Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Lions players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Luke Petrasek, a 6'9'' power forward who graduated from Columbia in 2017 and received the All-Ivy League Second Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Spain. Recently, he made a significant impact in a game where Surne Bilbao Basket emerged victorious against the 12th-ranked Basquet Girona with a score of 86-80 in the Spanish Liga Endesa. In this game, the 30-year-old player showcased his skills as a champion by scoring 8 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in just 25 minutes of play. Surne Bilbao Basket, with a record of 20-15, currently holds the seventh position in the league standings as the Regular Season has already concluded. Petrasek's consistent performance this season, averaging 7.1 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game in the 35 games he has played so far, highlights his value as a finalist player. It is worth noting that Petrasek, a naturalized Polish player, continues to make significant contributions to his team's success on the court.
#2. Experienced German player Maodo Lo, a 6'3'' point guard who is 33 years old and an alumnus of Lions from 2016, currently plays professionally in Lithuania. Recently, he contributed to Zalgiris Kaunas' triumph over the fifth-ranked Lietkabelis with a score of 85-75 in the Lithuanian Betsafe Lietuvos krepsinio lyga last Tuesday. Despite only scoring 3 points in 11 minutes of gameplay, Lo's impact was significant. Zalgiris Kaunas, with a stellar record of 31-1, holds the top spot in the league, having secured their 27th consecutive victory. During the game against Lietkabelis, Maodo Lo's 3 crucial points and 1 rebound were instrumental in his team's success, ultimately leading them to victory and earning him the title of champion. Throughout this season, Lo has maintained an average of 5.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in 25 appearances. His consistent performance and contributions on the court have been vital in Zalgiris Kaunas' impressive run, solidifying his role as a key player for the team.
#3. Turkish player Zavian McLean, a 6'4'' guard at 24 years old, graduated from FGCU in 2025. Although he played in Colombia from 2020 to 2024, he now showcases his skills in France's professional basketball league. In a recent match, McLean contributed to Entente Orleans 45's triumph over JA Vichy, a closely-ranked opponent, with a final score of 79-73 in the French ELITE 2, the second division of the league. Despite scoring only 2 points in 10 minutes of play, his impact was significant in securing the victory for his team. Entente Orleans 45 currently holds the third position in the league standings, with McLean being in his debut season with the club. With a season average of 3.1 points per game in seven appearances, McLean's performance on the court was instrumental in leading his team to success and emerging as a finalist in the game. Additionally, it is noteworthy that McLean is a naturalized Turkish citizen.
Other former Columbia University players, who play in pro basketball:
Ike Nweke (6'7''-F/C-2000, played in 2018-22) plays for Karhubasket in Finnish Korisliiga
Tai Bibbs (6'3''-G-1999, played in 2017-21) plays for Kouvot in Finnish Korisliiga
Keijuro Matsui (6'2''-G-1985, played in 2005-09) plays for Saitama Broncos in Japanese B3 League
Cameron Shockley-Okeke (6'6''-F-2000, played in 2019-23) plays for Ponferrada in Spanish Segunda FEB
Geronimo Rubio (6'2''-G-2001, played in 2021-25) plays for Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico in the NBA G League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Columbia University basketball alumni.
Luke Petrasek is last week best Lions alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @AnwilWloclawek)
Ex-Players
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