POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
EuroBasket Pro Apaches Weekly Update
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
We bring you last week's top former Apaches players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Naje Smith (6'8''-F-2000, played in 2018-20, plays pro in Slovakia) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Iskra Svit (2-4) 87-68 in the Slovakian Tipos SBL on Saturday night.
He scored 10 points, had 8 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 26 minutes.
BC Prievidza (3-2) is placed fifth in the Tipos SBL.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
This year Smith averages 8.0ppg, 6.7rpg, 2.7apg and 1.3bpg.
#2. Milan Szabo (6'9''-C-1998, played in 2018-20, plays in Slovakia) contributed to Slovan's victory against the closely-ranked Handlova (4-2) 91-77 in the Slovakian Tipos SBL in Saturday night's game.
Szabo scored 8 points.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. BC Slovan Bratislava (5-1) is placed second in the Tipos SBL.
It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
This year Szabo averages 9.2ppg, 3.8rpg and 1.2bpg in six games he played so far.
#3. Experienced Nathan Sobey (6'3''-G-1990, played in 2010-11, currently in Australia) led South East Melbourne Phoenix to a victory over the closely-ranked Kings (1-2) 112-95 in the Australian NBL last Thursday.
He was MVP of the game. Sobey scored 33 points (!!!), grabbed 5 rebounds and dished 5 assists in 31 minutes.
South East Melbourne Phoenix (5-2) is placed third in the NBL.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Sobey has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages 21.7ppg, 3.9rpg, 4.6apg and 1.6spg.
#4. Dakota Gillespie (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2020-22, plays pro in Switzerland) was the major contributor in Riviera's victory against the closely-ranked Grand-Saconnex (2-2) 100-93 in the Swiss NLB (second division) on Sunday night.
Gillespie scored 30 points (!!!) and grabbed 6 rebounds (was perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line); quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. VRB/URLB Riviera 1952 (3-2) is placed fifth in the NLB.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
It's Gillespie's first year with the team.
Gillespie has very impressive stats this season 21.2ppg, 5.6rpg, 3.8apg and 2.4spg in five games.
Other former Cochise College players, who play in pro basketball:
Emanual Shepherd (6'8''-F/C-1995, played in 2014-16) signed for Las Animas in Chilean LNB
Brayon Blake (6'7''-G/F-1995, played in 2014-15) plays for Knox Raiders in Australian NBL One
Merrick Small (6'10''-F/C-2002, played in 2023-24) plays for Ipswich Force in Australian NBL One
Jamaure Gregg (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2017-19) played for Ordu in Azerbaijani ABL
Justin Jones (6'6''-G-1995, played in 2014-16) plays for Bakersfield Majestics in the TBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Cochise College basketball alumni.
Naje Smith is last week best Apaches alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @boisestatebroncos)
