Fifteen former Utah State men’s basketball players are currently playing professionally around the world, with three of them on NBA rosters.
Sam Merrill, a guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers, is in his sixth NBA season and fourth with Cleveland. Over the last four games, Merrill averaged 12.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game as the Cavaliers split their games 2-2. He is shooting 46.2 percent from three-point range, which ranks him second in the NBA behind Luke Kennard of the Lakers.
Neemias Queta, center for the Boston Celtics, is in his fifth NBA season and third with Boston. In four of Boston’s last five games—where the team went 3-1—Queta averaged 14.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. He recorded a career-high 27 points along with 17 rebounds and three blocks during a win over Philadelphia. Queta is third in field goal percentage at .645 league-wide, seventh in offensive rebounds (175), thirteenth in blocks (76), and eighteenth in total win shares (6.4).
Darius Brown II made his NBA debut for the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 24 against the New York Knicks, grabbing one rebound in two minutes played during a victory. Brown also played two games for the Cleveland Charge in the G-League last week where he averaged 14 points, 9.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game; both were wins for his team. Brown leads the G-League with an average of 9.9 assists per game and ranks ninth in steals with a total of 45.
Taylor Funk plays forward for San Diego Clippers and is in his third professional season but first with this team; he averaged 10.8 points, five rebounds, and two assists across four games as San Diego finished even at two wins and two losses.
Dexter Akanno is spending his first professional year as small forward for VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier of Germany’s BBL; his team did not play last week but will return to action March 6 against Rostock.
Dan Akin plays power forward/center for Kolossos BC of Greece’s Basketball League; he contributed averages of four points and two rebounds over two FIBA World Cup qualifiers representing United Kingdom—both losses to Italy.
Justin Bean has been with Alba Berlin for three seasons now; neither Bean nor teammate Chris Smith (Hiroshima Dragonflies) nor Aubin Gateretse (Limburg United) nor Brandon Horvath (Nitra Blue Wings) nor RJ Eytle-Rock (EJ Sligo All-Stars) nor Ian Martinez (Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart) saw action last week as their respective teams were off until early March.
Diogo Brito played well internationally: representing Portugal during FIBA World Cup qualifying matches against Romania while playing professionally for Monbus Obradoiro in Spain’s LEB Gold league—he averaged twenty points per game including thirty-two points plus seven rebounds during Portugal’s win on February twenty-seventh.
Kris Clark completed his first season with Nakhchivan of Azerbaijan’s Basketball League though he did not play their final match; Clark averaged two points and two assists across six appearances this year.
Shane Rector joined Zonkeys de Tijuana after starting this ninth pro season with Al Shamal Doha; through seven games so far he has helped Tijuana to a record of three wins and four losses while averaging eleven points plus just over three rebounds per contest.
