Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Bearkats players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Experienced Lithuanian player Aurimas Majauskas, a 6'8'' forward aged 33, who graduated from SHSU in 2017 and received the All-Southland Conference Third Team award that year, is currently playing professionally in Lithuania. In a recent game, Majauskas, in his first season with Neptunas, faced off against Juventus but could not lead his team to victory. Despite his solid performance of scoring 9 points and making 3 steals in just 20 minutes of play, Neptunas suffered a 96-83 defeat at home against the lower-ranked Juventus, who are currently ranked 7th in the league standings. This loss marked Neptunas' fifth consecutive defeat in a row. Throughout the season, Majauskas has been averaging 7.3 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game. Despite his impressive individual statistics, the team has been struggling, with this recent loss being a setback in their season.
#2. Qua Grant, a 6'1'' guard and 26-year-old alum from Bearkats in 2023, currently playing professionally in Israel, showcased his talent by leading Maccabi Rishon to a crucial victory against the second-ranked Hapoel Tel-Aviv with a score of 82-74 in the Israeli Winner League. Grant, who received the All-WAC Player of the Year award in 2023, played a significant role in the game, contributing 12 points and 8 assists in just 27 minutes of play. Maccabi Effie Capital Rishon Le-Zion, with a current record of 12-14, holds the seventh position in the league standings. Grant's impressive performance against Hapoel Tel-Aviv not only boosted his team's position but also solidified their path to becoming the champion in the match. Grant's contributions on the court have been noteworthy throughout the season, with an average of 12.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His skills and leadership have undoubtedly played a pivotal role in Maccabi Rishon's success, making him a standout finalist in the league.
#3. Demarcus Gatlin, a 6'4'' guard who is 33 years old and a graduate of SHSU in 2015, currently plays professionally in Australia. In a recent game, despite his notable performance, Gatlin could not assist Geelong United (3-11) to secure a win against the higher-ranked Rangers (#5) in the South group. Despite his team's defeat with a score of 97-88, Gatlin managed to achieve a double-double by scoring 10 points, making 12 assists, grabbing 6 rebounds, and securing 5 steals in 35 minutes of play. This marks Gatlin's tenth season with the team. In a particularly impressive display against Dandenong R., Gatlin showcased his skills by contributing significantly in points, rebounds, and assists. However, despite his exceptional efforts, his team was unable to emerge victorious in the game. Throughout the season, Gatlin has maintained high individual performance statistics, averaging 15.2 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game, 5.5 assists per game, and 2.1 steals per game.
#4. Australian basketball player Cameron Huefner, a 6'8'' forward at 24 years old and an alumnus of Bearkats from 2025, showcased his talent by winning the Australiabasket.com All-Australian NBL1 Central Grand Final MVP award that year. Currently playing professionally in Australia, Huefner recently could not lead the Perry Lakes Hawks (5-7) to victory in their game last Saturday. Despite his stellar performance, the eighth-placed Hawks were defeated 95-90 on the road by the higher-ranked Suns (#5) in the West group. In the match, Huefner emerged as the second-highest scorer with 23 points and also contributed 8 rebounds during his 39 minutes on the court. He continued to impress in another game against Kalamunda ES, where he scored 23 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists. Despite his outstanding efforts, his team fell short of securing a victory in that game. Huefner is having an exceptional season individually, boasting impressive stats with an average of 26.9 points per game, 9.3 rebounds per game, and 1.9 assists per game. His consistent performances highlight him as a standout player in the league.
#5. Michael Holyfield, a 33-year-old center standing at 6'11'' who graduated from SHSU in 2015 and received the All-Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year award, currently plays professionally in Taiwan. In a recent game, he led the Taipei Fubon Braves to a 91-83 victory over the Ghosthawks, one of the league's weaker teams with an 11-13 record, in the Taiwanese P. League+ (second division) on Tuesday night. Holyfield showcased his skills by achieving a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, along with contributing 2 blocks during his 26 minutes of play. This game between the Braves and Ghosthawks, both top 4 ranked teams, was highly anticipated, with Taipei Fubon Braves holding the second position in the league standings. The victory marked the fifth consecutive win for Holyfield's team this season. His remarkable performance, scoring 14 points and securing 10 rebounds against the Ghosthawks, was instrumental in leading his team to victory, ultimately emerging as the champion of the game. Throughout the season, Holyfield has maintained an impressive average of 10.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game, showcasing his prowess on the court.
