Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Golden Knights players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of C.J. Walker (27 points), Chad Brown (15 points), and Benny Williams (8 points).
#1. C.J. Walker, a 25-year-old forward standing at 6'8'' who graduated from ECU in 2025 after playing for UCF between 2020 and 2024, showcased his exceptional talent last Sunday by leading Elitzur Yavne to a resounding 80-70 victory over the third-ranked M.Kiryat Gat in the Israeli National League's second division. In this match, Walker was named the MVP after delivering a stellar performance on the court, securing a double-double with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Additionally, he contributed 5 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 steals during his 38 minutes of play, proving his versatility and impact in the game. This remarkable display is even more impressive considering it is only Walker's first season in professional basketball. Elitzur Yavne, currently placed fourth in the Play-Out group with a record of 9-21, benefitted greatly from Walker's skills and leadership. Walker's standout performance against M.Kiryat Gat resulted in him receiving the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further cementing his status as a true champion in the realm of basketball. Despite this being his debut year with the team, Walker has consistently excelled throughout the season, boasting impressive averages of 20.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game across the 36 games he has played so far. Walker's strong individual contributions have undoubtedly played a crucial role in Elitzur Yavne's performance this season, showcasing his immense talent and potential as a basketball finalist.
#2. Chad Brown, a 6'9'' center who is 29 years old and an alumnus of the Golden Knights from 2019, currently plays professionally in Israel. Recently, he led Maccabi Urban Ramat Gan to a thrilling victory over the fifth-ranked Hapoel Holon with a score of 110-104 in the Israeli Winner League. In this game, Brown showcased his skills by scoring 15 points, securing 9 rebounds, and playing for 30 minutes on the court. This win was significant as it marked Maccabi Urban Ramat Gan's first victory after enduring three consecutive losses. Despite being placed ninth in the league standings with a record of 10-16, Brown's stellar performance was instrumental in this crucial win. It is noteworthy that this is Brown's debut season with Maccabi Urban Ramat Gan, and his impact has been felt both on and off the court. His statistics for the season, averaging 11.0 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game in eight appearances, reflect his valuable contributions to the team. Brown's impressive performance against Hapoel Holon further solidified his reputation as a champion player, demonstrating his ability to lead his team to success. As a former participant in the prestigious Eurobasket Summer League, known for its high level of competition and talent, Brown has honed his skills and developed into a top-tier player. His dedication to the sport and consistent performance make him a standout finalist in the realm of professional basketball.
#3. Benny Williams, a 6'10'' forward who recently graduated from UCF in 2025, is currently playing professionally in Australia. Despite his efforts, Williams could not lead the Hills Hornets to a victory over the Mustangs in a recent Australian NBL One game. The Hills Hornets, currently in 12th place with a 3-7 record, suffered a tough 102-84 loss on the road to the 6th-ranked Mustangs in the East group. This defeat marked the fifth consecutive loss for the Hills Hornets. During the game, Williams showcased his skills by contributing 8 points and 3 rebounds in just 12 minutes of play against the Mustangs. However, his individual performance was not enough to secure a win for his team. Throughout the season, Williams has been averaging 2.2 points per game and 1.4 rebounds per game in the 10 games he has played so far. Despite the challenging circumstances, Williams continues to demonstrate his talent and dedication on the court as he strives to help his team improve their performance in the league.
#4. Dayon Griffin, a 6'5'' guard and 30-year-old Golden Knights alumni from 2019, currently playing professionally in Mexico, demonstrated his prowess as a player in a recent game. He played a pivotal role in Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico's decisive victory over the closely-ranked Tijuana Zonkeys with a scoreline of 110-88 in the Mexican Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacifico last Friday. Griffin, the standout performer, was awarded the MVP of the game for his exceptional contributions. He showcased his skill by scoring 21 points, securing 5 rebounds, and providing 3 assists in just 23 minutes of play. Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico, currently holding the fifth position in the league with a record of 20-20, benefited greatly from Griffin's stellar performance against Tijuana. With an impressive season average of 14.5 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, 2.7 assists per game, and 1.5 steals per game over 38 games, Griffin has consistently proven himself as a champion on the court.
