Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Cornhuskers players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. James Palmer Jr., a 6'6'' small forward who graduated from Nebraska in 2019 and received the USBWA All-District VI Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Turkey. In a recent game last Saturday, Palmer Jr. was unable to lead Galatasaray Ekmas Istanbul (17-13) to victory as they were narrowly defeated 71-68 by the second-ranked Besiktas in a highly-anticipated derby match. Despite his outstanding performance, where he emerged as the top scorer with 19 points in 29 minutes, Galatasaray fell short in the crucial encounter. Palmer Jr. showcased his skills against Besiktas by contributing 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Despite his remarkable efforts, his team was unable to secure the win. Throughout the season, Palmer Jr. has been delivering impressive performances, maintaining high statistics with an average of 16.2 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 4.6 assists per game, and 1.3 steals per game.
#2. Danish Shavon Shields, a 6'7'' small forward and 31-year-old Cornhuskers alum from 2016, is currently playing professionally in Italy. Despite his CoSIDA NCAA Division I Academic All-District 7 First Team award in 2016, Shields could not assist AX Armani Exchange Milano (20-8) in their recent game last Sunday. The team suffered a disappointing 85-79 defeat on the road against the second-ranked Brescia. Shields, the team's second-best scorer in the game, contributed 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in 29 minutes of play. Shields showcased an impressive performance against Brescia, demonstrating his versatility with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. However, despite his noteworthy efforts, Milano was unable to secure the victory. Throughout the season, Shields has maintained relatively solid statistics, averaging 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
#3. German player Sam Griesel, a 6'7'' guard/forward aged 26, who graduated from Nebraska in 2023 and received the Big Ten All-Sportsmanship Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Germany. In a recent match against closely-ranked Bamberg (24-10) in the German easyCredit BBL, Griesel played a key role in his team's convincing 105-86 victory on Saturday night. Despite being in his first season with the team, Griesel showcased his talent by contributing 8 points and 6 rebounds in just 25 minutes of play. This game, considered the highlight of the round between two top 4 ranked teams, saw Griesel's team, ALBA Berlin (24-10), emerge triumphant, solidifying their second-place position in the league standings. Griesel's performance on the court demonstrated his capabilities as a finalist player, helping lead his team to success. Throughout this season, Griesel has maintained an average of 6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, further establishing himself as a valuable asset to his team.
#4. Alonzo Verge Jr, a 6'3'' guard and 27-year-old Cornhuskers alumnus from 2022, currently playing professionally in Germany, showcased his skills last Wednesday in a game where his team, Rasta Vechta (16-17), faced off against the second-ranked ALBA in Berlin. Despite his stellar performance, with Verge Jr leading as the top scorer with 19 points, contributing 4 rebounds, and distributing 5 assists in just 25 minutes of play, Vechta was defeated 98-89 by ALBA in a competitive match. This season marks Verge Jr's debut with the team, and he has been consistently delivering impressive performances on the court. His standout game against ALBA highlights his significant contributions, demonstrating his scoring prowess, rebounding ability, and playmaking skills. Despite his individual success, Vechta ultimately fell short against their opponents. Throughout the season, Verge Jr has maintained high statistics, averaging 17.5 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, 6.6 assists per game, and 1.5 steals per game. As a key player for Rasta Vechta, his strong presence on the court has been instrumental in the team's performances, even in the face of challenging matchups like the recent game against ALBA.
#5. Glynn Watson Jr., a 6'0'' point guard who graduated from Nebraska in 2019 and currently plays professionally in France, was unable to lead LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (20-10) to victory in their recent game against Basket last Saturday. Despite his commendable efforts, ASVEL suffered an 80-75 defeat at the hands of the lower-ranked team, Basket (#5). In the game, Watson Jr. showcased his skills by scoring 10 points, securing 4 rebounds, and impressively making all 6 of his free throw attempts in just 21 minutes of play. This season marks Watson Jr.'s debut with the team, where he has been delivering consistent performances. Against Cholet, he notably contributed 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists, displaying his value on the court. Despite his solid individual statistics this season, averaging 10.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, Watson Jr.'s efforts were not enough to secure a victory for ASVEL in the recent match. Nonetheless, his presence on the team has been notable, and his contributions are recognized even in the face of defeat.
#6. New Zealand champion Tai Webster, a 31-year-old guard standing at 6'4'' and a Cornhuskers alumnus from 2017, currently plays professionally in New Zealand. Despite his remarkable performance, Webster could not lead the Manawatu Jets (4-8) to victory in their recent game last Monday. The Jets suffered a crushing defeat of 105-84 against the higher-ranked Saints (#4) in Wellington. Even in the face of the loss, Webster stood out as the top scorer for his team, contributing 19 points along with 5 rebounds and 8 assists in just 29 minutes of play. His flawless performance from the free-throw line, going 6-for-6, further showcased his skills on the court. Although Webster showcased an impressive display against the Saints, the Jets were unable to secure the win. Throughout the season, Webster has maintained excellent individual statistics, averaging 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game.
#7. Rollie Worster, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from Nebraska in 2025, is currently playing professionally in Denmark. Despite his solid performance with 7 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks in 31 minutes of play, Worster could not lead Naestved to victory against Bakken Bears. The game ended with Bakken Bears defeating Naestved 87-81. Worster's individual performance was commendable, showcasing his skills with 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Although he put up impressive stats, his team fell short in securing the win. Throughout the season, Worster has maintained good statistics, averaging 11.5 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, 6.2 assists per game (ranking fourth best in the league), and 1.3 steals per game.
