POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
EuroBasket Pro Buffaloes Weekly Update
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
Here is the weekly review of the top performing Buffaloes alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. D'Shawn Schwartz, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from GMU in 2022, made a significant impact during his time playing for Colorado between 2017 and 2021. In a memorable run, he helped his team reach the final of the Pac Tournament in a remarkable display of skill and determination.
Currently, Schwartz is showcasing his talent as a professional player in Germany, where he plays for Rostock Seawolves. Recently, he led his team to a crucial victory over the closely-ranked Rasta Vechta in a thrilling match in the German easyCredit BBL. Schwartz's outstanding performance saw him being named the MVP of the game, as he recorded a remarkable double-double with 39 points and 14 rebounds in just 33 minutes of play.
Rostock Seawolves, with a current record of 17-17, holds the eighth position in the league standings. Schwartz's stellar contribution was pivotal in securing his team's third consecutive victory, setting the stage for their upcoming critical match in the Regular Season.
Schwartz's remarkable display on the court against Vechta not only earned his team a significant win but also garnered him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, further cementing his status as a champion player. With solid season statistics of 13.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in the 33 games he has played so far, Schwartz continues to excel and prove himself as a standout finalist on the court.
#2. Brazilian champion Lucas Siewert, a 6'10'' forward aged 29 and an alumnus of Buffaloes from 2020, currently playing professionally in Brazil, unfortunately could not lead Paulistano/Corpore Sao Paolo (23-14) to victory in their recent game. Despite his stellar performance, Paulistano ended up losing 74-84 in a closely contested match against Pinheiros, who are currently ranked second.
Siewert emerged as the second-best scorer of the game, contributing 17 points along with 5 rebounds during his 33 minutes on the court. His noteworthy performance included a solid offensive output and significant contribution on the boards against a tough opponent like Pinheiros.
Throughout the season, Siewert has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game across 41 appearances. His consistent performance highlights his valuable contributions to his team's efforts as they strive for success in the league.
#3. McKinley Wright IV, a 6'0'' point guard who graduated from Colorado in 2021 and received the All-Pac First Team award that year, currently plays professionally in the United Arab Emirates. In a recent game in the AdmiralBet ABA League, he played a crucial role in Dubai's 88-84 victory over the closely-ranked Spartak. Despite his modest stat line of 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in 22 minutes, his impact on the game was undeniable.
The match between Dubai and Spartak was highly anticipated as it featured two top 4 ranked teams battling it out. With this win, BC Dubai (21-3) maintained its position at the top of the league standings. Notably, this victory marked Dubai's third consecutive win, showcasing the team's strong performance.
This season marks Wright IV's debut with the Dubai team, and he has been consistently contributing to their success. His performance against Spartak demonstrated his skill and leadership on the court, reminiscent of a true champion. With an average of 7.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in 22 appearances this season, Wright IV continues to make a significant impact for his team as they aim for success in the league.
#4. Experienced champion Xavier Johnson, a 6'7'' power forward at 32 years old and an alumnus of Buffaloes since 2017, currently playing professionally in Israel, unfortunately could not lead Hapoel Haifa (22-8) to victory in their recent game. Despite his outstanding performance, champion Johnson's team, the fourth-placed H.Haifa (22-8), suffered a 76-88 defeat on the road against the lower-ranked (#7) E.Shomron in the Play-Off group. Champion Johnson stood out as the top scorer, contributing 21 points and 3 assists in 33 minutes of play. This season marks Johnson's first with the team.
In the match against E.Shomron, champion Johnson put on a remarkable display, scoring 21 points, securing 3 rebounds, and distributing 3 assists. Despite his notable contributions, his team fell short and ultimately lost the game. Throughout the season, champion Johnson has delivered an impressive individual performance, boasting high statistics with an average of 19.5 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game across 30 games.
#5. Wesley Gordon, a 31-year-old center/forward standing at 6'9'' who graduated from Colorado in 2017 and currently plays professionally in Poland, played a crucial role in Tauron GTK Gliwice's recent triumph over the closely-ranked Czarni team. In Wednesday night's game, Tauron GTK Gliwice emerged victorious with a score of 89-80. Gordon's stellar performance included a double-double, as he scored 10 points, secured an impressive 15 rebounds, and also contributed 3 assists and 3 steals in 32 minutes of play.
Despite Tauron GTK Gliwice's current position as the second-to-last team (#15) in the league standings, Gordon's exceptional skills and leadership have significantly impacted the team's success. This is Gordon's debut season with the squad, and his standout performance against Czarni further solidified his reputation as a champion player.
