Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Wildcats alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Lithuanian player Azuolas Tubelis, a 6'11'' forward/center who recently graduated from Arizona in 2023, has made a significant impact in his first season with Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania. In a recent game against the fifth-ranked Lietkabelis, Tubelis showed his skill and prowess on the court, contributing 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 28 minutes of play. His impressive performance played a crucial role in Zalgiris' 85-75 victory, marking their 27th consecutive win and maintaining their first-place position in the league with a record of 31-1. Tubelis' All-Pac All-Tournament MVP award from his time at Arizona showcased his talent, and he has continued to excel in his professional career in Lithuania. Throughout the season, Tubelis has demonstrated solid stats, averaging 11.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. His consistent contributions to the team have solidified his position as a true champion on the court, making him a key player to watch in future games.
#2. Experienced champion Nick Johnson, a 6'3'' guard who is 33 years old and an alumnus of Wildcats from 2014, currently plays professionally in France. Last Sunday, he couldn't lead Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball to victory. Despite his stellar performance, his team was defeated 100-96 on the road by Poitiers, who are ranked lower at #5 in the Play-Out group. Johnson, who received the All-Pac Player of the Year award in 2014, showcased his skills by recording a double-double with 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists in 43 minutes of play. This game marked his debut for Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball this season, as he recently joined the team. In his first year with the club, Johnson displayed an impressive performance against Poitiers, demonstrating his scoring ability, rebounding prowess, and playmaking skills. However, despite his remarkable efforts, his team could not secure the victory, ultimately falling short in the match.
#3. Cedric Henderson Jr., a 6'6'' guard/forward who graduated from Arizona in 2023 after helping them win the Pac Tournament that year, is currently playing professionally in Lithuania. Last Wednesday, despite his outstanding performance, Henderson Jr. could not lead Siauliai (17-15) to victory as they were narrowly defeated 85-84 at home by the lower-ranked Lietkabelis (#5) team. Henderson Jr. stood out as the top scorer of the game with 19 points, also contributing 3 assists in the 32 minutes he played. This season marks Henderson Jr.'s debut with the team, and he has been showcasing his talent with impressive individual stats, averaging 18.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Despite the loss, Henderson Jr.'s performance on the court demonstrated why he is recognized as a champion player.
#4. Kyle Fogg, a 6'3'' guard and former Wildcats alum from the class of 2012, is currently showcasing his skills as a professional basketball player in China. In a recent game, Fogg played a pivotal role in leading the Shanghai Sharks to a decisive 101-90 victory over the Guangsha Lions, a closely-ranked opponent with a record of 33-9. Fogg put up an impressive stat line of 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in just 26 minutes of play. This game was a highly anticipated matchup between two of the top 4 teams in the league, with the Shanghai Sharks sitting comfortably at the top of the standings with a record of 38-4. The victory marked the ninth consecutive win for Fogg's team, further solidifying their dominance in the league. Despite this being Fogg's first season with the team, he has quickly made a significant impact on their performance. Fogg's exceptional performance against the Guangsha Lions highlighted his versatility and skill on the court, demonstrating why he is considered a champion. Throughout the season, Fogg has been averaging 10.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, consistently contributing to his team's success.
#5. Terry Armstrong, a 25-year-old guard standing at 6'7'' who graduated from Arizona in 2020 and currently plays professionally in North Macedonia, recently showcased his skills on the court for Madzari in a game against the formidable MZT Skopje. Despite his impressive performance where he scored 19 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists in 40 minutes of play, his team Madzari, currently in fourth place with a record of 14-13, suffered a defeat on their home court. The final score was 80-74 in favor of the leading MZT Skopje in the Places 1-6 group. This marked Armstrong's first season with the team, and he has been delivering consistently high stats throughout the season. He is currently the fourth-best scorer in the league with an average of 18.5 points per game, along with 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game, ranking him second-best in the league in steals. While individually excelling, Armstrong's efforts were not enough to secure a victory for Madzari in the recent game against MZT Skopje.
#6. Carter Bryant, a 6'8'' forward and 20-year-old Wildcats alum from 2025, made a significant impact by helping his team reach the final of the Big 12 Tournament that year. Since then, he has transitioned to playing professionally in the NBA. In a recent game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Bryant, now a pro player for the San Antonio Spurs, displayed his talent on the court by scoring 7 points and grabbing 1 rebound in just 6 minutes of play. Despite his impressive performance, the Spurs fell short to the Thunder with a final score of 127-114. Bryant's contributions to the team are evident as he maintains an average of 4.0 points per game and 2.4 rebounds per game this season.
#7. Nicolo Mannion, a 6'3'' point guard who graduated from Arizona in 2020 and received the All-Pac Second Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Italy. Recently, he played a crucial role in helping AX Armani Exchange Milano secure a significant 84-72 victory over closely-ranked Reggio Emilia in the Italian Serie A competition on Thursday night. Despite only scoring 2 points during his 6 minutes on the court, Mannion's contribution was vital in his team's success, ultimately earning him the title of champion in the game. Throughout this season, Mannion has maintained an average of 6.7 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. An interesting fact about Mannion is that he holds both American and Italian citizenship, allowing him to play in Italy as a domestic player.
#8. Chase Jeter, a 6'10'' center/forward and 28-year-old Wildcats alumni from 2020, currently playing professionally in New Zealand, was unable to lead the struggling Hawkes Bay Hawks (2-7) to victory in their recent game against the Saints (#4) in Wellington. Despite his commendable performance, the Hawks, who are at the bottom of the rankings, suffered a crushing 107-79 defeat at the hands of the higher-ranked Saints. Jeter displayed his skills on the court by achieving a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in just 27 minutes of play. In a standout performance against the Saints, he once again showcased his talent by contributing 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists. However, his individual efforts were not enough to secure a win for his team. Throughout the season, Jeter has maintained relatively good statistics, averaging 11.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. Despite his consistent performance, the Hawks continue to face challenges in the league standings.
