Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Tigers alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Notice impressive performance of Jeremiah Martin (15 points), Jordan Brown (19 points), and Raynere Thornton (21 points).
#1. Jeremiah Martin, a 6'3'' point guard who graduated from Memphis in 2019 and received the All-AAC First Team award that year, is currently playing professionally in Russia for Lokomotiv. In his first season with the team, he faced off against the formidable CSKA in a recent game. Despite his outstanding performance, where he scored 15 points, grabbed 1 rebound, and provided 7 assists in just 26 minutes, Lokomotiv fell short and was defeated 103-92 on the road. Martin's contributions on the court highlighted his potential as a champion, showcasing his skills and determination. Throughout the season, he has maintained relatively good statistics, averaging 13.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. As a finalist, Martin continues to prove himself as a valuable asset to his team with his consistent performance and leadership on the court.
#2. Jordan Brown, a 6'11'' forward and Tigers alumnus from 2024, currently playing professionally in Hungary, exhibited an outstanding performance in leading Kaposvari to a 73-66 victory over the seventh-ranked Atomeromu. In the Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnoksag I/A game on Monday night, Brown demonstrated his prowess by scoring 19 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and making 2 assists in just 25 minutes of play. This remarkable display earned him the title of MVP of the game, highlighting his capabilities as a champion player. Despite being in only his second season in professional basketball, Brown's contribution was pivotal in securing the win for Kometa Kaposvari KK, who now hold a third-place position in the Play-Off group. This victory marked the team's fifth consecutive win, further solidifying their position in the league standings. With an impressive season average of 13.2 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, and 1.2 assists per game, Brown has been consistently delivering strong performances on the court. His recent standout game against Atomeromu not only showcased his individual talent but also emphasized his ability to lead his team to success as a champion player.
#3. Raynere Thornton, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from Memphis in 2019 and currently plays professionally in Slovakia, showcased his talent in a recent game for Slovan. Despite his remarkable performance, where he emerged as the top scorer with 21 points in just 26 minutes of play, Thornton was unable to prevent Slovan from suffering a crushing 93-72 defeat at the hands of the formidable Levice team. This game marked Thornton's debut season with Slovan, and he has been maintaining solid statistics throughout the season, averaging 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. In the face of tough competition, Thornton's skills were on full display as he not only scored effectively but also contributed with 3 rebounds and 1 assist against Levice. However, despite his impressive individual performance, Slovan fell short against the reigning champions, Levice.
#4. DeAndre Williams, a 6'9'' forward/center and Tigers alumni from 2023, played a crucial role in helping his team win the AAC Tournament that year. Currently playing professionally in Israel, Williams recently faced a tough match where his team, Urban Latti Kiryat Ata, was defeated by Galil Elion, one of the league's weakest teams. Despite his commendable performance of scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in just 31 minutes, Kiryat Ata fell short and lost the game 113-108. As the Regular Season nears its end, Williams knows that the upcoming game is of utmost importance for his team. In a recent game against H. Galil Elyon, despite scoring 12 points, securing 12 rebounds, and contributing 2 assists, Williams couldn't prevent his team from losing. Nevertheless, his exceptional display on the court earned him the Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, solidifying his reputation as a true champion. Throughout the season, Williams has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 16.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. His consistent performance and contributions highlight his prowess as a finalist in the league.
#5. Nigerian player Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, a 6'10'' center who is 26 years old and graduated from Memphis in 2023, is currently playing professionally in Spain. Recently, he contributed to BAXI Manresa's success by helping them defeat the 15th-ranked Gran Canaria with a score of 87-80 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Saturday night. Despite only scoring 2 points during his 8 minutes on the court, Akobundu-Ehiogu's presence made a significant impact on the game. BAXI Manresa, currently positioned 11th in the league with a record of 15-18, achieved their third consecutive victory with this win. The team has only one more game left in the Regular Season, which will be crucial for their standings. This marks Akobundu-Ehiogu's first season with the team, and his performance against Gran Canaria, where he scored 2 points and grabbed 1 rebound, played a vital role in securing the victory for his team. Ultimately, his contributions were instrumental in helping BAXI Manresa emerge as the champion in that game. Throughout the season, Akobundu-Ehiogu has been averaging 4.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game, showcasing his versatility and defensive prowess on the court.
