Utah State University reported on Mar. 10 that 15 former Aggies men’s basketball players are currently playing professionally around the world, including three athletes on National Basketball Association (NBA) rosters.
The update highlights the ongoing impact of Utah State’s basketball program as its alumni continue to contribute to teams in the NBA and various international leagues. The report provides a summary of each player’s recent performances and team status.
Sam Merrill, now in his sixth NBA season and fourth with the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaged 5.3 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.7 rebounds over Cleveland’s last three games, helping the team achieve a 2-1 record. Merrill is shooting 44.6 percent from three-point range, ranking him fourth in the league.
Neemias Queta is in his fifth NBA season and third with the Boston Celtics. Over Boston’s last three games, Queta averaged 7.3 points and 9.3 rebounds as the Celtics also went 2-1. He recorded a double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds against Dallas and ranks among league leaders in field goal percentage, offensive rebounds, blocks, and defensive win shares.
Darius Brown II is playing his second professional season within the Cleveland organization for both the Cavaliers and their G-League affiliate, Cleveland Charge. Brown averaged 15.5 points, 14 assists, and 2.5 steals in two games for the Charge last week; he leads the G-League in assists per game at 10.2.
Other notable performances include Dexter Akanno scoring 15 points in his French debut for Caen Basket Calvados; Diogo Brito posting a season-high of 19 points for Monbus Obradoiro in Spain; Aubin Gateretse achieving a career-high of 23 points for Hubo Limburg United in Belgium; Shane Rector averaging 25 points over three games for Zonkeys de Tijuana; and Chris Smith averaging nearly as many for Hiroshima Dragonflies in Japan.
Several other Aggie alumni are competing across Europe—including Germany’s Justin Bean (Alba Berlin), Greece’s Dan Akin (Kolossos BC), Slovakia’s Brandon Horvath (Nitra Blue Wings), Austria’s Ian Martinez (Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart)—as well as teams in Azerbaijan (Kris Clark) and Ireland (RJ Eytle-Rock).
The university said these updates reflect continued success by its former players at multiple levels of professional basketball.
