Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Grizzlies players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Josh Bannan (18 points), Sayeed Pridgett (15 points), and Ahmaad Rorie (14 points).
#1. Australian Josh Bannan, a 6'10'' forward who is 25 years old and graduated from Montana in 2023, has been making waves in the Italian Serie A as a professional player. In a recent game, he led Trieste to a surprising 83-77 victory over the second-ranked Brescia with an outstanding performance that earned him the MVP title. Despite being only in his third season in pro basketball, Bannan showcased his talent by scoring 18 points, grabbing 6 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists in 35 minutes of play. His remarkable display on the court was instrumental in securing the win for Allianz Pallacanestro Trieste, where he currently plays. The team, placed eighth in the league, greatly benefited from Bannan's skills and leadership during the game against Brescia. His overall performance this season has been impressive, with stats showing an average of 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game in the 13 games he has played so far. Bannan's consistent contributions highlight his potential as a rising star and a true champion in the making.
#2. Sayeed Pridgett, a 6'5'' guard and 28-year-old former Grizzlies alumni from 2020, who received the All-Big Sky Conference First Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Romania. In a recent game, Pridgett, despite his impressive performance, was unable to lead his team, Oradea (23-5), to victory. Oradea, the league leader, suffered a close 83-88 defeat at home to the top team, Cluj Napoca. Pridgett stood out as the top scorer, contributing 15 points in just 20 minutes of play. Although he displayed an exceptional performance against Cluj Napoca, scoring 15 points, securing 1 rebound, and providing 1 assist, his team ultimately fell short and lost the game. Throughout this season, Pridgett has maintained an average of 8.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game across 34 games. Notably, Pridgett is a naturalized American player, showcasing his talent and skills in the professional basketball scene in Romania.
#3. Ahmaad Rorie, a 6'1'' guard who is 30 years old and graduated from Montana in 2019, currently plays professionally in Bosnia. In a recent game, Rorie, the All-Big Sky Conference All-Tournament MVP in 2019, unfortunately could not lead Igokea to victory. Despite his strong performance, the second-placed Igokea suffered a 70-76 defeat at home in Aleksandrovac to the leading KK Bosna Meridianbet Sarajevo in their group x matchup. Rorie was the standout player of the game, finishing as the top scorer with 14 points while also contributing 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 32 minutes of play. Notably, he demonstrated his accuracy from the free-throw line by making all six of his attempts. Despite his impressive individual display against Bosna S., where he showcased his skills with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, his team ultimately fell short in securing the win. So far this year, Rorie has been averaging 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game across three games. His contributions on the court have been significant, even though his team faced a recent setback in their quest for success.
#4. Australian player Jensen Bradtke, a towering 6'10'' forward at 21 years old and a former Grizzlies alumnus from 2025, continues to make waves in professional basketball in Australia. His recent performance led the Gold Coast Rollers to a resounding 130-94 victory over the tenth-ranked Rockets in the Australian NBL One, where he was named the game's MVP. Bradtke showcased his skills by recording a double-double with 36 points and 10 rebounds in just 33 minutes of play. Impressive numbers for a rookie season in the pros. The Gold Coast Rollers, with a 7-2 record, currently hold the second spot in the North group, thanks in part to Bradtke's stellar play. Bradkte's exceptional display didn't stop there. In a standout performance against Rockhampton R., he once again scored 36 points, secured 10 rebounds, and added 1 assist, contributing significantly to his team's victory. His consistent excellence on the court has been instrumental in the Rollers' current seven-game winning streak, culminating in their triumph as the champion. Bradtke's individual performance throughout the season has been remarkable, boasting averages of 20.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in nine appearances. His impact on the team's success cannot be understated, solidifying his position as a standout player in the league.
#5. Australian champion Fabijan Krslovic, a 6'8'' forward aged 30, who graduated from Montana in 2018 and played a significant role in helping them secure the Big Sky Conf. Regular Season Champion title that year, is currently playing professionally in Australia. Recently, he led the Northern Suburbs Bears to a convincing 99-86 victory over the seventh-ranked Mustangs in an Australian NBL One game, showcasing his prowess on the court. During the game, Krslovic delivered an impressive double-double performance, scoring 13 points and securing an equal number of rebounds, along with contributing 3 assists in 30 minutes of play. This stellar display contributed significantly to his team's success. The Northern Suburbs Bears, with a record of 11-2, currently hold the second position in the East group standings. In another remarkable game against Maitland M., Krslovic once again stood out by scoring 13 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and providing 3 assists, guiding his team to victory. His exceptional performance earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further solidifying his reputation as a champion player. Throughout the season, Krslovic has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 14.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game in the 13 games played so far. His consistent contributions on the court highlight his talent and dedication to the game, establishing him as a formidable finalist in Australian basketball.
#6. Laolu Oke, a 6'8'' power forward who is 25 years old and a Grizzlies alumnus from 2024, showcased his skills in the CBI Championship Quarterfinals that year. Currently playing professionally in France, Oke recently faced Pau-Lacq-Orthez with his team Champagne. Despite his solid performance of scoring 5 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in 18 minutes, Oke's team narrowly lost 79-78. Even though Oke displayed an impressive effort on the court, his team was unable to secure the victory. In the ongoing season, Oke has been maintaining an average of 6.1 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game across 42 games played.
#7. Kai Johnson, a 6'4'' guard at 24 years old who graduated from Montana in 2025 after helping them secure the Big Sky Conference Regular Season Co-Champion title, currently plays professionally in Spain. Recently, he played a significant role in Sant Antoni's triumph over the second-ranked Caja 87 with a score of 71-56 in a Spanish Segunda FEB (third division) game. Johnson's standout performance included scoring 15 points and providing 4 assists during his 34 minutes on the court. Against Caja 87, Johnson displayed remarkable skills by contributing 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists, ultimately playing a key role in the team's victory and reinforcing his reputation as a champion. Throughout the season, Johnson has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in 31 appearances.
#8. Aanen Moody, a 28-year-old guard standing at 6'3'' and an alum of the Grizzlies from 2024, is currently playing professionally in Spain. His experience as a former Grizzlies player, where he helped them reach the CBI Championship Quarterfinals, has undoubtedly contributed to his success on the court. In a recent game in the Spanish Segunda FEB league, which is the third division, Moody played a crucial role in his team's dominant 91-72 victory over the third-ranked Sant Antoni. During the game, Moody showcased his skills by scoring 7 points, providing 3 assists, and playing for 15 minutes. His performance was instrumental in securing the win for his team, solidifying his position as the champion of the game. Additionally, he displayed versatility by grabbing 1 rebound, further demonstrating his value on the court. Throughout the season, Moody has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game over 10 games. His consistent contributions and impressive gameplay highlight his importance to the team and his potential to excel as a finalist in future matches.
Other former University of Montana players, who play in pro basketball:
Josh Vazquez (6'3''-G, played in 2019-24) played for Piratas de Quebradillas in Puerto Rican BSN few monts ago
Martin Breunig (6'8''-PF-1992, played in 2013-13) plays for Veolia Towers Hamburg in German BBL
Will Cherry (6'1''-PG-1991, played in 2009-13) plays for Boulazac Basket Dordogne in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Michael Oguine (6'2''-G-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Tauron GTK Gliwice in Polish OBL
Brandon Whitney (6'1''-G, played in 2020-25) played for Rabotnicki in North Macedonian Super League last year
Austin Patterson (6'3''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Kongsberg in Norwegian BLNO
Dischon Thomas (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2022-24) plays for Jiaozuo in Chinese NBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Montana basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
