Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Anteaters players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Tommy Rutherford, a 6'9'' center who graduated from UC Irvine in 2020, was instrumental in helping them secure the Big West Regular Season Champion title in his final year. Currently playing professionally in Lithuania, Rutherford recently faced off against the formidable Zalgiris team. In the last game, despite his commendable efforts, Jonava fell short with a score of 75-90 against the league-leading Zalgiris. Rutherford displayed an impressive performance, achieving a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in just 25 minutes of play. His contributions extended beyond scoring and rebounding, as he also managed to dish out 2 assists during the game. Despite his notable performance, Jonava was unable to secure a victory. Throughout this season, Rutherford has been maintaining solid averages of 9.3 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game, ranking him as the third-best rebounder in the league. Having participated in 15 games so far, Rutherford continues to showcase his skills and make valuable contributions to his team's efforts in the league.
#2. Australian Isaiah Lee, a 6'2'' guard and 26-year-old Anteaters alumnus from 2022, is currently playing professionally in Australia. Despite his efforts, Lee, a finalist, could not lead the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (8-3) to victory against the Mustangs (6-5) in the Australian NBL One, recording 6 points in 21 minutes of play. The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, currently in fifth place with an 8-3 record, suffered a crushing 85-61 defeat on the road against the Mustangs, who are ranked sixth in the East group. This is Lee's first season with the team. In a standout performance against Maitland M., Lee, a finalist, showcased his skills by scoring 6 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 1 assist. His impressive individual effort, however, was not enough to secure the victory for his team. Lee has been putting up solid numbers this season, averaging 12.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.0 steals per game in the 11 games he has played so far.
#3. Greek Ioannis Dimakopoulos, a 7'2'' center who graduated from UC Irvine in 2017 after helping them secure the Big West Regular Season Champion title that year, currently plays professionally in Australia. Despite his efforts, Dimakopoulos could not lead East Perth Eagles to a victory over the Hawks in the Australian NBL One, where he only managed to score 4 points in 11 minutes of play. In a recent match, the eighth-ranked East Perth Eagles suffered a defeat at the hands of the seventh-ranked Hawks, losing 83-91 in Floreat. This loss marked the fourth consecutive defeat for East Perth Eagles. This season marks Dimakopoulos' debut with the team, and he has been showcasing his skills on the court, such as in a game against Perry Lakes Hawks where he contributed 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist, although his team ultimately fell short. Dimakopoulos currently holds dual American and Greek citizenship, allowing him to play in Greece as a domestic player. In the 11 games he has played this season, he has been averaging 4.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
#4. Jaron Martin, a 31-year-old point guard standing at 5'10'' and an alumnus of the Anteaters from 2017, currently plays professionally in Mexico. He was instrumental in helping his college team win the Big West Regular Season Champion title in 2017. Martin now competes for Astros de Jalisco in the Mexican Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacifico league. In a recent game, Martin led Astros de Jalisco to a 94-80 victory over the seventh-ranked Caballeros de Culiacan with an outstanding performance. He contributed 12 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals in just 28 minutes of play. This win marked the team's 14th consecutive victory, maintaining their position as the top team in the league with a record of 38-2. Against Culiacan, Martin showcased his skills by scoring 12 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists, ultimately guiding his team to success. His remarkable display on the court highlighted his importance in securing the win and further establishing his reputation as a champion. Throughout this season, Martin has maintained solid averages of 9.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game across 18 appearances. His consistent contribution and leadership on the court continue to demonstrate why he is considered a finalist in the league.
Other former University of California - Irvine players, who play in pro basketball:
Berk Can Akin (6'2''-PG-2005, played in 2024-25) plays for Bursaspor Basketbol in Turkish BSL
Bent Leuchten (7'1''-C-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Rostock Seawolves in German BBL
Collin Welp (6'9''-SF-1998, played in 2017-17) plays for SYNTAINICS MBC Weissenfels in German BBL
Jonathan Galloway (6'10''-C-1996, played in 2014-14) plays for Cocodrilos in Venezuelan SPB
Brad Greene (6'11''-F-1998, played in 2016-18) played for ZZ Leiden in Dutch DBL few monts ago
Luke Nelson (6'3''-G-1995, played in 2013-17) plays for Sopron KC in Hungarian A Division
Dean Keeler (6'11''-C-2001, played in 2019-24) plays for Bisons in Finnish Korisliiga
Justin Hohn (6'2''-G, played in 2019-25) plays for Kavkasia in Georgian Superleague
Eyassu Worku (6'2''-G-1998, played in 2016-20) plays for Gartenzaun24 Baskets Paderborn in German ProA
Aiden Krause (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2018-18) played for Ballarat Miners in Australian NBL One last year
Patrick Rembert (6'1''-PG-1990, played in 2007-11) plays for Al Ittihad in Syrian SBL
Pierre Crockrell II (6'0''-PG-2000, played in 2022-24) plays for Memphis Hustle in the NBA G League
Will Davis II (6'8''-F-1992, played in 2011-15) plays for Lehigh Valley Flight in the TBL
Ofure Ujadughele (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2019-25) plays for Maktown in Nigerian PBL
JC Butler (6'5''-F-2000, played in 2024-25) plays for Maktown in Nigerian PBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of California - Irvine basketball alumni.
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