#6. In a thrilling match on Saturday night, Brennen Burns, a 23-year-old point guard standing at 5'10'' and an alumnus of Bearkats from 2025, showcased his skills as a pro player in Australia by leading the Camberwell Dragons to a remarkable victory over the league-leading Pacers with a scoreline of 90-85 in the Australian Big V Conference, which is the third division of the league. Burns proved to be the standout player of the game, earning the title of MVP by delivering an outstanding performance. In just 31 minutes of playtime, he exhibited his prowess on the court by scoring 20 points, securing 4 rebounds, distributing 6 assists, and making 3 steals. His exceptional contributions were instrumental in securing the victory for his team and solidifying his position as the champion of the game. Notably, Burns continued his impressive form in another game against Gippsland United, where he once again stood out with 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, further establishing himself as a key player for the Camberwell Dragons. Throughout the season, Burns has consistently delivered strong performances, boasting impressive averages of 16.9 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, 3.7 assists per game, and 1.9 steals per game. His stellar performances on the court have undoubtedly played a significant role in his team's success, making him a vital asset and a force to be reckoned with in the league.
#7. Javion May, a 6'2'' guard who is 26 years old and a graduate of SHSU in 2023, is currently playing professionally in the TBL. Recently, he showcased his skills by leading the Kokomo Bobkats to a thrilling 152-147 victory over the Lebanon Leprechauns in The Basketball League. During this game, May put up an impressive performance, securing a double-double with 13 points and 18 rebounds, while also dishing out 5 assists in 33 minutes of play. His standout display on the court against Lebanon not only played a significant role in his team's win but also garnered him well-deserved recognition. In fact, his stellar performance may even lead to him receiving the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com. Throughout the season, May has maintained solid stats, averaging 11.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. May's consistent contributions and exceptional abilities make him a true champion in the making.
#8. Puerto Rican Gilberto Clavell, a 6'7'' forward and 36-year-old Bearkats alumni from 2011, who received the All-Southland Conference Player of the Year award in that same year, currently plays professionally in Puerto Rico. In a recent game, he played a key role in helping Criollos de Caguas emerge victorious against the third-ranked Santeros with a score of 101-88 in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional on Saturday night, despite only scoring 3 points in 6 minutes on the court. This marked his debut game for Criollos de Caguas this season. Clavell also contributed 3 points and 1 rebound in a game against Aguada, aiding his team in securing another win. His performance showcased his skills and highlighted why he is a champion.
Other former Sam Houston State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Savion Flagg (6'7''-G/F-1999, played in 2021-22) plays for Napoli in Italian Serie A
Jakub Karwowski (7'1''-C-1996, played in 2021-22) played for Lodz in Polish 1Liga few monts ago
Kaheem Ransom (6'1''-PG-1993, played in 2013-15) played for HydroTruck Radom in Polish 2Liga last year
Tristan Ikpe (6'6''-F-1999, played in 2020-23) plays for Blue Wings in Slovakian Tipos SBL
Owen McGlashan (6'7''-F/G-2000, played in 2023-24) played for Iskra Svit in Slovakian Tipos SBL last year
Kai Mitchell-Watkins (6'7''-F/C-1997, played in 2018-20) played for Sorgues in French NM3 last year
Donte Powers (6'2''-G, played in 2020-23) plays for Teuta in Albanian Superliga
Chad Bowie (6'2''-G-1996, played in 2018-20) plays for Kepler in Rwandan RBL
Jesse Lopez (6'7''-F-1994, played in 2013-13) plays for Mineros in Mexican CIBAPac
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Sam Houston State University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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