Throughout the season, Wesley Gordon has maintained impressive averages of 8.5 points per game, leading the league with 8.8 rebounds per game, along with 1.5 assists and 1.3 blocks per game, ranking him fourth in the league in blocks. His consistent contributions on the court have undoubtedly played a crucial role in Tauron GTK Gliwice's performance this season, showcasing his prowess as a true champion and finalist.
#6. North Macedonian champion Andrej Jakimovski, a 25-year-old, 6'8'' forward and Buffaloes alumnus from 2025, currently playing professionally in Italy, played a crucial role in Dolomiti Energia Trentino's impressive 84-74 victory against the third-ranked Armani Milano in a recent Italian Serie A game. Jakimovski, a standout performer, scored 7 points, secured 1 rebound, and provided 2 assists during the game, showcasing his prowess on the court as a finalist. His stellar performance was instrumental in his team's triumph, highlighting his abilities as a champion player. Throughout this season, Jakimovski has maintained solid averages of 9.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game across 28 appearances. Notably, Jakimovski holds dual American and North Macedonian citizenship, allowing him to compete in North Macedonia as a domestic player.
#7. George King, a 6'6'' guard/forward who is 32 years old and graduated from Colorado in 2018, currently plays professionally in Germany. Despite his best efforts, King was unable to help VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier secure a victory against Telekom Baskets. In the game, King managed to score 8 points in just 13 minutes of play, but his team suffered a heavy defeat with a final score of 102-77, losing by 25 points.
In another match against Bonn, King contributed 8 points and 3 rebounds to the game, yet his team still fell short of a win. Throughout this season, King has been averaging 8.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game in the 14 games he has played so far.
#8. Serbian Lazar Nikolic, a 26-year-old shooting guard standing at 6'7'' and a Buffaloes alumnus from 2019, currently plays professionally in Iceland. Regrettably, he was unable to assist Valur in defeating Grindavik in a recent game. Nikolic's performance fell short in the match, as he only managed to score 3 points during his 4 minutes on the court. The game resulted in a disappointing loss for his team, with a significant point difference of 27, ending in a score of 109-82 in favor of Grindavik.
Despite his best efforts, Nikolic's individual contribution of 3 points was not enough to secure a victory for his team against Grindavik. This specific game may not be remembered as one of his best performances. Throughout the season, Nikolic has maintained an average of 9.3 points per game, along with 6.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in the 29 games played so far.
Other former University of Colorado players, who play in pro basketball:
Spencer Dinwiddie (6'6''-PG-1993, played in 2011-14) plays for FC Bayern Muenchen Basketball in German BBL
Thomas Akyazili (6'3''-SG-1997, played in 2013-17) plays for Erokspor in Turkish BSL
Askia Booker (6'1''-G-1993, played in 2011-15) played for Shenzhen Leopards in Chinese CBA few monts ago
Andre Roberson (6'7''-F-1991, played in 2009-13) plays for Zenit in Russian VTB United League
Tristan Da Silva (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2020-24) plays for Orlando Magic in the NBA
Derrick White (6'4''-G-1994, played in 2015-15) plays for Boston Celtics in the NBA
Cody Williams (6'7''-F-2004, played in 2023-24) plays for Utah Jazz in the NBA
Jabari Walker (6'8''-F-2002, played in 2020-22) plays for Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA
KJ Simpson Jr. (6'1''-G-2002, played in 2021-24) plays for Denver Nuggets in the NBA
Alec Burks (6'6''-SG-1991, played in 2009-11) played for Miami Heat in the NBA last year
Tyler Bey (6'7''-F-1998, played in 2017-20) plays for Trotamundos in Venezuelan SPB
Julian Hammond III (6'2''-G-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Vrsac in Serbian KLS
Josh Fortune (6'5''-SG-1994, played in 2014-17) plays for Randers in Danish BasketLigaen
Shane Gatling (6'2''-G-1998, played in 2018-20) plays for ZTE KK in Hungarian A Division
Ethan Wright (6'3''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Caledonia Gladiators in British SLB
Trevor Baskin (6'9''-F-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Nuernberg Falcons BC in German ProA
Xavier Talton (6'2''-G-1994, played in 2012-16) played for Cashville in the P&G League in Miami last year
Josh Scott (6'11''-C/F-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Okayama Try Hoop in Japanese B3 League
Marcus Hall (6'1''-G-1985, played in 2003-06) played for Team Heartfire in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Colorado basketball alumni.
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| | D'Shawn Schwartz (Germany) (Photo: @rostockseaw)
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| | Lucas Siewert (Brazil) (Photo: @lucas.siewe)
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| | McKinley Wright IV (United Arab Emirates) (Photo: @KkBuducnost)
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