#5. Experienced champion Keith Clanton, a 35-year-old center who graduated from UCF in 2013 and received the NABC Division I All-District 11 First Team award that year, currently plays professionally in the TBL. In a recent game, Clanton played a crucial role in leading the Kissimmee Lambs to victory over the Tampa Bay Titans (4-10) with a score of 116-109 last Saturday. Despite scoring only 4 points, he made a significant impact by grabbing an impressive 21 rebounds, distributing 7 assists, and blocking 3 shots in 36 minutes of play. The Kissimmee Lambs have had a somewhat modest season with an 11-4 record. The Regular Season in the The Basketball League has already concluded. Clanton's standout performance against the Tampa Bay Titans showcased his versatility and skill on the court, earning him the esteemed 20+ Rebound badge from eurobasket.com and further solidifying his reputation as a finalist in the league. Throughout this season, Clanton has maintained impressive averages of 9.8 points per game, 14.8 rebounds per game (ranking third best in the league), 5.0 assists per game, 2.1 blocks per game (second best in the league), and 1.2 steals per game over 12 games. His consistent contributions and all-around performance highlight his status as a champion player in the league.
#6. Senegalese player Ibrahima Diallo, standing at 7'0'' and 26 years old, is a former Golden Knights alum from the class of 2024. Recently, he received an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention award. Currently playing professionally in Australia, Diallo showcased his skills by contributing to a significant victory for the Casey Cavaliers Cranbourne team. In a match against the 15th-ranked Pioneers, they triumphed with a score of 109-85 in the Australian NBL One league last Saturday. Despite only scoring 4 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in 14 minutes, Diallo's presence on the court was impactful. In another game against Mt. Gambier, Diallo's exceptional performance included 4 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist. His contributions were instrumental in leading his team to victory, ultimately securing their position as the champions of the game. Throughout the season, Diallo has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 16.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game across nine matches. His consistent performance and valuable contributions have undoubtedly played a key role in his team's success, positioning him as a standout player in the league.
#7. Jermaine Taylor, a 6'5'' guard who is 39 years old and a UCF graduate from the class of 2009, received the C-USA Player of the Year award during his college years. Currently playing professionally in the TBL, he is teammates with the aforementioned Keith Clanton and recently they both showcased their skills in the latest The Basketball League match. In a thrilling game, Taylor's team, the Kissimmee Lambs, emerged victorious over the Tampa Bay Titans with a scoreline of 116-109. Despite only playing 10 minutes, Taylor managed to contribute significantly by scoring 5 points and grabbing 1 rebound against Tampa Bay. His performance proved crucial in securing the win for his team, ultimately leading them to be crowned the champion of the game. Throughout the season, Taylor has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.7 points per game and 1.7 rebounds per game across 13 games. His consistent performance and valuable contributions on the court have undoubtedly been instrumental in his team's success as they strive towards their goal of becoming the finalist in the league.
Other former University of Central Florida players, who play in pro basketball:
Omar Payne (6'10''-F-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Peristeri in Greek GBL
Taylor Hendricks (6'9''-F-2003, played in 2023-23) plays for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Shemarri Allen (6'4''-SG-1999, played in 2023-24) plays for Caballeros de Culiacan in Mexican CIBACOPA
Aubrey Dawkins (6'6''-G/F-1995, played in 2016-16) plays for Udine in Italian Serie A
Matt Milon (6'5''-G-1996, played in 2019-20) played for Tauron GTK Gliwice in Polish OBL few monts ago
Tacko Fall (7'7''-C-1995, played in 2015-19) plays for Ningbo Rockets in Chinese CBA
CJ Kelly (6'5''-G-1998, played in 2022-23) plays for Kormend in Hungarian A Division
Darius Johnson (6'1''-G-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Derby in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Shaheed Davis (6'9''-PF-1994, played in 2014-16) plays for Thunder in Kenyan Premier League
Cheikh Diong (6'11''-F-1999, played in 2021-23) plays for JCA in Ivorian National 1
Jordan Ivy-Curry (6'3''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Satria Muda in Indonesian IBL
Isaiah Sykes (6'7''-G-1991, played in 2010-14) played for Sulaibikhat in Kuwaiti D1 last year
Brandon Mahan (6'5''-G-1998, played in 2019-22) played for Garveys Tralee Warriors in Irish Super League last year
Lavell Payne (6'8''-F-1985, played in 2003-07) played for La Cancha in Dominican Rep. LDC last year
Tony Johnson Jr. (6'3''-SG-1999, played in 2019-22) played for Sathorn Galaxy in Thailand TGBL last year
Nick Banyard (6'9''-F-1994, played in 2016-17) plays for Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico in Mexican CIBACOPA
Michael Durr (7'0''-C-1998, played in 2023-23) plays for Balikesir BBS in Turkish TBL
Robert King III (6'3''-G-1990, played in 2008-13) plays for New England Kraken in the TBL
Tanksley Efianayi (6'6''-G/F-1994, played in 2015-17) played for Spartans in Venezuelan SPB last year
Darius Perry (6'2''-G-1999, played in 2020-22) plays for Rieti in Italian Serie A2
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Central Florida basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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