EuroBasket Pro Hawkeyes Weekly Update

EuroBasket Pro Hawkeyes Weekly Update


Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC

Every week we bring you a list of the top former Hawkeyes players who continue their career in pro basketball.


   #1. In a thrilling game on Sunday night, Ryan Kriener, a 6'10'' forward/center who graduated from Iowa in 2020 and now plays professionally in Japan, led the Shiga Lakestars to a remarkable 86-84 victory over the second-ranked Dolphins in the Japanese B1 League. Kriener, aged 28, displayed an MVP-worthy performance by scoring an impressive 29 points and securing 6 rebounds in just 29 minutes of play. Despite Shiga Lakestars being currently placed tenth in the West group with a record of 22-35, Kriener's exceptional performance has injected new energy and optimism into the team as they head towards the final games of the Regular Season. With only three games remaining, every match becomes crucial for their standings. Kriener continued his stellar form in the following game against Nagoya DD, where he once again shined with 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. His outstanding display of talent proved instrumental in securing another victory, solidifying his status as the champion of the game. Throughout the season, Kriener has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 15.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in the 54 games he has played so far. His consistent high-level performance has underscored his importance to the team and his impact on the court. It's worth noting that Kriener, a naturalized American, has been a standout player this year, showcasing his skills and contributing significantly to the success of the Shiga Lakestars in the Japanese B1 League.

   #2. Canadian Ben Krikke, a 6'9'' center/forward who is 24 years old and an alumnus of the Hawkeyes class of 2024, is currently playing professionally in Lithuania. In a recent game, Krikke, known for his Big Ten All-Sportsmanship Team award in 2024, unfortunately couldn't turn the tide for Jonava, who are currently at the bottom of the standings with a 6-21 record. Despite his stellar performance, where he emerged as the top scorer with 19 points in just 26 minutes of play, Jonava suffered a tough 98-81 defeat at home against the second-ranked Rytas. This remarkable display by Krikke is even more impressive considering that he is only in his second season playing professional basketball. Against Rytas, he showcased his skills by scoring 19 points and securing 2 rebounds. However, despite his outstanding efforts, Jonava couldn't secure the win. Throughout the season, Krikke has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game across 24 appearances.

   #3. Serbian champion Filip Rebraca, a 28-year-old forward standing at 6'9" and a graduate of Iowa in 2023 where he helped his team win the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, currently plays professionally in Serbia. In the recent game, Rebraca's team FMP BG (11-15) suffered a defeat at home in Belgrade to the lower-ranked (#4) Ilirija with a score of 82-88. Despite his solid performance of 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 32 minutes, FMP BG faced their third consecutive loss. The AdmiralBet ABA League's Second Stage has already concluded, marking Rebraca's first season with the team. Throughout the season, he has maintained an average of 7.0 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game in 26 appearances.

   #4. Bosnia and Herzegovina champion Luka Garza, a 6'10'' center and 27-year-old alumnus of the Hawkeyes from 2021, received the USBWA All-District VI Player of the Year award. Currently playing professionally in the NBA, he recently played a key role in a decisive victory over the Philadelphia 76ers, with a final score of 123-91 in favor of his team. Despite only playing 14 minutes, Garza managed to contribute 7 points to the game. The Boston Celtics, with a somewhat lackluster record of 56-25 this season, have been struggling to find consistency. However, Garza's standout performance against the 76ers, where he not only scored 7 points but also grabbed 2 rebounds and provided 1 assist, highlighted his abilities as a finalist. His efforts on the court were crucial in securing the win for his team, demonstrating his value as a key player. Throughout the season, Garza has maintained solid statistics, averaging 7.9 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game across 72 appearances. It is noteworthy that he holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing him to play as a domestic player in Bosnia if desired.

   #5. Experienced champion Jarrod Uthoff, a 6'9'' power forward at 32 years old who graduated from Iowa in 2016 and received the CoSIDA NCAA Division I Academic All-Americans of the Year award that year, currently plays professionally in Italy. In a recent game, Uthoff played for Trieste (13-14) against Brescia (20-7) in the Italian Serie A but unfortunately couldn't help his team secure a victory. Despite his efforts, Trieste lost 82-86 to the second-ranked Brescia on their home court in Trieste. With only two games remaining in the Regular Season, each game now holds significant importance for the teams. During the game against Brescia, Uthoff showcased his skills by scoring 6 points and grabbing 2 rebounds in just 15 minutes of play. His individual performance was noteworthy, but it wasn't enough to lead Trieste to a win. Throughout this season, Uthoff has maintained an average of 7.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game across 26 games. Despite the recent loss, Uthoff's consistent contributions on the court highlight his value to the team as they strive for success in the remaining games of the season.

