Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Volunteers alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Experienced Kevin Punter, a 6'4'' shooting guard who is 32 years old and graduated from Tennessee in 2016, currently plays professionally in Spain. In a recent game, he led FC Barcelona Lassa, one of the league's top teams, to a hard-fought victory over MoraBanc Andorra, a lower-ranked opponent with a record of 10-24. Punter's stellar performance earned him the MVP title of the game, as he scored an impressive 26 points, along with contributing 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals during his 34 minutes on the court. FC Barcelona Lassa, currently holding the fifth position in the league with a record of 24-10, secured their sixth consecutive win with Punter's outstanding display. As the Regular Season nears its end with only two games remaining, every match becomes crucial for the team's standing in the league. Punter's overall statistics for the season reflect his consistent performance, averaging 13.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. As a naturalized American player, Punter continues to showcase his skills and leadership on the court, proving himself as a true champion and a valuable asset to FC Barcelona Lassa.
#2. Canadian Kyle Alexander, a 6'10'' center who is 29 years old and an alumnus of Volunteers from 2019, showcased his skills in the final of the SEC Tournament that year. Currently playing professionally in Turkey, Alexander recently represented Turk Telekom Ankara (20-10) in a game last Wednesday. Although he put on a commendable performance by contributing 12 points and 9 rebounds in 24 minutes of play, Turk Telekom suffered a defeat on the road against the higher-ranked Efes (#4) with a score of 86-75. Despite Alexander's notable efforts as the second best scorer in the game, the team could not secure a victory. In the match against Anadolu Efes, he displayed prowess by scoring 12 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and providing 1 assist. Throughout this season, Alexander has maintained an average of 9.8 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 1.1 assists per game, and 1.1 blocks per game.
#3. Zakai Zeigler, a 23-year-old point guard standing at 5'9'' and a graduate of Tennessee in 2025, currently showcasing his skills playing professionally in France. Recently, he demonstrated his prowess on the court by leading Nanterre 92 to a significant 64-55 victory over the closely-ranked Le Mans in the French Betclic ELITE. In this game, Zeigler was named the MVP after scoring 13 points, making 3 assists, and displaying a flawless performance from the free-throw line, going 6-for-6 in just 24 minutes of play. Nanterre 92, currently holding the third position in the league with a record of 21-9, owes much of its success to Zeigler's outstanding performance. His all-around contribution of 13 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists against Le Mans proved instrumental in securing the important win. Ultimately, Zeigler's talent and leadership skills played a crucial role in guiding his team to triumph as the champion of the game. Throughout this season, Zeigler has maintained solid averages of 7.6 points, 1.6 rebounds, 5.8 assists (ranking third in the league), and 1.1 steals per game. It is worth noting that despite being a naturalized American, Zeigler has seamlessly adapted to the professional basketball scene in France, consistently showcasing his talent and determination on the court.
#4. Haitian Yves Pons, a 6'7'' forward who is 27 years old and an alum of the Volunteers from 2021, received the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist award that year. Currently playing professionally in Spain, Pons recently competed against Kevin Punter in the Spanish Liga Endesa. In a recent game, Pons, representing MoraBanc Andorra (with a record of 10-24), faced off against FC Barcelona (with a record of 24-10), but unfortunately, his team couldn't secure the victory against the much higher-ranked opponent. Despite his best efforts, MoraBanc Andorra was defeated 100-95 by FC Barcelona, who holds the #5 position. In the game, Pons showcased his skills by contributing 7 points and grabbing 4 rebounds in 18 minutes of play. Although the Regular Season has come to a close, Pons continues to impress with an average of 8.0 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game this season. Additionally, it's worth noting that he holds French nationality.
#5. Derek Reese, a 6'8'' forward at the age of 32, who graduated from Tennessee in 2016, showcased his skills in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional. Playing professionally in Puerto Rico, Reese played a crucial role in helping Piratas de Quebradillas secure a remarkable 88-82 victory against the second-ranked Capitanes with a record of 14-6. Despite only scoring 2 points and grabbing 4 rebounds in 10 minutes of play, Reese's impact on the court was undeniable. Piratas de Quebradillas, currently placed sixth in Group A with a record of 7-17, greatly benefited from Reese's contributions in his first season with the team. In a significant match against Arecibo, Reese scored 2 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and provided 1 assist, which proved vital in securing a pivotal win for his team. His outstanding performance not only led the team to victory but also played a key role in their journey to becoming the champion. Throughout the season, Reese has maintained an average of 1.8 points per game and 1.8 rebounds per game, showcasing his consistent contribution to the team. It is noteworthy that Reese holds both American and Puerto Rican citizenship, allowing him to play in Puerto Rico as a domestic player, further enhancing his versatility and value to the team.