#6. Elijah McCadden, a 6'4'' guard and 26-year-old Tigers alumni from 2023, made significant contributions to his team's success in the AAC Tournament that year. Currently playing professionally in North Macedonia, McCadden showcased his talent by aiding MZT Skopje to a notable victory against the fourth-ranked Madzari with a score of 80-74 in the North Macedonian Super League on Sunday night. During the game, he demonstrated his skills by scoring 8 points and securing 3 rebounds in just 22 minutes of play. His stellar performance against Madzari was pivotal in his team's triumph and ultimate claim as the champion of the match. Throughout the season, McCadden has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 13.5 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game. His consistent performance and notable contributions have solidified his position as a key player in the team's journey towards success, ultimately aiming to secure a spot as a finalist in future competitions.
#7. Nae'Qwan Tomlin, a 6'8'' forward who graduated from Memphis in 2024 and currently plays professionally in the NBA, recently faced the New York Knicks with his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Unfortunately, Tomlin and the Cavaliers were unable to secure a victory against the Knicks. Despite his efforts, Monday's game will not go down as one of his best performances, as he only managed to score 2 points in 7 minutes on the court. The Cavaliers suffered a tough loss to the Knicks, with a final score of 130-93, a 37-point deficit. Tomlin, however, showed some promise in the game by contributing 2 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist. His individual performance was solid, but it wasn't enough to lead his team to victory. Throughout the season, Tomlin has been averaging 5.4 points per game and 2.7 rebounds per game. Despite the setback against the Knicks, Tomlin continues to strive for success in the NBA as a promising young player.
#8. Experienced champion DJ Stephens, a versatile 6'5'' forward/guard who is 35 years old and an alum of the Tigers from 2013, currently plays professionally in Spain. Despite his impressive accolades, including winning the All-C-USA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2013, Stephens faced a tough challenge recently. Unfortunately, he was unable to help Casademont Zaragoza emerge victorious against UCAM, resulting in a 100-90 defeat. During the game, Stephens only managed to score 2 points in 10 minutes of play, making it a less than stellar performance for him. In another matchup against Murcia, Stephens contributed 2 points and 3 rebounds, but his efforts were not enough to secure a win for his team. Despite these setbacks, Stephens maintains an average of 4.8 points per game and 2.3 rebounds per game this season. While Sunday's game may not have been one of his best showings, as a champion, Stephens will no doubt continue to strive for success and contribute to his team's performance in future matchups.
#9. Trahson Burrell, a 6'7'' forward/guard who is 33 years old and graduated from Memphis in 2016 after helping them reach the final of the AAC Tournament that year, currently plays professionally in Mexico for Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico. In a recent game against the Zonkeys, despite Burrell's exceptional performance, Angeles de Ciudad de Mexico (20-20) suffered a 96-84 defeat in Tijuana. Burrell shined as the top scorer of the game, contributing 28 points and 7 rebounds in just 31 minutes on the court. While facing the formidable Zonkeys, Burrell displayed his skills by scoring 28 points, securing 7 rebounds, and distributing 2 assists. Despite his remarkable efforts, his team fell short of clinching the victory against the higher-ranked opponents. Throughout the season, Burrell has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 17.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. His consistent performance and contributions have been noteworthy, positioning him as a standout player in the league.
#10. Dain Dainja, a 6'9'' center and 23-year-old Tigers alumnus from the class of 2025, who received the All-AAC Newcomer of the Year award in that same year, is currently playing professionally in Canada. Unfortunately, he was unable to assist the Edmonton Stingers (1-3) in their recent game last Sunday, where they were narrowly defeated 101-99 by the Niagara River Lions. Despite Dainja's stellar performance, scoring 27 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots in 32 minutes of play, Edmonton, ranked third in the league, fell short in the matchup. Dainja showcased his skills on the court against Niagara, delivering an impressive performance with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Despite his remarkable efforts, his team was unable to secure the victory. Throughout the season, Dainja has been excelling individually, boasting impressive statistics. He is currently averaging 23.8 points per game, ranking as the fourth-best scorer in the league, along with 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.8 blocks per game, which also rank him fourth in the league in blocks.
