Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Lions alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Buay Tuach, a 6'6'' guard/forward who is 31 years old and graduated from LMU in 2017, is currently playing professionally in New Zealand. In a recent game, Tuach was unable to help the Otago Nuggets (5-5) secure a win as they fell 89-99 on the road to the second-ranked Sharks. Despite the team's loss, Tuach put on a stellar performance, registering a double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds, while also contributing 3 assists in 35 minutes of play. His remarkable display against the Sharks showcased his talent and skill on the court, earning him recognition for his outstanding performance. Tuach's impressive stats for the season reflect his consistent high level of play, averaging 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in the 10 games he has participated in so far. Additionally, his exceptional showing in the recent game earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further solidifying his reputation as a champion in the eyes of many.
#2. Georgian player Aleksandre Merkviladze, a 24-year-old forward standing at 6'9'', and a Lions alumnus from 2025, recently received the WCC All-Academic Team award. Currently, he is showcasing his skills as a professional basketball player in Belgium. In a recent game, despite his outstanding performance, Merkviladze was unable to lead Oostende to victory. Even though he contributed significantly by scoring 15 points in just 17 minutes, Oostende suffered a heavy 100-83 defeat at the hands of the second-ranked Giants in Antwerp. Merkviladze's performance was particularly noteworthy as it is his debut season in professional basketball. His impressive display against Antwerp included scoring 15 points and securing 3 rebounds. Despite his individual efforts, his team was unable to secure the win. Throughout this season, Merkviladze has been averaging 6.3 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game in the four games he has played so far. It is worth noting that Merkviladze has a background as a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is highly regarded as one of the premier international summer leagues in the basketball market.
#3. James Batemon, a 6'1'' guard who graduated from LMU in 2019 after helping them to the CBI Championship Semifinals that year, is currently playing professionally in Spain. In a recent game, Batemon's team, Hiopos Forca Lleida, faced a tough challenge against the much higher-ranked (#4) UCAM Murcia. Despite his commendable effort, scoring 10 points and adding 1 assist in just 18 minutes of play, Lleida suffered a heavy 116-95 defeat. Although the Regular Season has come to a close, Batemon has had an impressive season individually, boasting solid statistics. He has maintained an average of 15.3 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game across 32 games. His contributions on the court have been notable, even if his team was unable to secure the victory in the most recent game against UCAM Murcia.
#4. Slovakian Simon Krajcovic, a 6'2'' point guard at 32 years old and an alum of Lions back in 2015, currently plays professionally in Germany. Despite his best efforts, Krajcovic, a finalist, could not lead Giessen 46ers (18-16) to victory against the Kirchheim Knights (20-14) in the German BARMER 2. Basketball Bundesliga ProA (second division) match. During the game, Krajcovic managed to score 4 points and provide 7 assists in 27 minutes of play. Unfortunately, his team, Giessen 46ers, fell short, losing 85-89 to the Kirchheim Knights, who are ranked higher at #6. Throughout the season, Krajcovic has maintained an average of 7.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in the 42 games played so far. His performance against the Kirchheim Knights showcased his skills on the court, but ultimately, his team was unable to secure the win.
Other former Loyola Marymount University players, who play in pro basketball:
Lars Thiemann (7'1''-C-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Rasta Vechta in German BBL
Mattias Markusson (7'2''-C-1996, played in 2017-19) plays for Chorale Roanne Basket in French ProB
Cameron Shelton (6'2''-G-1999, played in 2021-23) plays for Ventspils in Latvian LBL
Caleb Stone-Carrawell (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2024-25) plays for Raptors 905 Mississauga in the NBA G League
Keli Leaupepe (6'6''-F-2000, played in 2019-24) plays for Knox Raiders in Australian NBL One
Marin Mornar (6'9''-PF-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Kongsberg in Norwegian BLNO
Lazar Nekic (7'0''-C-1999, played in 2019-21) plays for Al Fateh in Saudi Arabian SBL
Ivan Alipiev (6'8''-F-1999, played in 2021-21) plays for Rimini in Italian Serie A2
Kelvin Amayo (6'4''-G-1992, played in 2016-17) played for JHX Hoops - Kansas Alumni in the The Basketball Tournament few monts ago
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Loyola Marymount University basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
