Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Nittany Lions alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Notice impressive performance of Lamar Stevens (11 points), Andrew Funk (22 points), and David Jackson (11 points).
#1. Lamar Stevens, a 6'8'' small forward who graduated from Penn State in 2020 and received the USBWA All-District II Team award that year, currently plays professionally in France. Recently, he showcased his skills by leading Paris Basketball to a dominant victory over the eighth-ranked SIG Strasbourg, with a final score of 95-64 in the French Betclic ELITE league. In this game, he contributed 11 points and 2 blocks in just 19 minutes of play. Paris Basketball holds the second position in the league standings with a record of 22-8. Stevens' remarkable performance against Strasbourg, where he not only scored 11 points but also grabbed 3 rebounds and dished out 2 assists, was crucial in securing the win for his team. His exceptional display on the court played a key role in guiding his team to success, ultimately leading them to be crowned the champion of the game. Throughout this season, Stevens has maintained solid statistics, averaging 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in the 20 games he has participated in so far. His consistent contributions and skillful gameplay have undoubtedly been instrumental in Paris Basketball's success, making him a valuable asset to the team as they strive to achieve their goals in the league.
#2. Andrew Funk, a 26-year-old 6'5'' guard and Nittany Lions alumni from 2023, has continued to excel in his basketball career as a pro player in Belgium. Recently, he showcased his talent by leading Windrose Giants Antwerp to a decisive 84-73 victory over the eighth-ranked Limburg United in the Belgian Pro Basketball League. In this game, Funk displayed an outstanding performance, earning him the title of MVP. Despite only being in his third season in professional basketball, Funk managed to score 22 points in 32 minutes of play, a remarkable feat. His contribution was pivotal in securing the win for his team, reinforcing his reputation as a true champion. Furthermore, Funk's impressive season statistics reflect his consistent performance on the court. With an average of 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game in the five games he has played so far, Funk has proven to be a valuable asset to Windrose Giants Antwerp. As a finalist, Funk's skills and dedication are evident in his contributions to the team's success, positioning him as a standout player in the league.
#3. Experienced champion David Jackson, a 6'4'' guard at 43 years old who graduated from Penn State in 2007 and currently plays professionally in Brazil, showcased his leadership skills by guiding Sesi/Franca Sao Paulo to a decisive 91-74 victory over the closely-ranked Brasilia (28-10) in the Brazilian Novo Basquete Brasil last Saturday. In the highly anticipated matchup between two top 4 ranked teams, Jackson's performance was crucial as he contributed 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists in 30 minutes of play. This win marked his team's impressive tenth consecutive victory, solidifying their first-place standing in the league with a record of 32-6. With this being Jackson's fifth season with the team, his consistent contributions have been evident throughout the year, averaging 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in 43 appearances. His exceptional skills and valuable experience have established him as a key player and a finalist on the court, further emphasizing his importance in the team's success.
#4. Jamari Wheeler, a 6'1'' guard and former Buckeyes alumni from the class of 2022, showcased his skills in the Croatian Favbet Premijer Liga where he currently plays professionally in Croatia. Despite his best efforts, Wheeler and his team Dubrovnik (17-16) fell short against the formidable Zadar (29-4) in a recent match. In the game, Wheeler managed to record 9 points and 3 steals in 32 minutes of play. Although Dubrovnik suffered a tough 83-57 loss to Zadar, Wheeler displayed a commendable performance by contributing 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist against the league's top team. Despite his individual success, Dubrovnik was unable to secure the victory on the road. Throughout the season, Wheeler has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and an impressive 2.3 steals per game, leading the league in steals. His consistent performance on the court has been notable, showcasing his skills and determination as a professional basketball player.
Other former The Pennsylvania State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Alex Bentley (5'8''-PG-1990, played in 2009-13) plays for UMMC in Russian PBL
Qudus Wahab (6'11''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Cholet Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Stanley Pringle (6'1''-PG-1987, played in 2005-09) plays for Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Filipino PBA
Jalen Pickett (6'3''-G-1999, played in 2021-23) plays for Denver Nuggets in the NBA
Seth Lundy (6'6''-G/F-2000) played for Atlanta Hawks in the NBA few monts ago
Yanic Niederhauser (7'1''-F-2003, played in 2024-25) plays for Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA
Jeffrey Brooks (6'8''-PF-1989, played in 2007-11) plays for Trieste in Italian Serie A
Daniil Kasatkin (6'7''-G-1999, played in 2017-19) plays for Enisey in Russian VTB United League
Tim Frazier (6'1''-PG-1990, played in 2009-14) plays for Minas Belo Horizonte in Brazilian NBB
Sasa Borovnjak (6'9''-C-1989, played in 2009-13) plays for Timisoara in Romanian Liga Nationala
Tony Carr (6'5''-G-1997, played in 2016-18) plays for Grand Rapids Gold in the NBA G League
Zach Hicks (6'8''-F-2003, played in 2023-25) plays for South Bay Lakers in the NBA G League
D'Marco Dunn (6'5''-G-2003, played in 2023-25) plays for KTP-Basket in Finnish Korisliiga
Greg Lee (6'9''-F-1998, played in 2021-22) plays for ESSM Le Portel Cote d'Opale in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Nick Kern Jr. (6'6''-G, played in 2023-25) plays for B.Braun Sheffield Sharks in British SLB
Leo O'Boyle (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Leeuwarden in Dutch DBL
John Harrar (6'9''-F-1999, played in 2017-22) plays for Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo in Japanese B1 League
Mikey Henn (6'8''-C-1997, played in 2022-23) plays for Otago Nuggets in New Zealand NBL
RayQuawndis Mitchell (6'5''-G, played in 2023-24) plays for Illiabum in Portuguese Proliga
Trent Buttrick (6'9''-F-1998, played in 2017-21) plays for Saitama Broncos in Japanese B3 League
Justin Hamilton (6'8''-C-1987, played in 2008-12) played for Steel City Yellow Jackets in the ABA last year
Curtis Jones (6'3''-G-1997, played in 2019-20) plays for Uni Baskets Muenster in German ProA
Michael Watkins (6'9''-F-1995, played in 2015-15) plays for Spartans in Venezuelan SPB
Josh Reaves (6'4''-G/F-1997, played in 2015-19) plays for Paisas in Colombian LBP
Ace Baldwin Jr. (6'1''-G-2001, played in 2023-25) plays for Osceola Magic in the NBA G League
DJ Newbill (6'4''-G-1992, played in 2011-11) signed for Altiri Chiba in Japanese B1 League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of The Pennsylvania State University basketball alumni.
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