POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
EuroBasket Pro Saints Weekly Update
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
Every week we bring you a list of the top former Saints players who continue their career in pro basketball.
Notice impressive performance of Jamal Poplar (26 points), Mathias M'Madi (14 points), and Malakye Cunningham (0 points).
#1. Jamal Poplar, a 30-year-old forward/center standing at 6'9'' who graduated from Seward County in 2015 and currently plays professionally in New Zealand, showcased an impressive performance despite his team's defeat last Saturday. Playing for the struggling Manawatu Jets (1-6), the bottom-ranked team, Poplar faced off against the formidable Sharks (#3) on the road and was unable to secure a victory as the Jets were crushed 102-78.
During the game, Poplar displayed exceptional skills, recording a double-double with 26 points and 18 rebounds in just 34 minutes of play. His standout performance against the Sharks highlighted his scoring prowess, rebounding ability, and overall impact on the court. Despite his remarkable efforts, the Jets fell short against the higher-ranked Sharks.
Poplar's strong individual season is reflected in his impressive statistics, averaging 23.3 points per game, 11.3 rebounds (the second-best in the league), 1.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. His consistent high-level performance demonstrates his value to the team and solidifies his reputation as a true champion. Poplar's notable achievements on the court earned him the Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further establishing his status as a standout player.
It is worth noting that Poplar has previously participated in the Eurobasket Summer League, a prestigious platform known for showcasing talented players seeking opportunities to play basketball internationally.
#2. Madagascar Mathias M'Madi, a 6'5'' guard who is 20 years old and an alum of Saints from 2024, showcased his skills in professional basketball in France by leading BC Orchies to a remarkable victory over the 11th-ranked Toulouse with a score of 85-71 in the French Nationale Masculine 1, which is the third division. The game took place on a Friday night, and M'Madi's stellar performance earned him the MVP title. In just his second season in professional basketball, M'Madi impressed by scoring 14 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and providing 4 assists in 27 minutes of play. BC Orchies, with a record of 25-15, currently holds the fifth position in Group A.
The victory over Toulouse was crucial as there are only two games left until the end of the Second Stage, making each upcoming game critical for the team. M'Madi's exceptional performance not only helped secure the win but also highlighted his potential as a champion. Throughout the season, he has maintained solid statistics with an average of 13.2 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 3.6 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game.
It's worth noting that M'Madi holds citizenship in both America and Madagascar, allowing him to play as a domestic player in Madagascar. His prowess on the court and versatility as a player make him a standout finalist in the world of basketball.
#3. Australian Malakye Cunningham, a 6'7'' forward at 22 years old, graduated from CMU in 2025. He honed his skills at Seward County between 2023 and 2024 before embarking on a professional career in Australia. In a recent match, Cunningham played a crucial role in Perth Redbacks' thrilling 107-103 victory over the tenth-ranked Giants (2-5) in the Australian NBL One, the second division of Australian basketball, on Saturday night.
Despite scoring only one point, Cunningham showcased his playmaking abilities by contributing 8 assists in just 19 minutes on the court. Currently, Perth Redbacks hold the eighth position in the West group with a 4-3 record. It is important to note that the season is still in its early stages, leaving room for unexpected developments and surprises.
In a standout performance against Goldfields G., Cunningham managed to secure the win for his team, ultimately earning the title of champion of the game. His stat line included 1 point, 1 rebound, and 8 assists, highlighting his versatility and impact on the court. Throughout the season, Cunningham has been averaging 6.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, solidifying his position as a key player for Perth Redbacks.
#4. Taye Donald, a 24-year-old guard standing at 6'2" and an alum of the Saints from 2022, recently made his debut for the Edmonton Stingers in their game against the Sea Bears in Winnipeg. Despite his solid performance, where he contributed 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals in just 24 minutes of play, he was unable to prevent the Stingers from suffering a close 77-75 defeat. This matchup marked Donald's first game of the season with the Stingers, and he showcased his skills by putting up an impressive display on the court. Despite his efforts, the Edmonton Stingers, currently ranked fifth, fell short in their game against the Sea Bears, the eventual champions.
Other former Seward County Community College players, who play in pro basketball:
Rostyslav Novitskyi (6'9''-PF-2000, played in 2019-20) plays for VEF Riga in Latvian LBL
Ahmed Ibrahim (6'8''-F, played in 2019-21) plays for Sporting in Egyptian Superleague
Ramiro Santiago (6'4''-G-1999, played in 2018-20) plays for Olimpico in Argentinian La Liga
Kaheem Ransom (6'1''-PG-1993, played in 2011-13) played for HydroTruck Radom in Polish 2Liga few monts ago
Hegel Augustin (6'3''-G-1999, played in 2017-19) played for Rogaska in Slovenian Liga OTP banka last year
Ousmane Barro (6'10''-C/F-1984, played in 2003-04) played for Brasov in Romanian Liga Nationala last year
Leslee Smith (6'7''-F-1990, played in 2012-13) played for Bristol Flyers in British SLB last year
Kyle Cardaci (6'2''-G-2000, played in 2019-20) plays for Promo in Bosnia and Herzegovina Division I
Isiah Small (6'8''-F-1998, played in 2017-19) plays for Manawatu Jets in New Zealand NBL
Brian Bridgeforth (6'10''-C-1994, played in 2013-14) plays for JCA in Ivorian National 1
Samuel Henderson (6'1''-G-2001, played in 2019-20) plays for Energywise Ireland Neptune Cork in Irish Super League
David Petit (6'0''-PG, played in 2022-24) plays for Daimiel in Spanish Tercera FEB
Benni Kazadi (6'7''-SF, played in 2024-25) plays for Humber College in the OCAA-West
Davonte Jennings (6'0''-PG-2000, played in 2020-22) plays for Dudley BS in Bahamas GBBA
Ke'Sean Davis (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2017-18) played for Long Beach Blue Waves in the TBL last year
Ernest Carter (6'4''-G-1996, played in 2016-17) plays for Grant County Redtails in the TBL
William Benjamin (6'10''-C-1993, played in 2012-13) plays for Enid Outlaws in the TBL
N'faba Mane (6'5''-G-2006, played in 2024-25) plays for Le Portel U21 in French ProA U21
Oleksii Adediran (6'9''-C-1982, played in 2001-03) plays for Sambir in Ukrainian Higher League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Seward County Community College basketball alumni.
Jamal Poplar is last week best Saints alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @Froya)
