Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Vaqueros players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Nigerian basketball player Mike Adewunmi, a 6'6'' guard at 27 years old who graduated from UTRGV in 2022 and now plays professionally in Lebanon, showcased his skills as he led Beirut Club to a commanding victory over league outsider Tadamon, with a decisive 91-67 win in the Lebanese Decathlon Lebanese Basketball League during Saturday night's game. Adewunmi's stellar performance earned him the prestigious MVP title for the game. Demonstrating his prowess on the court, he achieved a double-double by scoring 28 points and securing 13 rebounds, in addition to contributing 3 assists and 3 steals, all within a span of 34 minutes of gameplay. Beirut Club, currently positioned eighth in the league with a record of 10-12, celebrated their first win after enduring four consecutive losses. The Regular Season has already concluded, marking Adewunmi's inaugural season with the team. His remarkable display of talent against Tadamon not only led his team to victory but also garnered him the Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further establishing his reputation as a champion player. Throughout the season, Adewunmi has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in the three games he has played thus far. Notably, Adewunmi, a naturalized Nigerian, continues to impress with his contributions on the court, showcasing his skills and dedication to his team's success.
#2. Australian Johnny Crnogorac, a 7'1'' center who is 30 years old and an alumnus of Vaqueros from 2019, currently plays professionally in Australia. In a recent Australian NBL One game, he played a significant role in the Sydney City Comets' easy victory over the 16th-ranked Bandits with a score of 85-68. Crnogorac showcased his skills on the court by recording 9 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks in just 21 minutes of play. The Sydney City Comets, with a current record of 6-6, are placed eighth in the East group standings. Crnogorac's exceptional performance against Albury W.B. was instrumental in helping his team secure the victory. His contributions of 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists were crucial in the team's success, ultimately leading them to be crowned as the champion. Throughout this season, Crnogorac has been averaging 3.9 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, 1.3 assists per game, and an impressive 2.1 blocks per game in the 12 games he has played so far. His consistent performance and strong presence on the court make him a valuable asset to his team as they aim to maintain their position as the finalist.
#3. In a recent game, the seasoned Estonian player Janari Joesaar, standing at 6'6'' and aged 32, who completed his studies at UTRGV in 2016 and currently plays professionally in Bosnia, played a key role in KK Bosna Meridianbet Sarajevo's triumph over the second-placed Igokea with a score of 76-70 in the Bosnia and Herzegovina Division I. In this highly anticipated match between two of the top 3 teams in the group, Joesaar's team emerged victorious, with KK Bosna Meridianbet Sarajevo leading the standings. During the game, Joesaar showcased his skills as a champion by contributing 6 points and 3 rebounds in just 15 minutes of play against the formidable opponent, Igokea. His performance on the court was crucial in ensuring his team's success and underlined his capabilities as a finalist. Throughout this season, Joesaar has been averaging 4.5 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game across two matches, demonstrating his consistent contribution to the team's performance.
Other former University of Texas Rio Grande Valley players, who play in pro basketball:
Parrish Petty (6'1''-PG-1988, played in 2009-09) plays for Gorgan in Iranian Superleague
DeAnthony Tipler (5'10''-PG-2000, played in 2023-24) played for Sorocabana in Brazilian Paulista few monts ago
Lesley Varner Jr (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2016-20) plays for Jonava in Lithuanian LKL
Dekedran Thorn (6'4''-SG-2000, played in 2024-25) plays for Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League
Justin Johnson (6'6''-G/F-1999, played in 2023-23) plays for Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League
Jordan Jackson (6'3''-G-1997, played in 2017-20) played for Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League last year
Daylen Williams (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2022-24) plays for Beroe in Bulgarian NBL
Ahren Freeman (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2022-24) plays for Pyrinto in Finnish Korisliiga
Shaquille Hines (6'7''-PF-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Ehime Orange Vikings in Japanese B2 League
Luis Valera (6'7''-F/C-1988, played in 2008-10) plays for Guadalajara in Spanish Tercera FEB
Terry Winn III (6'7''-F-1995, played in 2017-19) plays for Mamer in Luxembourg LBBL
Dan Manzi Kimasa (6'9''-SF-1995, played in 2023-24) played for Tigers in Rwandan RBL last year
K.T. Raimey (6'3''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Akdeniz Spor in Cypriot North League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley basketball alumni.
Mike Adewunmi is last week best Vaqueros alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @https://www.facebook.com/samuel.m.adewun)
