Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Plainsmen players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Stanley Whittaker, a 31-year-old point guard standing at 6'0'', graduated from Keiser in 2017. He previously played for Frank Phillips between 2013 and 2015 before pursuing a professional career in Turkey. In the recent game, Whittaker, despite his commendable performance, could not lead Aliaga Petkimspor Izmir to victory. The team suffered a significant 95-76 defeat on the road against the formidable Bahcesehir, who holds the #3 position in the league standings. Whittaker emerged as the top scorer of the game, contributing 19 points during his 31 minutes on the court. Additionally, he showcased his all-around skills by grabbing 3 rebounds and dishing out 2 assists. Even though Whittaker displayed an impressive performance, his team was unable to overcome the strong opposition. With only two games remaining in the Regular Season, every upcoming match becomes crucial for Aliaga Petkimspor Izmir. Throughout the season, Whittaker has maintained relatively good statistics, averaging 13.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game across the 21 games he has participated in so far. Despite facing challenges, Whittaker continues to be a key player for his team as they strive to improve their standing in the league.
#2. Egyptian Ibrahim Zahran, standing at 6'5'' and a 22-year-old guard, is a Sharks alumnus from 2024. Despite playing in Frank Phillips between 2022 and 2023, he now competes professionally in Egypt. Zahran recently delivered a standout performance as a key player for Al Ahly Cairo in their dominating 85-65 victory over the sixth-ranked JCA (0-5) in a Basketball Africa League game on Friday night. In the game, Zahran showcased his skills by contributing 14 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals in 34 minutes of play. This remarkable performance is particularly impressive considering he is only in his second season in professional basketball. Al Ahly Cairo (3-1) currently holds the second position in the league standings, with this win marking their third consecutive victory. As the team gears up for their final game in the Basketball Africa League Regular Season, Zahran's impactful display against JCA, where he scored 14 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and provided 5 assists, played a crucial role in securing the win. With an average of 5.3 points per game, 1.5 assists per game, and 1.3 steals per game in the four games he has played this year, Zahran's consistent performance highlights his emergence as a champion in the league.
#3. Serbian Jovan Savic, a 25-year-old forward/center standing at 6'10'', graduated from Oklahoma Christian in 2024. He previously played for Frank Phillips between 2020 and 2022 before turning professional in North Macedonia. Despite his best efforts, Savic could not lead his team, Madzari (14-13), to victory against the formidable MZT Skopje (23-4) in the North Macedonian Super League. In a valiant effort, he scored 9 points and secured 5 rebounds during his 24 minutes on the court. The match saw the fourth-placed Madzari (14-13) succumb to a 94-81 defeat at home against the league-leading MZT Skopje. With only two games remaining in the Second Stage, every upcoming game is crucial for the teams vying for the top positions in the league. Savic showcased his skills in the game against MZT Skopje, finishing with 9 points and 5 rebounds. Despite his impressive performance, his team was unable to secure the win. Throughout this season, Savic has been averaging 6.7 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game across the 11 games he has played thus far.
#4. Jamaican Lance-Amir Paul, a 6'0'' point guard at 27 years old, is a former Islanders player from 2024 who previously competed for Frank Phillips between 2020 and 2021 before moving on to play professionally in Spain. In a recent game, Paul, playing for Caceres, was unable to lead his team to victory against Sant Antoni in the Spanish Segunda FEB, the third division of Spanish basketball. Despite his best efforts, Paul's team, Caceres, who currently hold the seventh position with a record of 15-11, fell short against the higher-ranked Sant Antoni (#3) with a final score of 72-84 at their home court in Caceres. Paul himself managed to contribute 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists during the game, showcasing his skills on the court. Throughout the season, Paul has been consistent, averaging 9.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game in the 20 games he has played so far. Despite the loss against Sant Antoni, Paul continues to be a key player for Caceres as they strive for success in the league.
Other former Frank Phillips College players, who play in pro basketball:
Alize Johnson (6'9''-SF-1996, played in 2014-16) plays for Shenzhen Leopards in Chinese CBA
Josiah Pattinson (6'4''-G-2005, played in 2023-24) played for Bendigo Braves in Australian NBL One few monts ago
Jordan Whelan (6'4''-G-1994, played in 2012-13) plays for Yorkshire Dragons in British BCB
Destiny Chikwem-Stanley (6'8''-F-1999, played in 2018-19) plays for Ahuachapan in Salvadorean Liga MB
Levante Britt (6'7''-C, played in 2016-17) played for Carolina Crusaders in the ECBL last year
Chris Tawiah (6'10''-C-1993, played in 2013-14) plays for Milton Keynes Breakers in British BCB
Melquan Collins (6'6''-PF, played in 2023-24) played for Connecticut Crusaders in the TBL last year
Romario Spence (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2018-19) played for Milton Keynes Breakers in British BCB last year
Ronald Scott (6'0''-G-1993, played in 2012-13) played for Frederick Flying Cows in the TBL last year
Jeremiah Gilliam (6'7''-PF-2001, played in 2022-23) plays for Potawatomi Fire in the TBL
Ater Magok (6'6''-F, played in 2019-20) played for Keyano College in the ACAC-North last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Frank Phillips College basketball alumni.
Stanley Whittaker is last week best Plainsmen alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @parmabasket)