#9. Stanley Johnson, a 29-year-old 6'7'' small forward who graduated from Arizona in 2015 and received the All-Pac Freshman of the Year award, currently plays professionally in Japan. Recently, he showcased his skills by leading Nagasaki Velca to a 66-60 victory over the third-ranked Golden Kings in the Japanese B1 League. In a remarkable display of talent, Johnson was named the MVP of the game after scoring 25 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and providing 1 assist in 32 minutes of play. His outstanding performance not only contributed significantly to his team's triumph but also earned him the prestigious title of champion of the game. Throughout the season, Johnson has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 21.9 points per game (ranking third in the league), along with 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.9 steals per game (the second-best in the league). His consistent high-level performance has undoubtedly solidified his reputation as a standout player in the league and a key contributor to his team's success as they strive for further accomplishments as finalists.
#10. Mali Oumar Ballo, a 7'0'' center and 23-year-old Hoosiers alumnus from 2025, previously played for Arizona between 2021 and 2024 where he helped them secure the Pac Regular Season Champion title in that year. Ballo currently plays professionally in Rwanda. In a recent game, despite his solid performance, Ballo could not lead the Tigers (4-1) to victory last Sunday against FUS Rabat. The league-leading Tigers suffered a close 99-98 loss to the fourth-ranked FUS Rabat in Rabat. Ballo contributed 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 27 minutes of gameplay. Ballo exhibited an impressive performance against FUS Rabat, showcasing his skills with 10 points and 9 rebounds. However, despite his notable efforts, his team ultimately fell short in the game. Throughout this season, Ballo has maintained an average of 9.5 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, and 2.5 blocks per game.
Other former University of Arizona players, who play in pro basketball:
Kobi Simmons (6'5''-G-1997, played in 2016-17) plays for Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spanish Liga Endesa
T.J. McConnell (6'1''-G-1992, played in 2012-12) plays for Indiana Pacers in the NBA
Lauri Markkanen (7'0''-F/C-1997, played in 2016-17) plays for Utah Jazz in the NBA
Caleb Love (6'4''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA
Josh Green (6'5''-G-2000, played in 2019-20) plays for Charlotte Hornets in the NBA
Aaron Gordon (6'9''-PF-1995, played in 2013-14) plays for Denver Nuggets in the NBA
Christian Koloko (7'0''-C-2000, played in 2019-22) plays for Atlanta Hawks in the NBA
Brandon Williams (6'1''-PG-1999, played in 2018-19) plays for Dallas Mavericks in the NBA
Dalen Terry (6'7''-G-2002, played in 2020-22) plays for Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA
DeAndre Ayton (7'0''-C-1998, played in 2017-18) plays for Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA
Bennedict Mathurin (6'6''-G/F-2002, played in 2020-22) plays for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA
Keshad Johnson (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Miami Heat in the NBA
Zeke Nnaji (6'10''-PF-2001, played in 2019-20) plays for Denver Nuggets in the NBA
Pelle Larsson (6'6''-G-2001, played in 2021-24) plays for Miami Heat in the NBA
Grant Jerrett (6'10''-C-1993, played in 2012-13) plays for Link Tochigi Brex Utsunomiya in Japanese B1 League
Dusan Ristic (7'0''-C-1995, played in 2014-18) plays for Kawasaki Brave Thunders in Japanese B1 League
Derrick Williams (6'8''-F-1991, played in 2009-11) plays for Suwon KT Sonicboom in South Korean KBL
Courtney Ramey (6'3''-G-1999, played in 2022-23) plays for PGE Start Lublin in Polish OBL
Rawle Alkins (6'6''-SG-1997, played in 2016-18) plays for Kumamoto Volters in Japanese B2 League
Brandon Randolph (6'6''-G/F-1997, played in 2017-19) plays for Zhejiang Golden Bulls in Chinese CBA
Gabe York (6'3''-SG-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Zhejiang Golden Bulls in Chinese CBA
Dylan Smith (6'5''-SG-1997, played in 2016-16) plays for Argentino in Argentinian La Liga
Justin Kier (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2021-22) played for Den Bosch in Dutch DBL few monts ago
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (6'7''-F/C-1995, played in 2013-15) plays for Meralco Bolts in Filipino PBA
Parker Jackson-Cartwright (5'11''-PG-1995, played in 2014-18) plays for Nanjing Monkey Kings in Chinese CBA
Ryan Luther (6'9''-PF-1995, played in 2018-19) plays for Osaka Evessa in Japanese B1 League
Keanu Pinder (6'11''-F/C-1995, played in 2016-18) plays for Akita Northern Happinets in Japanese B1 League
Kaleb Tarczewski (7'0''-C-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Yokohama B-Corsairs in Japanese B1 League
Matthew Lang (6'3''-G, played in 2022-23) played for East Perth Eagles in Australian NBL One last year
Ira Lee (6'8''-F-1998, played in 2017-21) plays for Ramat Hasharon in Israeli National League
Kadeem Allen (6'2''-G-1993, played in 2014-14) plays for Juvi Cremona in Italian Serie A2
Mark Lyons (6'1''-G-1989, played in 2012-13) plays for Brillantes in Venezuelan SPB
Trey Townsend (6'6''-F-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Saskatchewan Mamba in CEBL
Brandon Ashley (6'9''-PF-1994, played in 2012-15) 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 University of Arizona basketball alumni.
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