Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Fighting Tigers players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Tremont Waters (23 points), Ja'Vonte Smart (27 points), and Storm Warren (20 points).
#1. Tremont Waters, a 5'11'' point guard who graduated from LSU in 2019 and received the All-SEC Defensive Player of the Year award that same year, currently plays professionally in Puerto Rico. In a recent game, despite his outstanding performance, he was unable to lead Gigantes de Carolina to victory. The team, positioned third in the standings with a record of 12-9, suffered a close 80-79 defeat on the road against the leading Vaqueros in Group B. Waters showcased his skills by scoring 23 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, and making 3 steals in 34 minutes of play, emerging as the top scorer in the game. His notable contributions were evident in another matchup against Bayamon, where he again scored 23 points while adding 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Despite Waters' impressive displays, his team was unable to secure the win on both occasions. Throughout the season, Waters has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, ranking as the second-best steal performer in the league. It is important to note that Waters holds dual American and Puerto Rican citizenship, allowing him to compete in Puerto Rico as a domestic player.
#2. Ja'Vonte Smart, a 6'4'' guard and a 27-year-old alum of the Fighting Tigers from 2021, was instrumental in their victory at the California Classic NBA Summer League in Sacramento, where they emerged as the champion that year. Despite his absence in the last game for the Ottawa Blackjacks (2-3), Smart's impressive performance couldn't prevent the team from a narrow 93-90 loss to the Hamilton Honey Badgers. Even though Ottawa, ranked #5, faced a setback, it's still early in the season, leaving room for potential turnarounds. In his standout performance against Brampton, Smart showcased his skills by scoring 27 points, securing 4 rebounds, and delivering 8 assists. Despite his remarkable contributions, the team fell short in that game. Smart's resilience and talent on the court truly exemplified him as a finalist. Individually, Smart has been having an exceptional year with impressive statistics. He is averaging 23.6 points per game, 5.4 rebounds, and 9.2 assists (the second-best in the league) in the five games he has played so far. His consistent high-level performance and all-around game make him a key player to watch in the ongoing season.
#3. Experienced champion Storm Warren, a 6'11'' power forward who is 37 years old and graduated from LSU in 2012, currently plays professionally in Israel. In a recent game, despite Warren's stellar performance, the ninth-placed Otef Darom (13-17) was defeated 110-84 by the fifth-ranked team, M. Ashdod, in the Play-Off group. Warren stood out as the top scorer with 20 points and contributed 8 rebounds in just 20 minutes on the court. Even though Warren put up an impressive performance against M. Ashdod, recording 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists, his team ultimately suffered a loss. Throughout the season, Warren has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game in 13 appearances. It is noteworthy that Warren holds both American and Israeli citizenship, allowing him to compete in Israel as a domestic player.
#4. Chris Johnson, a 6'11'' former Fighting Tigers alum from 2009, has been making waves as a pro player in New Zealand at 40 years old. His experience and skill were evident as he led Auckland Tuatara to a resounding victory against Tauranga, one of the league's weaker teams, with a final score of 96-71 in the New Zealand National Basketball League. Johnson's impressive performance included scoring 12 points, securing 7 rebounds, and making 2 blocks in just 18 minutes of play. Auckland Tuatara, currently with a record of 7-2, holds the third position in the league standings, thanks in part to Johnson's contributions on the court. In a recent game against Whai, Johnson once again showcased his talent by scoring 12 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, ultimately leading his team to another victory. His consistent excellence in games solidifies his reputation as a true champion. Throughout the season, Johnson has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game, with his shot-blocking prowess ranking him as the fourth-best in the league. His performance demonstrates his enduring skill and impact as a key player for Auckland Tuatara.
Other former Louisiana State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Antonio Blakeney (6'4''-SG-1996, played in 2015-17) plays for Hapoel Shlomo Tel-Aviv in Israeli Winner League
Skylar Mays (6'4''-PG-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Buducnost in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Jordan Wright (6'6''-G/F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Hapoel Holon in Israeli Winner League
Ben Simmons (6'11''-PF-1996, played in 2015-16) played for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA few monts ago
Trendon Watford (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2019-21) plays for Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA
Cameron Thomas (6'3''-PG-2001, played in 2020-21) plays for Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA
Tari Eason (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2021-22) plays for Houston Rockets in the NBA
Duop Reath (6'10''-C-1996, played in 2016-18) plays for Atlanta Hawks in the NBA
Nazreon Reid (6'10''-C/F-1999, played in 2018-19) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
Garrett Temple (6'6''-G-1986, played in 2005-09) plays for Toronto Raptors in the NBA
Anthony Hickey (5'11''-PG-1992, played in 2011-14) plays for Udine in Italian Serie A
KJ Williams (6'10''-F-1999, played in 2024-24) plays for Boulazac Basket Dordogne in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Brandon Sampson (6'5''-SG-1997, played in 2015-18) plays for Anhui Wenyi in Chinese NBL
Johnny O'Bryant III (6'10''-F/C-1993, played in 2011-14) plays for Anyang in South Korean KBL
Jordan Sears (5'11''-PG-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for BG Goettingen in German ProA
Camryn Carter (6'3''-G-2003, played in 2024-25) plays for Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA G League
Jordan Mickey (6'8''-F/C-1994, played in 2013-15) plays for Qingdao Eagles in Chinese CBA
Darius Days (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2018-22) plays for San-en NeoPhoenix in Japanese B1 League
Hunter Dean (6'10''-F-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Derby in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Jaime Lloreda (6'9''-C-1980, played in 2002-04) played for Toros de Chiriqui David in Panamanian LPB last year
Joshua Gray (6'1''-PG-1993, played in 2014-16) plays for Ylli in Kosovan Superliga
Craig Victor II (6'9''-F-1995, played in 2015-17) plays for Panerythraikos in Greek Elite League
Marlon Taylor (6'5''-G-1997, played in 2018-20) played for Serhedci in Azerbaijani ABL last year
Jarell Martin (6'10''-PF-1994, played in 2013-15) plays for Koshigaya Alphas in Japanese B1 League
Kavell Bigby-Williams (6'11''-C-1995, played in 2017-17) plays for Al Markaziyyah in Lebanese DLBL
Trae Hannibal (6'2''-G, played in 2022-24) plays for Capital City Go-Go in the NBA G League
Will Baker (7'0''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Osceola Magic in the NBA G League
Emmitt Williams (6'6''-F-1998, played in 2018-20) played for Caribbean Storm Islands in Colombian LBP last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Louisiana State University basketball alumni.
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