EuroBasket Pro Wildcats Weekly Update

- April 24, 2026

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

EuroBasket Pro Wildcats Weekly Update

Northwestern logo Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC

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

   #1. Matthew Nicholson, a towering 7'0'' center who graduated from Northwestern in 2025 and currently plays professionally in the United Kingdom, showcased his skills for Manchester Basketball (18-13) in their recent game. Despite his noteworthy efforts, Manchester was unable to secure a victory and fell 91-86 to the league-leading Lions on the road. Nicholson delivered an impressive double-double performance, contributing 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 27 minutes of play. His impactful presence on the court was evident as he displayed his versatility and defensive prowess. As the Regular Season nears its end, Nicholson's team has only one more crucial game remaining. This pivotal matchup will be crucial for Manchester's playoff aspirations, adding pressure to their final performance. Having joined the team for his first season, Nicholson has made a significant impact, especially in a standout game against London L. where he achieved a triple-double with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 1 assist. Despite his remarkable individual performance, Manchester was unable to secure the win. Nicholson's consistent contributions have earned him recognition, including the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further cementing his reputation as a champion. His season averages of 6.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game rank him as one of the top performers in the league, showcasing his prowess as a finalist.

   #2. Boo Buie, a 6'0'' point guard and 25-year-old Wildcats alumnus from 2024, currently plays professionally in China. In a recent game, Buie, an All-Big Ten First Team awardee, couldn't lead Xinjiang Flying Tigers (14-27) to victory against the Shanghai Sharks, as they suffered a heavy 111-86 defeat. Despite his strong performance, contributing 11 points and 5 assists in just 19 minutes, Xinjiang FT were unable to overcome their opponents. With only one game left in the Regular Season, Buie's team is facing a crucial match ahead. In their previous encounter with Shanghai Sharks, Buie showcased his skills by scoring 11 points, grabbing 1 rebound, and providing 5 assists. However, despite his notable efforts, his team fell short of securing the win. Throughout the season, Buie has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. As the season progresses, Buie remains focused on contributing to his team's success and making a strong impact on the court.

   #3. Anthony Gaines, a 6'4'' guard who graduated from Siena in 2022 and previously played for Northwestern from 2017 to 2021, showcased his skills in leading HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim to a decisive 90-77 victory against the tenth-ranked SparkassenStars in the German BARMER 2. Basketball Bundesliga ProA on Saturday night. Gaines, a standout player now competing professionally in Germany, delivered an impressive double-double performance, contributing 12 points and 12 rebounds in just 23 minutes of play. Currently, HAKRO Merlins Crailsheim holds the second spot in the league with a record of 26-6, thanks in part to Gaines' stellar contributions. The team's recent win marked their sixth consecutive victory, highlighting their strong form as they head towards the end of the Regular Season with only two games remaining. Each upcoming game is crucial as they strive for success in the league. In a noteworthy display of skill and leadership, Gaines excelled in another game against Bochum, registering 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists. His exceptional performance in that match earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, underscoring his reputation as a champion player on the court. Throughout the season, Gaines has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, further solidifying his status as a finalist to be reckoned with in the league.

   #4. Chase Audige, a 6'4'' guard and 26-year-old Wildcats alum from 2023, who received the All-Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year award that year, currently plays professionally in Spain. Despite his best efforts, Audige couldn't lead Unicaja Malaga (15-12) to victory against Coviran Granada (4-23) in the Spanish Liga Endesa, resulting in a disappointing 83-71 loss for his team. This defeat marked Unicaja Malaga's fifth consecutive loss, a tough streak for the team. In the game, Audige played for 19 minutes and scored just 2 points, along with 3 rebounds and 1 assist. While he put up a decent performance individually, it wasn't enough to secure a win for his team. This season, Audige is averaging 5.5 points per game, showcasing his skills on the court. It is worth noting that this is Audige's first season with Unicaja Malaga, and despite the challenging circumstances, he continues to work hard to contribute to the team's success. Additionally, as a naturalized American, Audige brings a unique perspective and skill set to his team in Spain.

   #5. Ryan Taylor, a 6'6'' guard who graduated from Northwestern in 2019 and currently plays professionally in Poland, was unable to lead Gornik Zamek Ksiaz Walbrzych to victory in their recent game against Start. Despite Taylor's strong showing where he scored 11 points in 24 minutes of play, Gornik suffered a disappointing 86-81 loss to the lower-ranked opponent in Lublin. With only two games remaining in the Regular Season, each match becomes crucial for the team. This season marks Taylor's first with Gornik, and despite his impressive individual performance, including an 11-point contribution against Start, the team couldn't secure a win. Taylor has been having a standout season with notable statistics, averaging 15.2 points per game and 1.5 rebounds per game. As the Regular Season winds down, Taylor's skills and contributions will be key in helping Gornik improve their standings and performance on the court.

