Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Hornets alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Especially interesting is good performance of Marcus Graves (12 points), Nick Hornsby (32 points), and Hunter Marks (14 points).
#1. Marcus Graves, a 29-year-old guard standing at 6'1'' who graduated from Sacramento State in 2019 and received the All-Big Sky Conference Second Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Germany. In a recent match, he led Phoenix Hagen to a dominant 85-65 victory over Eisbaeren Bremerhaven, a closely-ranked opponent with a record of 23-11. Graves showcased his skills by contributing 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 9 assists in just 25 minutes of play. This game was a highly anticipated matchup between two top 4 ranked teams in the German BARMER 2. Basketball Bundesliga ProA, with Phoenix Hagen (28-6) currently holding the top spot in the league. Graves' exceptional performance against Bremerhaven not only helped his team secure a crucial win but also demonstrated his capabilities as a true champion on the court. Throughout the season, Graves has maintained solid statistics, averaging 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in the 41 games he has played so far. His consistent performance and leadership have been instrumental in his team's success, solidifying his position as a standout player in the league and a formidable finalist.
#2. Nick Hornsby, a 6'7'' forward and 30-year-old Hornets alumnus from 2017, currently playing professionally in Indonesia, showcased an impressive performance in Hangtuah's recent game against the second-ranked Satria Muda. Despite his stellar efforts, Hangtuah faced a narrow defeat of 100-105 in a closely contested derby match. Hornsby displayed his versatility on the court by achieving a double-double with 32 points and 16 rebounds, along with contributing 5 assists during his 38 minutes of play. His remarkable performance against Satria Muda earned him accolades, including the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com. Throughout the season, Hornsby has consistently delivered outstanding individual performances, maintaining high statistics. He boasts an average of 24.0 points per game, 12.4 rebounds per game, 4.9 assists per game, and 2.8 steals per game, which ranks him as the fourth-best in the league, across 22 games played. His contributions have been instrumental in Hangtuah's journey as they strive to compete against the league's best teams.
#3. Australian Hunter Marks, a 6'9'' forward who is 27 years old and graduated in 2023, showcased his talent by leading Logan Thunder to a convincing 95-78 victory against the 12th-ranked Seahawks in the Australian NBL One, the second division league, last Friday. Despite being only in his third season in professional basketball, Marks delivered an impressive performance by scoring 14 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, providing 3 assists, and adding 2 blocks in 27 minutes of play. This exceptional display on the court reinforced his reputation as a champion. Notably, Logan Thunder, with a record of 5-2, currently holds the fifth position in the North group standings. Marks' consistent performance throughout the season, averaging 12.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in seven appearances, further cements his status as a finalist in the league.
#4. New Zealand's Izayah Le'afa, a 6'2'' guard who is 29 years old and an alumnus of the Hornets from 2020, where he received an All-Big Sky Conference Honorable Mention award, is currently playing professionally in New Zealand. Recently, he showcased his skills while playing for the Wellington Saints in a match against the Jets, a closely-ranked team with a record of 4-8. The Saints emerged victorious with a dominant scoreline of 105-84 in the New Zealand National Basketball League, with Le'afa contributing significantly to the win. Despite scoring just 3 points, Le'afa managed to make 5 assists and 3 steals in the 32 minutes he played. The Wellington Saints, currently placed fourth in the league with a 7-3 record, benefited greatly from Le'afa's performance against the Jets. His stat line included 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists, showcasing his versatility and impact on the game. His crucial contributions on the court played a pivotal role in his team ultimately emerging as the champion. This season, Le'afa has been averaging 7.2 points per game, along with 4.7 rebounds, 7.7 assists (ranking him third best in the league), and 1.5 steals per game across six games. His consistent performance and all-around skills make him a key player for the Wellington Saints as they strive for success in the league.
#5. In a recent game, Taiwanese player Yung-Cheng Wu, standing at 6'2'' and 29 years old, a graduate of Sacramento St. in 2019, and currently playing professionally in Taiwan, played a crucial role in his team's dominant win over the Ghosthawks, one of the league's weaker teams with an 11-13 record. The Taipei Fubon Braves, where Wu plays, emerged victorious with a resounding 109-79 win in the Taiwanese P. League+ (second division) last Thursday. Wu showcased his skills by contributing 7 points in just 11 minutes of play, helping secure the win for his team. This game was highly anticipated as it featured two of the top 4 ranked teams, with the Taipei Fubon Braves holding the second position in the league standings. This victory marked the fifth consecutive win for Wu's team, highlighting their strong performance in the league. With his impressive 7-point contribution against the Ghosthawks, Wu played a pivotal role in leading his team to victory, ultimately earning him the title of the champion of the game. Throughout this season, Wu has been averaging 3.2 points per game in the 23 games he has played, showcasing his consistent performance on the court.
#6. Experienced player Mikh McKinney, a 6'1'' guard who is 34 years old and an alumnus of the Hornets from 2015, is currently playing professionally in Mexico. Recently, he played a crucial role in Astros de Jalisco's victory over the seventh-ranked Caballeros de Culiacan with a score of 95-87 in the Mexican Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacifico last Wednesday. McKinney's performance was notable as he contributed 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in just 19 minutes of play against Culiacan, showcasing his skills as a champion player. Throughout this season, McKinney has been averaging 6.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in 17 games. His consistent contributions on the court have been instrumental in his team's success, further solidifying his reputation as a finalist player. It's worth noting that McKinney is a naturalized Filipino, adding to the diversity and talent he brings to the basketball court.
Other former Sacramento State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Ethan Esposito (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2018-21) plays for Brindisi in Italian Serie A2
Brandon Davis (6'2''-G-2000, played in 2018-18) played for Capitanes de Arecibo in Puerto Rican BSN few monts ago
Jacob Holt (6'9''-F-2003, played in 2023-25) plays for Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt in German BBL
Cody Demps (6'4''-G-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva in Israeli Winner League
Akol Mawein (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2022-24) plays for Nanjing Monkey Kings in Chinese CBA
Joshua Patton (6'8''-C-1997, played in 2015-15) plays for Sopron KC in Hungarian A Division
Christian Terrell (6'5''-G-1997, played in 2019-19) played for Bisons in Finnish Korisliiga last year
Justin Strings (6'7''-F-1996, played in 2014-18) plays for Goes in Uruguayan LUB
Brandon Betson (6'1''-G, played in 2023-24) played for Cair 2030 in North Macedonian Super League last year
Callum McRae (7'1''-C-1999, played in 2022-23) played for Nelson Giants in New Zealand NBL last year
Julian Vaughns (6'3''-PG-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Kosice Wolves in Slovakian Tipos SBL
John Dickson (6'6''-F-1990, played in 2009-13) played for Kwa-Zulu Marlins in South African BNL last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Sacramento State University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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