   #6. Andrew Thelwell, a 6'3'' guard and 23-year-old former Hawkeyes alumnus from the class of 2025, showcased his basketball prowess while playing professionally in France. Recently, he led Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez to a resounding victory against the 14th-ranked Olympique Antibes, with a final score of 92-71 in a French ELITE 2 league game. In this match, Thelwell contributed significantly by scoring 11 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, and making 1 assist in just 20 minutes of play. His standout performance not only helped secure the win for his team but also highlighted his capabilities as a champion on the court. Throughout the current season, Thelwell has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game across 28 appearances. It is worth noting that despite being a naturalized American, Thelwell has made a name for himself in the competitive French basketball scene as a skilled player and a formidable finalist.

   #7. Kris Murray, a 25-year-old forward standing at 6'8" who graduated in 2023 and was honored with the All-Big Ten First Team award that year, is currently making a name for himself in the NBA. Recently, he was unable to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to victory against the San Antonio Spurs, with the Blazers ultimately falling short by 21 points in a 114-93 defeat. Despite the loss, Murray displayed a commendable performance on the court, contributing 4 points and 1 rebound during his 12 minutes of play against the San Antonio Spurs. His efforts were noteworthy, but unfortunately, his team was unable to clinch the win in the game. Throughout this season, Murray has been maintaining an average of 5.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game across 61 games. As a promising talent in the NBA, Murray continues to showcase his skills and potential as he strives to make a significant impact on the court for the Portland Trail Blazers.

   #8. Tyler Cook, a 6'9'' power forward and 28-year-old Hawkeyes alumnus from 2019, currently plays professionally in Puerto Rico. Recently, he showcased his talent by playing a key role in a dominant victory against the sixth-ranked Mets, with a final score of 104-83 in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional. In this game, he demonstrated his skills by contributing 6 points in just 17 minutes of play. Furthermore, Cook's standout performance against Guaynabo further solidified his impact on the court. In that game, he not only scored 6 points but also grabbed 2 rebounds and provided 1 assist, all of which were crucial in securing the victory for his team. His exceptional abilities and dedication to the game were evident, highlighting his qualities as a true champion. Individually, Cook has been having an impressive season, with impressive statistics. He maintains an average of 15.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game, and 2.5 assists per game over the course of 11 games. His consistent performance and contribution to his team's success underscore his status as a skilled and impactful finalist in the league.

   #9. Douglas Thomas, a 42-year-old center standing at 6'9'' who graduated from Iowa in 2006, currently plays professionally in the TBL. In a recent game, he showcased his skills by leading the Tri-City Tide to a dominant 108-87 victory over the Port City Power. Thomas had an outstanding performance, achieving a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, along with contributing 3 assists and 3 blocks in just 29 minutes of play. His remarkable display on the court against Port City Power solidified his position as the champion of the game. Throughout this season, Thomas has been maintaining impressive averages of 7.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game in the 14 games played so far.

   #10. Even Brauns, a 6'9'' center and 24-year-old Hawkeyes alumni from 2025, currently playing professionally in Japan, showcased his skills in a recent game. Despite his best efforts, he could not lead Yamaguch Pats Five to victory against Five Arrows. In the match, Brauns put up an admirable performance, scoring 8 points, pulling down 12 rebounds, and playing for 35 minutes. Unfortunately, his team suffered a heavy defeat, losing by a significant margin of 40 points with a final score of 89-49. In another game against Kagawa FA, Brauns continued to demonstrate his prowess on the court by contributing significantly with 8 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 assists. Despite his impressive individual performance, Yamaguch Pats Five fell short, resulting in a loss for the team. Throughout the season, Brauns has maintained an impressive level of play, boasting high statistics. He has been averaging 16.8 points per game, 9.2 rebounds per game, and 1.4 assists per game over the course of 40 games, solidifying his position as a standout player in the league.


Other former University of Iowa players, who play in pro basketball:

Tony Perkins (6'4''-G-2001, played in 2020-24) plays for Nymburk in Czech Republic NBL
Keegan Murray (6'8''-F-2000, played in 2020-22) plays for Sacramento Kings in the NBA
Payton Sandfort (6'7''-F-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA
Gabriel Olaseni (6'10''-C-1991, played in 2011-15) plays for Mersin Spor in Turkish BSL
Aaron White (6'9''-F-1992, played in 2011-15) plays for SeaHorses Mikawa in Japanese B1 League
Joe Wieskamp (6'6''-G/F-1999, played in 2018-21) plays for Science City Jena in German BBL
Devyn Marble (6'6''-SF-1992, played in 2010-23) plays for Al Naser in UAE ULB
Peter Jok (6'6''-G-1994, played in 2013-17) plays for P.Luanda in Angolan Division I
Anthony Clemmons (6'2''-PG-1994, played in 2012-16) plays for Koshigaya Alphas in Japanese B1 League
Reggie Evans (6'8''-F/C-1980, played in 1998-02) played for Miami 305 in the Big3 few monts ago

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

Ryan Kriener (Japan) (Photo: @ShigaLakes)

Ben Krikke (Lithuania) (Photo: @sbbbaskets)