Other former University of Memphis players, who play in pro basketball:
Tarik Black (6'9''-C-1991, played in 2000-13) played for LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA few monts ago
Malcolm Dandridge (6'9''-C-2001, played in 2019-24) plays for King Szczecin in Polish OBL
Precious Achiuwa (6'9''-SF-1999, played in 2019-20) plays for Sacramento Kings in the NBA
Jalen Duren (6'10''-F/C-2003, played in 2021-22) plays for Detroit Pistons in the NBA
Moussa Cisse (7'0''-C-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Dallas Mavericks in the NBA
Josh Minott (6'9''-F-2002, played in 2021-22) plays for Brooklyn Nets in the NBA
James Wiseman (7'1''-C-2001, played in 2019-20) plays for Indiana Pacers in the NBA
David Jones-Garcia (6'6''-F-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for San Antonio Spurs in the NBA
Ricky Tarrant (6'2''-PG-1993, played in 2015-16) plays for Al Sadd in Qatari QBL
Michael Dixon (6'1''-G-1990, played in 2013-14) plays for Club Africain in Tunisian ProA
Will Barton (6'6''-SG-1991, played in 2010-12) played for Atleticos de San German in Puerto Rican BSN last year
Kendric Davis (6'0''-PG-1999, played in 2023-23) plays for Osos de Manati in Puerto Rican BSN
Jayden Hardaway (6'5''-G-1999, played in 2018-24) plays for Stockton Kings in the NBA G League
Nick Jourdain (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2023-25) plays for Westchester Knicks in the NBA G League
Lester Quinones (6'5''-G-2000, played in 2019-22) plays for Qingdao Eagles in Chinese CBA
Damaria Franklin (6'3''-G-1999, played in 2022-23) plays for Patriots in Rwandan RBL
Calvin Godfrey (6'9''-F-1990, played in 2014-15) plays for ES Sahel in Tunisian ProA
Kareem Brewton Jr. (6'3''-G-1995, played in 2018-19) plays for H.Kralove in Czech Republic NBL
Chris Crawford (6'4''-G-1992, played in 2010-14) plays for JCA in Ivorian National 1
Alex Lomax (6'0''-PG-2000, played in 2018-23) plays for Sigal Prishtina in Kosovan Superliga
Colby Rogers (6'3''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Zamora in Spanish Primera FEB
Sam Ojo Ayomide (6'11''-C, played in 2021-22) played for Castellaneta in Italian Serie B Interregionale last year
Mike Parks Jr. (6'9''-C-1997, played in 2018-19) played for Albany Patroons in the TBL last year
Jaykwon Walton (6'7''-G-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Birmingham Squadron in the NBA G League
Jahvon Quinerly (6'1''-G-1998, played in 2023-24) plays for Shanghai in Chinese NBL
Robert Dozier (6'9''-F-1985, played in 2005-09) played for The Nawf in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Kyvon Davenport (6'8''-F-1997, played in 2017-19) plays for South China in Hong Kong D1
Teafale Lenard Jr. (6'8''-F-2002, played in 2025-25) plays for Tigers in Rwandan RBL
Caleb Mills (6'5''-G, played in 2023-24) plays for Birmingham Squadron in the NBA G League
Tyreek Smith (6'8''-F/C-2000, played in 2024-25) plays for Seattle Super Hawks in the USBL
Adonis Thomas (6'6''-F-1993, played in 2011-13) plays for NSA in Lebanese DLBL
Isaiah Maurice (6'10''-F-1996) plays for North Carolina Coyotes in the ECBL
Tyrese Hunter (5'9''-PG-2003, played in 2024-25) plays for Brampton Honey Badgers in CEBL
Shawn Taggart (6'10''-F-1985, played in 2005-06) played for Team 901 in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Jimario Rivers (6'8''-F-1995, played in 2016-18) plays for 4 Bears Roar in the TBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Memphis basketball alumni.
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