EuroBasket Pro Zips Weekly Update

- April 30, 2026

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

EuroBasket Pro Zips Weekly Update

Akron logo Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC

Here is the weekly review of the top performing Zips alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.

   #1. In a recent game, Jimond Ivey, a 30-year-old 6'5'' guard who graduated from Akron in 2019 and now plays professionally in Mexico, showcased his exceptional skills by leading Ostioneros de Guaymas to a significant victory over the sixth-ranked Toros. The game ended with a score of 104-93 in favor of Ostioneros de Guaymas, with Ivey being named the MVP for his outstanding performance. He scored an impressive 26 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists in 36 minutes of play, proving to be a key player in securing the win for his team. This victory propelled Ostioneros de Guaymas, currently placed second from the bottom in the league, closer to the top ranks as they strive for success in the remaining four games of the Regular Season. With Ivey's remarkable average stats of 19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, he has been a standout player this season, consistently delivering strong performances on the court. His stellar contributions have not only elevated his individual performance but have also played a crucial role in his team's journey towards becoming the champion of the game.

   #2. Isaiah Gray, a talented 6'3'' guard and 24-year-old graduate of the Zips in 2025, made a significant impact as he helped his team secure the MAC Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently playing professionally in the Czech Republic, Gray showcased his skills in a recent game where Opava emerged victorious against Usti n/Labem with a score of 98-85. In this match, Gray played a crucial role, scoring 10 points, securing 2 rebounds, and distributing 6 assists in just 21 minutes of play. Gray's team, BK Opava, currently holds the fifth position in the Places 1-8 group standings with a record of 18-18. With impressive statistics this season, averaging 11.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in the 15 games he has participated in so far, Gray has proven himself to be a standout performer. His stellar performance against Usti n/Labem further solidified his reputation as a champion player, demonstrating his valuable contributions on the court.

   #3. Trendon Hankerson, a 25-year-old guard standing at 6'2'' who graduated from Akron in 2023, showcased his skills as a pro basketball player in Romania by leading Brasov to an exciting overtime victory over CSM Steaua Bucuresti in the Romanian Liga Nationala Baschet de Masculin. Despite his young career in professional basketball, Hankerson's performance was remarkable, scoring 15 points in just 23 minutes of play. This victory was crucial for Brasov, as they triumphed 88-85 in a closely contested match. As a key player for Brasov, Hankerson not only contributed offensively but also made valuable defensive plays, grabbing 2 rebounds and providing 2 assists during the game. CSM Corona Brasov, currently placed 12th in the league with a record of 12-16, relied on Hankerson's talent and leadership to secure this important win. Hankerson's impact on the court was undeniable, and his efforts were instrumental in guiding Brasov to success. Despite it being only his third season in professional basketball, Hankerson has been consistently delivering solid performances throughout the year, averaging 12.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.1 steals per game in the 11 games he has played so far. With his impressive stats and contributions to the team, Hankerson has proven himself to be a rising champion in the league.

   #4. Xavier Castaneda, a 6'1'' guard and 26-year-old Zips alumnus from the class of 2023, who received the MAC All-Tournament Team award that year, is currently playing professionally in Spain. Recently, he was in action for MoraBanc Andorra, but unfortunately, his team was unable to secure a victory against Coviran Granada in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Despite his efforts, MoraBanc Andorra, with a record of 7-21, fell short against Coviran Granada, who had a record of 5-23, in a close 89-86 defeat on the road. During the game, Castaneda showcased his skills by scoring 8 points, making all six of his free throws, and grabbing 2 rebounds in 21 minutes of play. His individual performance was notable, but ultimately not enough to lead his team to victory over Coviran Granada. Throughout the season, Castaneda has been posting relatively good statistics, averaging 11.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game over eight appearances. It is worth mentioning that he is a naturalized Bosnian, adding an interesting dimension to his basketball journey.

   #5. Greg Tribble, a 6'1'' guard who graduated from Akron in 2024, has been making waves in the Slovenian Liga OTP banka as he plays professionally in Slovenia. Recently, he played a pivotal role in Terme Olimia's narrow 65-64 victory over the fifth-ranked Triglav. His impressive performance included scoring 11 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 3 assists in 34 minutes of play. Despite Terme Olimia Podcetrtek's current second-from-the-bottom standing in the league at 6-20, Tribble's exceptional contributions on the court have not gone unnoticed. With only one more game left in the Regular Season, the upcoming match holds significant importance for his team. Tribble's remarkable skills were on full display in the game against Triglav, where his 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists were instrumental in securing the victory for his team, propelling them towards becoming the champions of the match. Throughout the season, Tribble has been averaging 8.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game in the eight games played so far.

