Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Mavericks players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Karol Gruszecki (19 points), Jabari Narcis (14 points), and Akili Vining (13 points).
#1. Experienced Polish basketball player Karol Gruszecki, standing at 6'6" and serving as a forward/guard, is a 36-year-old athlete who graduated from UT Arlington in 2013. Known for his skills on the court, he recently showcased his talent as he led Enea Abramczyk Astoria Bydgoszcz to a thrilling victory over the closely-ranked Lodz team with a score of 81-74 in the Polish 1 Liga, which is the second division of basketball in Poland. Gruszecki's stellar performance earned him the MVP title of the game, where he demonstrated his versatility by achieving a double-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks in 35 minutes of play. The matchup between Enea Abramczyk Astoria Bydgoszcz and Lodz was highly anticipated, being a showdown between two top 4 ranked teams. With this victory, Gruszecki's team, Enea Abramczyk Astoria Bydgoszcz, currently holds the top spot in the league with a record of 27-5. This win marked their third consecutive victory, showcasing their dominance in the league. Gruszecki's exceptional performance against Lodz not only secured the win for his team but also earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, highlighting his prowess as a champion player. Throughout the season, Gruszecki has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in the 39 games he has played so far. His consistent contribution on the court has been instrumental in his team's success, solidifying his reputation as a standout finalist in the league.
#2. In the recent game, Trinidad and Tobago champion Jabari Narcis, a 6'9'' center who is 29 years old and an alumnus of the Mavericks from 2020, currently playing professionally in Mexico, unfortunately could not lead Zonkeys de Tijuana (20-20) to a victory. Despite his strong performance, Tijuana ultimately suffered a close 91-96 loss on the road to the fifth-ranked team, Angeles. Narcis stood out as the second-best scorer for his team, contributing 14 points along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in just 19 minutes of play. His impactful performance against Angeles showcased his skills and versatility on the court. However, despite his notable contributions, Tijuana fell short of securing the win in the game. Throughout the current season, Narcis has maintained an average of 8.7 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and 1.1 assists per game across 23 games.
#3. Akili Vining, a 6'2'' guard who graduated from UT Arlington in 2024, has been making waves in the Kosovan Art Motion Superliga as a pro player in Kosovo. Recently, he showcased his talent by leading Trepca to a resounding victory over Bashkimi with a score of 98-78. In this highly anticipated game between two top 4 ranked teams, Vining's performance was nothing short of spectacular, earning him the title of MVP with 13 points and 6 assists in just 21 minutes of play. This victory marked Trepca's 20th consecutive win, further solidifying their dominance in the league with a record of 25-3 and securing their position at the top. Despite being his first season with the team, Vining has been a key player, consistently delivering impressive stats throughout the year with an average of 13.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game in 21 appearances. Vining's impact on the court goes beyond just numbers; his leadership and skill set truly exemplify what it means to be a champion player. With his dedication and performance, he continues to prove himself as a formidable force in the league, setting a high standard for himself and his team as they aim for success in the upcoming matches.
#4. Belgian Ayoub Nouhi, a 6'5'' small forward aged 27 and a Mavericks alumnus from 2020, currently playing professionally in Morocco, recently showcased his skills in a Basketball Africa League match. Despite his best efforts, Nouhi could not lead FUS Rabat to victory against the formidable Tigers, ultimately succumbing to a 95-72 defeat in Kigali. During the game, Nouhi made a significant impact by contributing 7 points and securing 2 rebounds in just 12 minutes of play. His performance was noteworthy, showcasing his talent and determination on the court. However, it was not enough to secure a win for his team. Throughout the season, Nouhi has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game over six appearances. His consistent performance highlights his value as a player and his potential to make a difference for his team in future matches.
#5. DaJuan Gordon, a 25-year-old 6'5'' guard who graduated from UT Arlington in 2024 and earned the All-WAC First Team award that year, is currently playing professionally in Canada. In a recent game, despite his impressive performance, Gordon couldn't help the struggling Saskatchewan Mamba (0-4) secure a win against the Shooting Stars in Toronto. The final score was 103-107 in favor of the Shooting Stars, with Gordon emerging as the second-best scorer with 21 points. Additionally, he showcased his versatility by contributing 8 rebounds and 3 blocks in just 30 minutes of play, which is remarkable considering he is only in his second season of professional basketball. Although the Saskatchewan Mamba is off to a rough start with four consecutive losses in the Regular Season, there is still optimism as it's early in the season and anything can happen. Gordon's individual performance has been outstanding, averaging 16.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game over the course of four games. Despite his consistent contributions, his team has faced challenges in securing victories. Noteworthy is Gordon's background as a former participant in the prestigious Eurobasket Summer League, known as one of the top international summer leagues in the market.
Other former University of Texas at Arlington players, who play in pro basketball:
Jorge Bilbao (6'9''-C/F-1995, played in 2013-17) plays for Obras in Argentinian La Liga
Lance Ware (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Iraklis in Greek GBL
Johnny Hamilton (7'0''-C-1994, played in 2017-18) plays for Ostioneros de Guaymas in Mexican CIBACOPA
Lazaro Rojas (6'11''-C-1996, played in 2020-22) played for Brasilia in Brazilian NBB few monts ago
Aaron Johnson-Cash (6'6''-G-1998, played in 2022-24) plays for Ventspils in Latvian LBL
Jaden Wells (6'1''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Huesca in Spanish Segunda FEB
Erick Neal (5'10''-PG-1995, played in 2014-18) plays for Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabian SBL
Patrick Mwamba (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2018-22) plays for Etoile Charleville-Mezieres in French NM1
Anthony Walker (6'9''-F/C-1993, played in 2012-15) played for Soles de Ojinaga in Mexican LBE last year
Brandyn Talbot (6'5''-G-2001, played in 2020-25) played for Ottawa Blackjacks in CEBL last year
Shemar Wilson (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2021-24) plays for Shanghai in Chinese NBL
Brandon Edwards (6'7''-F-1991, played in 2010-14) plays for H.Migdal in Israeli National League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Texas at Arlington basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