   #6. Tydus Verhoeven, a 6'9'' forward and 27-year-old Wildcats alumni from the class of 2023, showcased his professional skills while playing in Holland. In a recent game for Rotterdam, despite the team's 4-25 record, Verhoeven's performance stood out even though they were defeated 101-81 by the higher-ranked Limburg United (#5). In the game, Verhoeven managed a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in just 27 minutes of play. His notable stat line against Limburg United included 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists, highlighting his prowess on the court. Although Rotterdam suffered a loss, Verhoeven's exceptional performance did not go unnoticed, earning him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com and solidifying his reputation as a champion player. Throughout the season, Verhoeven has been maintaining impressive averages of 9.0 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, 1.4 blocks per game (leading the league in this category), and 1.1 steals per game. His consistent contributions on both ends of the court demonstrate his value as a finalist player.

   #7. Elyjah Williams, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from Northwestern in 2022 and currently plays professionally in Japan, showcased his exceptional skills on Friday night as he led Yokohama Excellence to a resounding victory over the fifth-ranked Rizing team. In the Japanese B2 League matchup, Williams played a pivotal role in his team's dominant performance, contributing 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists in just 28 minutes of play. His impressive display on the court not only helped Yokohama Excellence secure a decisive 100-60 win against Fukuoka R., but also solidified his reputation as a champion. With season averages of 14.3 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game, and 4.2 assists per game, Williams has been a key player for his team throughout the season, consistently delivering strong performances and leading his team to success.

   #8. Robbie Beran, a 6'9'' forward and 26-year-old Hokies alum from the class of 2024, previously played for Northwestern between 2019 and 2023. During his time at Northwestern, he received the Big Ten All-Sportsmanship Team award. Currently, Beran is playing professionally in Portugal. In a recent game, he played a significant role in FC Porto's triumph over the eighth-ranked Braga with a score of 82-68 in the Portuguese Liga Betclic Masculina on Saturday night. Beran contributed 7 points in 21 minutes of play, showcasing his skills on the court. His performance against Braga not only helped secure the victory but also led his team to become the champion of the game. Throughout the season, Beran has been averaging 9.6 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game, demonstrating his consistency and value to his team.

   #9. Experienced player John Shurna, standing at 6'9'' and aged 35, graduated from Northwestern in 2012 where he received the prestigious All-Big Ten First Team award. Currently playing professionally in Spain, he recently assisted Hiopos Forca Lleida in a remarkable victory against the fifth-ranked FC Barcelona with a score of 90-80 in the Spanish Liga Endesa on Sunday night. Despite playing only 7 minutes, Shurna managed to contribute 3 crucial points to the team's success against Barca, further solidifying his position as a champion. Throughout this season, Shurna has been averaging 6.3 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game, showcasing his consistent performance on the court. Additionally, it is worth noting that Shurna is a naturalized American, bringing a wealth of experience and skill to his team.

   #10. Pat Spencer, a 6'3'' guard and 29-year-old Wildcats alum from 2020, currently playing professionally in the NBA, recently faced the Phoenix Suns with his team, the Golden State Warriors. Despite his efforts, Spencer was unable to help lead his team to victory, resulting in a 111-96 defeat. In the game, Spencer only managed to score 2 points in 1 minute of play, making it a less memorable performance for him. Although he contributed 2 points against the Phoenix Suns, the Warriors fell short of securing a win. Despite this particular game's outcome, Pat Spencer has been showcasing decent statistics this season, averaging 7.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. While this game may not rank among his best performances, Spencer's overall season statistics demonstrate his value as a key player for the team.

Other former Northwestern University players, who play in pro basketball:

Pete Nance (6'11''-F-2000, played in 2018-22) plays for Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA
Brooks Barnhizer (6'6''-G-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA
Barret Benson (6'10''-C-1997, played in 2016-19) plays for Gornik Zamek Ksiaz Walbrzych in Polish OBL
Alexandru Olah (6'11''-C-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Voluntari in Romanian Liga Nationala
Victor Law (6'7''-F-1995, played in 2014-19) plays for Ryukyu Golden Kings Okinawa in Japanese B1 League
Ty Berry (6'3''-G-2001, played in 2020-25) plays for Karhubasket in Finnish Korisliiga
Andrew Crawford (6'5''-SF-1990, played in 2009-14) plays for Maccabi Urban Ramat Gan in Israeli Winner League
Joey van Zegeren (6'10''-F-1990, played in 2015-16) plays for Zamora in Spanish Primera FEB
Aaron Falzon (6'8''-F-1996, played in 2015-19) played for Besancon in French NM1 few monts ago
Dererk Pardon (6'8''-C-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Altiri Chiba in Japanese B1 League
Blake Preston (6'9''-F-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Gifu Swoops in Japanese B3 League
Scottie Lindsey (6'5''-G/F-1996, played in 2014-18) plays for Guizhou in Chinese NBL

Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Northwestern University basketball alumni.