EuroBasket Pro Wildcats Weekly Update

EuroBasket Pro Wildcats Weekly Update


Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC

We bring you last week's top former Wildcats players who are currently playing in pro basketball.


   #1. James Batemon, a 6'1'' guard who graduated from LMU in 2019 and previously played for N.Dakota St. from 2015 to 2017, is currently a professional basketball player in Spain. Recently, he led Hiopos Forca Lleida to a remarkable victory over the fifth-ranked FC Barcelona with a score of 90-80 in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Batemon demonstrated his skills as a champion by scoring 16 points and grabbing 1 rebound during the game, contributing significantly to his team's success. Despite Hiopos Forca Lleida being placed 13th in the league with a record of 10-17, Batemon has been having an outstanding season individually. He has been averaging 16.4 points per game, along with 2.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. His consistent performance and contributions on the court highlight his capabilities as a finalist in his field.

   #2. Serbian Milos Vranes, a 6'7'' guard/forward who is 30 years old, is an alumnus of Redhawks from 2018. He also played for N. Dakota St. between 2014 and 2016, where he helped them to win the NJCAA D1 Region XIII Champion title that year. Currently, he is playing professionally in Austria. In a recent game last Wednesday, Vranes, despite his good performance, could not help BK Karbon-X Dukes Klosterneuburg (16-14) in their match against BC Vienna (#4). The sixth-placed Klosterneuburg suffered a tough 90-70 defeat on the road. Vranes managed to score 10 points in 27 minutes of play, showcasing his skills on the court. Vranes displayed an impressive performance by contributing 10 points and 2 rebounds against the higher-ranked BC Vienna. Despite his efforts, his team, unfortunately, ended up losing the game. Throughout the season, Vranes has maintained relatively good statistics with an average of 12.1 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and 1.2 assists per game.

   #3. Australian champion Fletcher Klasztorny, a 6'7'' forward who is 28 years old and graduated from North Dakota St. in 2018 where he helped them reach the final of NJCAA D1 District XI that year, currently plays professionally in Australia. In a recent game, he was unable to lead the Cockburn Cougars to a victory against the Lightning, who are currently in second place in the Australian NBL One (second division) with a record of 4-2. Klasztorny's performance in the game was not one of his best, as he only scored 3 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and made 2 blocks in 20 minutes of play. The Cockburn Cougars, who are currently in 11th place with a record of 1-3, suffered a close 73-72 loss to the Lightning, who are ranked 8th in the West group. This defeat marked the third consecutive loss for the Cougars this season. However, as it is still early in the season, there is still plenty of time for the team to turn things around. Despite the loss, Klasztorny put on an impressive performance in a previous game against Lakeside L., where he contributed 3 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. His individual stats for the season so far include averages of 2.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.

   #4. Mohamed Kone, a 6'2'' guard and 27-year-old Beavers alumnus from the class of 2023, previously played for North Dakota State University between 2018 and 2020. He recently received the All-Mon-Dak Conference Second Team award during his time there. Currently, he is playing professionally in Australia. In a recent game, he played a key role in his team's dominant 118-77 victory over the sixth-ranked Crusaders in the Australian NBL One, which is the second division league. Kone contributed 9 points in 23 minutes, marking his debut game for the Illawarra Hawks 2nd team this season. The Illawarra Hawks 2nd team is currently positioned fourth in the East group standings. In another impressive showing, Kone excelled against Cent.Coast C., showcasing his skills by scoring 9 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists. His stellar performance was pivotal in leading his team to victory. Kone's determination and talent on the court were evident, highlighting his potential as a future champion.


Other former North Dakota State College of Science players, who play in pro basketball:

Omod Oman (6'6''-F-1999, played in 2017-19) played for Casino in Portuguese Proliga few monts ago
Jonathan Mesghna (6'6''-F-1989, played in 2011-12) played for Kronberg in German 2.Regionalliga last year
Khari Broadway (6'1''-G, played in 2019-22) plays for Serhedci in Azerbaijani ABL
Ismail Soumare (6'8''-C-1997) played for Monaco 2 in French NM3 last year
Luka Dmitrovic (6'7''-F-1994, played in 2015-16) plays for Sol Girones in Spanish Segunda FEB
London Cobbs (6'2''-G, played in 2015-16) plays for Clermont Crocs in the FBA

Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of North Dakota State College of Science basketball alumni.



James Batemon is last week best Wildcats alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @flleida)