his first season with Unicaja. While he has been averaging 5.7 points and 1.3 rebounds per game in the 25 games he has played this season, his standout performance against Joventut demonstrated his scoring prowess. As the Regular Season nears its end, Audige and his team have one crucial game left to play. Despite the challenging season, Audige's contributions on the court have been noteworthy, and his American background adds to his dynamic presence on the team. The upcoming game will be pivotal for Audige and Unicaja as they strive to finish the season on a high note and secure a spot in the playoffs.
#2. Victor Law, a 6'7'' forward and 30-year-old Wildcats alumni from 2019, showcased his prowess as a professional player in Japan by leading Ryukyu Golden Kings Okinawa to a thrilling 71-69 victory over the league leader Velca (47-13) on Saturday night. In this highly anticipated matchup between two top-ranked teams in group West, Law's stellar performance proved instrumental in securing the win for his team. With 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists in 33 minutes of play, Law's impact on the court was undeniable, earning him the well-deserved MVP title for the game. Law's exceptional contributions throughout the season have been remarkable, with impressive averages of 16.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in the 56 games he has played thus far. His consistent performance has not only elevated his team's standing but has also solidified his reputation as a champion on the court.
#3. Experienced champion John Shurna, a 6'9'' power forward who is 36 years old and graduated from Northwestern in 2012 with an All-Big Ten First Team award, currently plays professionally in Spain. In a recent match, Shurna was unable to lift his team, Hiopos Forca Lleida, who are one of the league's weakest teams with a record of 12-22, to victory. Despite his commendable performance, Lleida suffered a heavy defeat of 116-88 against MoraBanc, who are ranked #17 in the league. Shurna contributed 10 points in 18 minutes of play. The Regular Season has already concluded, and Shurna showcased his skills in the game against Andorra by scoring 10 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists. Despite his notable efforts, Lleida could not secure a win. Throughout this season, Shurna has maintained an average of 6.1 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game in the 29 games he has participated in thus far. It is worth mentioning that Shurna is a naturalized American, bringing his talent and experience to the professional basketball scene in Spain.
#4. Robbie Beran, a 6'9'' forward and 26-year-old Hokies alumnus from 2024, previously played for Northwestern between 2019 and 2023. During his time there, he received the Big Ten All-Sportsmanship Team award in 2023. Currently, Beran is showcasing his skills as a professional basketball player in Portugal. In a recent game, he played a significant role in FC Porto's victory over the closely-ranked Sporting with a final score of 86-76 in the Portuguese Liga Betclic Masculina. This game was a highly anticipated match between two top 4 ranked teams, with FC Porto currently holding the third position in the league standings. Beran's impact on the game was undeniable as he scored 8 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists in just 24 minutes of play. His performance was instrumental in securing the win for FC Porto, helping them emerge as the champions of the game. Throughout the season, Beran has been averaging 8.4 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game in the 18 games he has played so far, showcasing his consistent contribution to the team's success.
Other former Northwestern University players, who play in pro basketball:
Pete Nance (6'11''-F-2000, played in 2018-22) plays for Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA
Brooks Barnhizer (6'6''-G-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA
Pat Spencer (6'3''-G-1996, played in 2016-20) plays for Golden State Warriors in the NBA
Boo Buie (6'0''-PG-2000, played in 2019-24) plays for Xinjiang Flying Tigers in Chinese CBA
Alexandru Olah (6'11''-C-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Voluntari in Romanian Liga Nationala
Barret Benson (6'10''-C-1997, played in 2016-19) plays for Gornik Zamek Ksiaz Walbrzych in Polish OBL
Ryan Taylor (6'6''-G-1995, played in 2018-19) plays for Gornik Zamek Ksiaz Walbrzych in Polish OBL
Matthew Nicholson (7'0''-C, played in 2020-25) plays for Manchester Basketball in British SLB
Ty Berry (6'3''-G-2001, played in 2020-25) plays for Karhubasket in Finnish Korisliiga
Andrew Crawford (6'5''-SF-1990, played in 2009-14) plays for Maccabi Urban Ramat Gan in Israeli Winner League
Anthony Gaines (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2017-21) plays for HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim in German ProA
Tydus Verhoeven (6'9''-F-1998, played in 2023-24) plays for Rotterdam in Dutch DBL
Elyjah Williams (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2021-22) plays for Yokohama Excellence in Japanese B2 League
Joey van Zegeren (6'10''-F-1990, played in 2015-16) plays for Zamora in Spanish Primera FEB
Aaron Falzon (6'8''-F-1996, played in 2015-19) played for Besancon in French NM1 few monts ago
Blake Preston (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Gifu Swoops in Japanese B3 League
Scottie Lindsey (6'5''-G/F-1996, played in 2014-18) plays for Guizhou in Chinese NBL
Dererk Pardon (6'8''-C-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Altiri Chiba in Japanese B1 League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Northwestern University basketball alumni.
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