Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Aggies alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Notice impressive performance of Justin Bean (15 points), Shane Rector (31 points), and Aubin Gateretse (13 points).
#1. Justin Bean, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from Utah St. in 2022, has been making waves in the German easyCredit BBL league while playing for ALBA Berlin. In a recent game against Rasta Vechta, the tenth-ranked team, Bean showcased his skills by scoring 15 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists in just 28 minutes of play. This stellar performance not only contributed to ALBA Berlin's 98-89 victory but also highlighted Bean's prowess on the court. With ALBA Berlin currently holding the second position in the league with a record of 24-10, Bean's consistent contributions have been instrumental in their success this season. Bean's overall performance this season has been impressive, averaging 10.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game in the 40 games he has played so far. His dedication to the game and ability to deliver under pressure have solidified his reputation as a true champion in the league.
#2. Shane Rector, a 6'2'' guard and 31-year-old Aggies alumnus from 2017, currently playing professionally in Mexico, showcased his skills in the recent game for Zonkeys de Tijuana (20-20). Despite Rector's standout performance, scoring 31 points, securing 4 rebounds, distributing 5 assists, and blocking 2 shots in 36 minutes, Tijuana suffered a close 91-96 loss on the road to the lower-ranked (#5) Angeles. His impressive statistics for the season include averaging 14.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in the 32 games played so far. Despite his individual success, Rector's efforts were not enough to secure a victory for his team in the game against Angeles, who emerged as the victors.
#3. Belgian Aubin Gateretse, a 24-year-old forward/center standing at an impressive height of 6'11'', recently showcased his talent on the court for Hubo Limburg United. Despite his noteworthy performance in their latest game against the second-ranked Giants in Antwerp, where he emerged as the team's second-best scorer with 13 points and secured 8 rebounds in just 15 minutes of play, Limburg United unfortunately fell short and suffered a 73-84 defeat. Gateretse's contributions were indeed commendable as he displayed his skill with 13 points and 8 rebounds against a tough opponent like Antwerp. However, his individual efforts were not enough to lead his team to victory in the matchup. Throughout this season, Gateretse has maintained an average of 5.4 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game across seven games, showcasing his consistent performance on the court.
#4. Costa Rican Ian Martinez, a 6'3'' guard who is 24 years old and an Aggies alumnus from 2025, has been making waves playing professionally in Austria. Recently, he played a significant role in the Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart's thrilling 79-76 victory over the Kapfenberg Bulls, the current leaders in the Austrian Win2Day Basketball Superliga. Martinez's standout performance included scoring 18 points and dishing out 4 assists in 32 minutes of play. This remarkable display is even more impressive considering it is Martinez's debut season in professional basketball. The game between Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart and Kapfenberg Bulls was highly anticipated as both teams are among the top 3 in the group Places 1-6. Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart, currently second in the group with a record of 20-10, secured their third consecutive win with Martinez leading the charge. Martinez's impact against Kapfenberg was undeniable, as he not only contributed offensively with 18 points but also grabbed 2 rebounds and facilitated 4 assists. His all-around performance was instrumental in guiding his team to victory as the finalist. Throughout the season, Martinez has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 19.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game over 25 appearances.
#5. Sam Merrill, a 6'5'' guard who graduated from Utah State in 2020, is currently playing professionally in the NBA. Despite his best efforts, Merrill, the All-MWC All-Tournament MVP champion, was unable to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers (52-30) to victory against the New York Knicks (54-29). In a tough 130-93 loss in New York City, Merrill contributed 5 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in 18 minutes of play. Throughout the season, Merrill has been showcasing his skills, averaging an impressive 11.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in 69 appearances. Although the Cleveland Cavaliers fell short in the game against the Knicks, Merrill's performance as a finalist remains a highlight of his successful year.
Other former Utah State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Neemias Queta (6'11''-C-1999, played in 2018-21) plays for Boston Celtics in the NBA
Darius Brown II (6'2''-G-1999, played in 2023-24) plays for Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA
Diogo Brito (6'6''-G-1997, played in 2016-20) plays for Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela in Spanish Primera FEB
Daniel Akin (6'9''-C-1998, played in 2022-23) plays for Kolossos in Greek GBL
Christopher Smith (6'4''-G-1994, played in 2014-16) plays for Hiroshima Dragonflies in Japanese B1 League
Brandon Horvath (6'10''-F/C-1999, played in 2021-22) plays for Blue Wings in Slovakian Tipos SBL
RJ Eytle-Rock (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2021-23) plays for Surrey 89ers in British SLB
Alexis Dargenton (6'8''-F-1994, played in 2015-15) played for Tours in French NM1 few monts ago
Dexter Akanno (6'5''-G-2000, played in 2024-25) plays for Caen Basket Calvados in French ProB
Kris Clark (6'3''-G-1985, played in 2004-08) plays for Guba in Azerbaijani ABL
Arvydas Vaitiekus (6'11''-C-1983, played in 2005-05) played for Mannheim in German 2.Regionalliga last year
Tai Wesley (6'7''-F-1986, played in 2004-04) played for GUM NT in Guamanian last year
Jarred Shaw (6'11''-C-1990, played in 2011-11) played for Tangerang in Indonesian IBL last year
Taylor Funk (6'8''-F-1997, played in 2023-23) plays for San Diego Clippers in the NBA G League
Zakhar Vedischev (6'6''-G-2000, played in 2020-21) played for Dinamo Vladivostok in Russian Superleague last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Utah State University basketball alumni.
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