#8. Canadian champion Shamiel Stevenson, a 6'6'' shooting guard and 28-year-old Cornhuskers alumnus from 2021, currently playing professionally in Slovakia, recently showcased his skills in a game against Levice. Despite his strong performance where he scored 9 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and provided 1 assist in 24 minutes on the court, his team suffered a significant defeat, losing by 50 points with a final score of 126-76. Stevenson, a standout player, has been having an exceptional season individually, boasting impressive statistics with an average of 16.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Although his team faced a tough loss in the game against Levice, Stevenson's consistent contributions on the court have been noteworthy throughout the season.
#9. South Sudanese player Lat Mayen, standing at 6'9'' and 27 years old, who graduated from Nebraska in 2022 and currently plays professionally in Australia, showcased his talent by leading the East Perth Eagles to a remarkable 90-83 victory over the ninth-ranked Redbacks in the Australian NBL One league, the second division of Australian basketball, on Saturday night. During the game, Mayen delivered an outstanding performance, earning himself the title of the champion of the game by being named the Most Valuable Player. He contributed significantly to his team's success by scoring 24 points, securing 7 rebounds, providing 6 assists, and blocking 2 shots, all while maintaining a perfect 5-for-5 record from the free-throw line, in just 33 minutes of play. His exceptional display against the Perth Redbacks, where he scored 24 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and distributed 6 assists, was instrumental in securing the victory for his team. Mayen's consistent excellence throughout the season is evident in his impressive averages of 17.9 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, 3.0 assists per game, and 1.3 steals per game. It is notable that Mayen holds dual citizenship from both America and South Sudan, allowing him to play in South Sudan as a domestic player. His remarkable skills and contributions on the court continue to establish him as a standout finalist in the basketball arena.
#10. Trey McGowens, a 6'4'' guard and 26-year-old Cornhuskers alumnus from 2022, showcased his skills while playing professionally in Canada but was unable to lead the Winnipeg Sea Bears (3-3) to victory in their recent game last Friday. Despite his commendable performance, the Winnipeg team (#2) suffered a close 100-98 defeat against the Mamba in Saskatoon. During the game, McGowens demonstrated his abilities by contributing 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in just 23 minutes of play. His solid performance was not enough to secure a win for his team against Saskatchewan. Throughout the season, McGowens has maintained relatively good statistics, averaging 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Despite his efforts, the Winnipeg Sea Bears fell short in the game against the Mamba, highlighting the competitive nature of the league.
Other former University of Nebraska players, who play in pro basketball:
Bryce McGowens (6'6''-G-2002, played in 2021-22) plays for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
Dalano Banton (6'8''-F-1999, played in 2019-19) plays for Boston Celtics in the NBA
Jack McVeigh (6'8''-F-1996, played in 2015-18) plays for Capitanes de Arecibo in Puerto Rican BSN
Duby Okeke (6'8''-C-1994, played in 2017-18) plays for Cimarrones del Choco in Colombian LBP
Caleb Walker (6'5''-G-1989, played in 2008-12) plays for Scafati in Italian Serie A2
Juwan Gary (6'6''-F-2001, played in 2022-25) plays for Val-Dieu Spirou Basket Charleroi in Belgian Pro Basketball League
Josiah Allick (6'8''-C-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Greensboro Swarm in the NBA G League
Braxton Meah (7'1''-C, played in 2024-25) plays for South Bay Lakers in the NBA G League
Isaiah Roby (6'8''-F-1998, played in 2016-19) plays for Westchester Knicks in the NBA G League
Leslee Smith (6'7''-F-1990, played in 2013-15) played for Bristol Flyers in British SLB few monts ago
Sek Henry (6'5''-G-1987, played in 2006-10) plays for Trepca in Kosovan Superliga
Keisei Tominaga (6'2''-G-2001, played in 2021-24) plays for Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo in Japanese B1 League
Thorir Thorbjarnarson (6'6''-G-1998, played in 2017-21) plays for KR in Icelandic Subway League
Evan Taylor (6'5''-G-1996, played in 2016-18) plays for Nuernberg Falcons BC in German ProA
Matej Kavas (6'7''-G/F-1996, played in 2019-20) plays for IR in Icelandic Subway League
Derrick Walker (6'9''-F-1997, played in 2019-23) plays for M.Rehovot in Israeli National League
Rayes Gallegos (6'2''-G-1990, played in 2010-11) played for Mineros de Parral in Mexican LBE last year
Terran Petteway (6'6''-F-1992, played in 2012-12) plays for AEO Proteas Voulas in Greek Elite League
Jorge Bryan Diaz (6'11''-C-1989, played in 2022-25) plays for Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rican BSN
Brice Williams (6'7''-G-2001, played in 2023-25) plays for Motor City Cruise in the NBA G League
Kobe Webster (6'0''-PG-1999, played in 2020-22) plays for Cartagena in Spanish Primera FEB
Emmanuel Bandoumel (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2022-23) plays for Edmonton Stingers in CEBL
Anton Gill (6'3''-G-1994, played in 2015-15) played for Raleigh 919 Legends 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 Nebraska basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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