Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Wildcats players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Notice impressive performance of Barry Brown Jr. (50 points), Mark Smith (21 points), and Xavier Sneed (9 points).
#1. Barry Brown Jr., a 6'3'' small forward who graduated from Kansas State in 2019, currently plays professionally in China. Despite his remarkable performance, Brown Jr. was unable to lead Zhejiang Guangsha Lions (33-9) to victory in their recent game against the Sharks, where they were narrowly defeated 91-88 on the road. In the match, Brown Jr. showcased his scoring prowess by putting up an impressive 50 points, along with contributing 5 assists in his 39 minutes on the court. Despite his valiant effort, Guangsha Lions fell short against the leading Sharks. However, Brown Jr.'s outstanding display earned him the prestigious Elite Badge from eurobasket.com, reaffirming his reputation as a true champion. Throughout the season, Brown Jr. has consistently delivered high-level performances, averaging 24.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in the 30 games he has played so far. His exceptional individual contributions highlight his skill and determination as he continues to excel on the court.
#2. Mark Smith, a 6'4'' guard and 26-year-old Wildcats alum from 2022, who received the All-Big 12 Third Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Germany. In a recent game, Smith, despite his outstanding performance, was unable to lead Ratiopharm Ulm (19-15) to victory. The team suffered a 87-96 loss against the higher-ranked (#3) Bamberg on their home court. Smith emerged as the standout player of the game, contributing 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 28 minutes of play. His remarkable performance showcased his scoring ability, rebounding prowess, and playmaking skills. Despite his impressive individual efforts, Ulm was unable to secure the win against Bamberg. Throughout the season, Smith has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in 36 appearances. His consistent contributions have been valuable for the team, demonstrating his skills and versatility on the court.
#3. Xavier Sneed, a 6'5'' forward who graduated from Kansas State in 2020 and received the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention award, is currently playing professionally in Israel. In a recent game between Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem and closely-ranked H. Gilboa Galil, Sneed played a crucial role in his team's narrow 77-75 victory. He showcased his skills by contributing 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist in 31 minutes of play, ultimately helping Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem secure the win and emerge as the champion of the game. With a season average of 8.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in five games played, Sneed has been a valuable asset for his team throughout the season. Despite the challenges faced during the Regular Season, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem currently holds the third position in the league standings, with Sneed's consistent performances playing a significant role in their success.
#4. Wes Iwundu, a 6'6'' forward and Wildcats alumnus from 2017, currently plays professionally in Israel. Despite his stellar performance, contributing 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in 35 minutes of play, he couldn't carry his struggling team, Urban Latti Kiryat Ata (8-16), to victory in their recent game against Galil Elion. This loss places Kiryat Ata in a challenging position as they have only one more game left in the Regular Season, making it a crucial match for the team. Iwundu, in his first season with the team, has been a standout player, showcasing his skills with an average of 16.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game over eight games. Despite his individual success, the team has faced difficulties in securing wins. The upcoming final game of the Regular Season will be pivotal for Iwundu and his team as they aim to finish the season on a positive note.
#5. Dean Wade, a 6'10'' power forward who graduated from Kansas State in 2019 after helping them to win the Big 12 Regular Season Co-Champion title, currently plays professionally in the NBA. Recently, Wade was unable to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30) to victory against the New York Knicks (54-29) in an NBA matchup. Despite putting up a commendable effort, scoring 3 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists in 21 minutes of play, Wade and his team suffered a disappointing 109-93 loss in New York City. This marked Wade's seventh season with the Cavaliers, where he has been a consistent presence on the court. Although the game against the New York Knicks may not be considered one of his best performances, Wade has been contributing steadily throughout the season, averaging 5.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in 77 appearances.
#6. Tylor Perry, a 25-year-old, 5'11'' point guard and Wildcats alumnus from 2024, is currently showcasing his talent as a professional player in the USBL. In a recent game, Perry led the Seattle Super Hawks to a resounding victory over the Spokane Lilac City Legends, with a final score of 129-91. His stellar performance on the court included scoring 18 points, grabbing 1 rebound, and providing 8 assists in just 12 minutes of play. Perry's exceptional skills were on full display as he dominated the game against Spokane. His impressive contribution was instrumental in securing the win for his team, ultimately earning him the title of the champion of the game. Throughout the season, Perry has maintained high statistics, averaging 15.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game over the course of two games. His consistent performance and leadership on the court have solidified his position as a standout player in the league.
Other former University of Kansas State players, who play in pro basketball:
Markquis Nowell (5'8''-PG-1999, played in 2024-24) plays for Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spanish Liga Endesa
Rodney McGruder (6'4''-SG-1991, played in 2009-13) played for Umana Reyer Venezia in Italian Serie A few monts ago
Keyontae Johnson (6'5''-F-1999, played in 2024-24) plays for Shandong Heroes in Chinese CBA
Max Jones (6'4''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Manchester Basketball in British SLB
Kamau Stokes (6'0''-PG-1995, played in 2015-19) plays for VEF Riga in Latvian LBL
David N'Guessan (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2022-25) plays for Basketball Loewen Braunschweig in German BBL
Denis Clemente (6'0''-PG-1986, played in 2005-10) played for Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rican BSN last year
William McNair Jr. (6'11''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Science City Jena in German BBL
Coleman Hawkins (6'1''-F-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Grand Rapids Gold in the NBA G League
Thomas Gipson (6'7''-F/C-1993, played in 2011-15) played for E.Yavne in Israeli National League last year
Stephen Hurt (6'11''-F-1993, played in 2013-16) plays for Yokohama Excellence in Japanese B2 League
Kaosi Ezeague (6'10''-C-1999, played in 2018-22) plays for Rustavi in Georgian Superleague
Carlbe Ervin II (6'3''-G-1995, played in 2015-17) plays for Salgotarjani in Hungarian B Red
Justin Edwards (6'4''-G-1992, played in 2013-13) plays for Coldmaris BBC Nord Dragonz Eisenstadt in Austrian BSL
Abayomi Iyiola (6'10''-C-1998, played in 2023-23) plays for Ordu in Azerbaijani ABL
Spencer Bain (6'2''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Boroughmuir Blaze Edinburgh in Scottish SBC
Jacob Pullen (6'0''-PG-1989, played in 2007-11) plays for Ankaragucu in Turkish TBL
Dramane Diarra (6'8''-F/C-1980, played in 2002-04) played for Riviera in Swiss NLB last year
Michael Beasley (6'10''-F-1989, played in 2007-08) played for Miami 305 in the Big3 last year
D.J. Johnson (6'9''-F-1993, played in 2012-14) played for DaGuys STL in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Kansas State basketball alumni.
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