Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Chippewas players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Marcus Keene (20 points), David DiLeo (8 points), and Giordan Watson (8 points).
#1. Marcus Keene, a 31-year-old point guard who graduated from CMU in 2017 and received the USBWA All-District V Team award that year, currently plays professionally in France. Recently, he showcased his prowess by leading SIG Strasbourg to a convincing 102-81 victory over Chalon/Saor in the French Betclic ELITE. In this game, he displayed his skills by scoring 20 points, making 4 assists, and playing for 31 minutes. Despite SIG Strasbourg being placed eighth in the league with a record of 17-13, Keene's exceptional performance against Chalon/Saone highlighted his value to the team as a champion. With only two games remaining until the end of the Play-In, every match becomes crucial for the team's playoff aspirations. Throughout the season, Keene has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 16.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game – the second-best in the league. His consistent contributions on the court have not only elevated his personal performance but have also been instrumental in securing victories for his team, reinforcing his reputation as a finalist.
#2. David DiLeo, a 6'7'' forward and 29-year-old Chippewas alumnus from 2020, currently plays professionally in France. Despite his efforts, the champion Le Mans Sarthe Basket (19-11) fell short against finalist JSF Nanterre (21-9) in the French Betclic ELITE, with DiLeo contributing 8 points in 22 minutes of play. The game ended in a disappointing 90-74 defeat for Le Mans Sarthe Basket, who was unable to overcome the higher-ranked JSF Nanterre (#3). During the game, DiLeo displayed his skill with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, showcasing his talent on the court. Despite his solid performance and his season average of 10.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, his team ultimately could not secure the victory against the formidable opponent.
#3. Experienced champion Giordan Watson, a 5'10'' point guard and 40-year-old graduate of CMU in 2008, currently plays professionally in Romania. In a recent game, he was unable to lead his team, Voluntari (20-8), to victory against Rapid (17-11) in the Romanian Liga Nationala Baschet de Masculin. Despite his valiant efforts, Voluntari suffered a disappointing 91-75 defeat at home to the lower-ranked Rapid (#5) team. Watson, known for his skills and basketball prowess, demonstrated his talent on the court by contributing 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists in the game, playing a total of 28 minutes. His impressive stats added to his season averages of 8.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game, ranking him as the fourth-best in the league in terms of assists. It's important to note that Watson holds both American and Romanian citizenship, allowing him to play in Romania as a domestic player. Despite the outcome of the game against Rapid, Watson's performance showcased his dedication and talent as a champion player in the league.
#4. Larry Austin Jr., a 30-year-old 6'2'' guard and Chippewas alumnus from 2019, recently made a significant impact in the Georgian Superleague. Playing professionally in Georgia, he helped lead his team, Tkibuli Orbi, to a crucial victory against the league leader Kutaisi with a score of 86-80. In this game, Austin Jr. showcased his skills by contributing 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in just 18 minutes of play. Tkibuli Orbi, currently ranked fifth in the league with an 11-9 record, has greatly benefited from Austin Jr.'s stellar performance in his first season with the team. His remarkable stats throughout the season, averaging 16.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game, have solidified his position as a standout player in the league. Austin Jr.'s exceptional performance against Kutaisi was instrumental in securing the victory for his team, ultimately leading them to be crowned as the champion in that game. His valuable contributions on the court have undoubtedly played a key role in Tkibuli Orbi's success throughout the season.
#5. Rob Montgomery Jr., a 6'6'' forward who graduated from CMU in 2020 and currently plays professionally in Romania, was instrumental in securing an impressive victory against Galati, one of the league's weakest teams with a record of 0-28. In the Romanian Liga Nationala Baschet de Masculin, Montgomery Jr. helped lead his team to a convincing 92-70 win on Saturday night, where he showcased his skills as a champion player by contributing 9 points and 4 rebounds in just 25 minutes of play. CSM Targu Jiu, currently placed 14th in the league with a record of 4-24, benefitted from Montgomery Jr.'s stellar performance against Galati. The Play-Out Round had already concluded, and Montgomery Jr.'s efforts on the court were crucial in securing the victory for his team. Throughout the season, Montgomery Jr. has maintained solid averages of 8.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, further solidifying his reputation as a standout player in the league. His consistent contributions and strong performance against Galati highlight his capabilities as a finalist player who plays a key role in his team's success.
Other former Central Michigan University players, who play in pro basketball:
Dallas Morgan (6'1''-G-1998, played in 2018-20) played for Trotamundos in Venezuelan SPB few monts ago
Oscar Lopez Jr. (6'4''-G/F, played in 2021-22) plays for Macau Black Bears in Filipino PBA
Harrison Henderson (6'11''-F/C-1997, played in 2021-22) played for Zonkeys de Tijuana in Mexican CIBACOPA last year
Ralph Bissainthe (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2020-22) plays for Caballeros de Culiacan in Mexican CIBACOPA
Brian Taylor (6'6''-G-2001, played in 2021-24) plays for Venados de Mazatlan in Mexican CIBACOPA
Anthony Pritchard (6'2''-G-2003, played in 2023-25) plays for FUS Rabat in Moroccan DEX-H
Braylon Rayson (6'1''-G-1994, played in 2013-17) played for Marineros in Dominican Rep. LNB last year
Cecil Williams (6'6''-F-1995, played in 2016-23) plays for Peja in Kosovan Superliga
Chuck McLaurin (5'11''-PG, played in 2013-14) plays for SC Upstate Redhawks in the ECBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Central Michigan University basketball alumni.
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