#6. Uruguayan Santiago Vescovi, a 24-year-old guard standing at 6'3'' and a Volunteers alumnus from 2024, played a pivotal role in helping his team secure the SEC Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently playing professionally in Uruguay, Vescovi showcased his talent in a recent game where he assisted Penarol in a significant victory over the sixth-ranked Defensor with a final score of 93-81 in a highly anticipated derby match in the Uruguayan Liga Uruguaya de Basquetbol on Tuesday night. During the game, Vescovi demonstrated his skill by scoring 6 points and grabbing 5 rebounds in just 24 minutes of play. His noteworthy performance against Defensor included not only his scoring and rebounding but also contributing 2 assists, further highlighting his versatility on the court. His exceptional contributions were instrumental in leading his team to victory, with his stellar playmaking abilities shining through in the crucial moments of the game. Throughout the season, Vescovi has maintained impressive individual statistics, averaging 15.8 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 5.2 assists per game, and 1.8 steals per game, which ranks him as the third-best in the league in steals. His consistent high-level performance has undoubtedly made him a standout player in the league and a key asset for his team as they strive for success.
Other former University of Tennessee players, who play in pro basketball:
Josiah-Jordan James (6'6''-SF-2000, played in 2019-24) plays for Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem in Israeli Winner League
John Fulkerson (6'9''-F-1997, played in 2016-22) played for Dziki Warszawa in Polish OBL few monts ago
Jonas Aidoo (6'11''-F-2002, played in 2021-24) plays for Charlotte Hornets in the NBA
Julian Phillips (6'8''-F-2003, played in 2024-26) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
Chaz Lanier (6'4''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Detroit Pistons in the NBA
Kennedy Chandler (6'1''-PG-2002, played in 2021-22) plays for Utah Jazz in the NBA
Jahmai Mashack (6'4''-G-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Jaden Springer (6'4''-SG-2002, played in 2020-21) plays for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
Grant Williams (6'6''-F-1998, played in 2016-19) plays for Charlotte Hornets in the NBA
Tobias Harris (6'9''-F-1992, played in 2010-11) plays for Detroit Pistons in the NBA
Dalton Knecht (6'6''-G-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA
Jordan McRae (6'6''-F/G-1991, played in 2010-14) plays for Hapoel Holon in Israeli Winner League
Jordan Bowden (6'6''-G-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Rostock Seawolves in German BBL
Victor Bailey Jr (6'4''-SG-1998, played in 2019-22) plays for Shougang Beijing Ducks in Chinese CBA
Josh Richardson (6'5''-G-1993, played in 2011-15) plays for Casademont Zaragoza in Spanish Liga Endesa
Scotty Hopson (6'7''-F/G-1989, played in 2008-11) played for Converge FiberXers in Filipino PBA last year
Trae Golden (6'3''-PG-1991, played in 2010-13) played for Fujian Sturgeons in Chinese CBA last year
Olivier Nkamhoua (6'8''-F-2000, played in 2019-23) plays for Itelyum Varese in Italian Serie A
Devon Baulkman (6'5''-F/G-1991, played in 2014-16) played for Cimarrones del Choco in Colombian LBP last year
Lamonte Turner (6'2''-G-1997, played in 2015-15) plays for BC Lulea in Swedish Basketligan
Admiral Schofield (6'6''-F-1997, played in 2015-19) plays for Santeros de Aguada in Puerto Rican BSN
Jordan Gainey (6'3''-G-2002, played in 2023-25) plays for KK Cedevita Junior Zagreb in Croatian Premijer Liga
Keon Johnson (6'5''-G-2002, played in 2020-21) plays for Maine Celtics in the NBA G League
Igor Milicic Jr. (6'10''-F-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Delaware Blue Coats in the NBA G League
Tyreke Key (6'2''-SG-1998, played in 2022-23) plays for Raptors 905 Mississauga in the NBA G League
Jordan Bone (6'3''-PG-1997, played in 2016-19) plays for Alicante in Spanish Primera FEB
Darlinstone Dubar (6'8''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Peiramatiko in Greek Elite League
Devon Chism (6'9''-PF-1987, played in 2006-10) plays for Al-Muharraq in Bahrain Premier League
Uros Plavsic (7'0''-C-1998, played in 2019-23) plays for Bordo in Turkish TBL
Brian Williams (6'10''-C-1987, played in 2008-12) played for FG Guasave in Mexican CIBAPac last year
Kenny Hall (6'9''-F/C-1990, played in 2009-13) played for Immortals in Dominican Rep. LDC last year
John Fields (6'9''-F/C-1988, played in 2010-11) played for Nhatrang Dolphins in Vietnamese VBA last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Tennessee basketball alumni.
|
|
|