   #6. Bahamas Samuel Hunter, a 6'9'' forward and 25-year-old Zips alumnus from 2024, has been making waves in the Austrian Win2Day Basketball Superliga as a professional player for BC Vienna. In a recent game, Hunter played a crucial role in his team's dominant 108-78 victory over the sixth-ranked Dukes. Despite scoring just 5 points in 30 minutes, his impact on the game was undeniable. In another matchup against Klosterneuburg, Hunter once again showcased his skills as a champion player by contributing 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists to help secure the win for his team. His all-around performance on the court proved instrumental in leading BC Vienna to success. Throughout the season, Hunter has been a key player for his team, averaging 7.1 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game (the third best in the league), and 1.1 assists per game in 15 appearances. His consistent contributions highlight his value as a finalist player in the league.

   #7. Tyler Cheese, a 6'4''-guard who is 29 years old and graduated from Akron in 2020, is currently playing professionally in Kosovo. In a recent game, he led Bora to a thrilling 1-point victory over the closely-ranked Bashkimi with a score of 76-75 in the Kosovan Art Motion Superliga. This victory showcased Cheese's talent and leadership on the court, earning him the title of MVP of the game. He displayed an exceptional performance by scoring 19 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists in just 29 minutes of play. Cheese's impressive contributions were instrumental in securing the win for his team, highlighting his skills and determination as a champion. His overall performance this season has been commendable, with solid statistics of 14.9 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 3.1 assists per game in 27 games. Tyler Cheese's consistent performance and invaluable contributions exemplify his capabilities as a true champion and finalist.

   #8. South Sudanese champion Deng Riak, standing at 6'10'' and playing as a Center/Forward, is a 30-year-old Zips alumnus from 2020. He played a key role in helping his team win the MAC East Division Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently, Riak is playing professionally in Australia. In a recent game, despite his efforts, Riak could not lead Geelong United to victory against the Wildcats. He contributed 4 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist in 23 minutes of play, but his team suffered a significant 18-point defeat with a final score of 99-81. Although Riak displayed a commendable performance against Eltham W., scoring 4 points, grabbing 5 rebounds, and providing 1 assist, his team still ended up on the losing side. Throughout this season, Riak has maintained relatively good statistics, averaging 10.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game over five games. It is interesting to note that Riak holds both American and South Sudanese citizenship, allowing him to play in South Sudan as a domestic player.

   #9. Mikal Dawson, a 6'5'' guard, is a 26-year-old Marshall University graduate from the class of 2025. Despite having previously played for Akron between 2019 and 2024 and helping them secure victory in the MAC Tournament, he now showcases his skills as a professional basketball player in Germany. In a recent game, Dawson and his team, PS Karlsruhe Lions, faced off against BG Goettingen. Unfortunately, despite his best efforts, Dawson could not lead his team to victory. He only managed to score 3 points in 15 minutes of play, as his team fell short with a final score of 90-96. Despite the loss, Dawson displayed a commendable performance against Goettingen, contributing 3 points and 1 assist. However, he was unable to secure a win for his team. Throughout this season, Dawson has maintained an average of 3.2 points per game and 1.3 rebounds per game across 18 games. Though the recent game may not have been one of his best, Dawson continues to strive for success on the court as he represents PS Karlsruhe Lions in Germany.

   #10. Experienced champion Demetrius Treadwell, a 6'7'' forward who is 34 years old and an alumnus of Zips from 2015, currently plays professionally in Israel. In a recent game, he led E. Shomron to a 90-78 victory over the second-ranked M. Rehovot in the Israeli National League, the second division of Israeli basketball. Treadwell showcased his skills by scoring 11 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists, and recording 3 steals in 28 minutes of play. His exceptional performance against M. Rehovot, where he contributed significantly with 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, was instrumental in securing the win for his team. His remarkable display on the court highlighted his prowess and determination as a finalist. Throughout the season, Treadwell has maintained good statistics with an average of 13.2 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game (ranking as the third best in the league), 4.0 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game in 30 games, further solidifying his reputation as a skilled and dedicated champion.

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

Kwan Cheatham Jr. (6'9''-F/C-1995, played in 2013-17) plays for Reggio Emilia in Italian Serie A
Enrique Freeman (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2019-24) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
Quincy Diggs (6'6''-F-1990, played in 2010-12) plays for Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart in Austrian BSL
Maishe Dailey (6'7''-G-1998, played in 2019-19) plays for Iskra Svit in Slovakian Tipos SBL
Kaleb Thornton (6'0''-PG-1999, played in 2023-24) plays for Al Khaleej in Saudi Arabian SBL
Ali Ali (6'8''-G/F-2001, played in 2019-22) plays for Toulouse in French NM1
Daniel Utomi (6'6''-SF-1997, played in 2015-19) plays for Dar City in Tanzanian NBL
Antino Jackson (6'0''-PG-1996, played in 2014-17) plays for Tigers in Rwandan RBL
Garvin Clarke (6'0''-PG-2001, played in 2020-23) plays for Caja 87 in Spanish Segunda FEB
Malcolm Duvivier (6'3''-G-1995, played in 2017-18) played for Montreal Alliance in CEBL few monts ago
Loren Jackson (5'7''-PG-1996, played in 2017-17) plays for Shandong in Chinese NBL
Xeyrius Williams (6'9''-PF-1997, played in 2018-18) plays for Tycoon in Hong Kong D1

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