POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
EuroBasket Pro Vaqueros Weekly Update
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
We bring you last week's top former Vaqueros players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Lesley Varner Jr, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from UTRGV in 2020 and received the All-WAC First Team award that year, is currently playing professionally in Lithuania. In a recent game, he led BC Jonava to a convincing 86-70 victory over the fourth-ranked team, Siauliai, by contributing 11 points in just 16 minutes of play. Despite BC Jonava's position as the second-to-last team in the league standings, Varner Jr's performance has been instrumental in securing their recent three-game winning streak.
With only two games remaining in the Regular Season, each match is crucial for BC Jonava's standing in the league. Varner Jr, in his debut season with the team, has showcased his skills as a champion player by consistently delivering strong performances on the court. Against Siauliai, he not only scored 11 points but also grabbed 3 rebounds, further solidifying his impact on the game.
So far this season, Varner Jr has been averaging 9.0 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game across the 16 games he has played. His contributions have been key to BC Jonava's success, and his presence on the team has proven to be a valuable asset as they strive for further victories in the league.
#2. Terry Winn III, a 6'7'' forward and 31-year-old alum of Vaqueros from 2019, currently playing professionally in Luxembourg, recently showcased his talent for Mamer. Despite his outstanding performance, Mamer, the top team with a 7-15 record, suffered a 74-87 defeat against the third-ranked Musel Pikes in the Play-Out group.
In the game, Winn III displayed his versatility by achieving a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, along with contributing 3 assists during his 40 minutes on the court. Unfortunately, this loss marked Mamer's third consecutive defeat in the Play-Out Round.
Despite the team's struggles, Winn III has been having a remarkable season individually, boasting impressive averages of 19.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in the 21 games he has played so far. His consistent high-level performance has been a bright spot throughout the season, even in the face of challenging outcomes like the recent loss to Musel Pikes.
#3. Experienced Estonian player Janari Joesaar, a 6'6'' forward aged 32 and a graduate of UTRGV in 2016, currently plays professionally in Bosnia. In a recent game, he was unable to lead KK Bosna Meridianbet Sarajevo (10-14) to victory over the formidable Partizan (21-3) in the AdmiralBet ABA League. Despite his best efforts, Joesaar managed to score 7 points and secure 2 rebounds in just 15 minutes of play. Unfortunately, his team suffered a 73-81 defeat on the road against the second-ranked Partizan.
Joesaar displayed a commendable performance against Partizan, showcasing his skills with 7 points and 2 rebounds. His consistent contributions on the court, however, were not enough to secure the win for KK Bosna Meridianbet Sarajevo. Throughout the current season, Joesaar has maintained an average of 7.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game across 26 matches.
Other former University of Texas Rio Grande Valley players, who play in pro basketball:
Parrish Petty (6'1''-PG-1988, played in 2009-09) plays for Gorgan in Iranian Superleague
DeAnthony Tipler (5'10''-PG-2000, played in 2023-24) played for Sorocabana in Brazilian Paulista few monts ago
Dekedran Thorn (6'4''-SG-2000, played in 2024-25) plays for Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League
Jordan Jackson (6'3''-G-1997, played in 2017-20) played for Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League last year
Justin Johnson (6'6''-G/F-1999, played in 2023-23) plays for Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League
Daylen Williams (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2022-24) plays for Beroe in Bulgarian NBL
Ahren Freeman (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2022-24) plays for Pyrinto in Finnish Korisliiga
Mike Adewunmi (6'6''-G-1999, played in 2021-22) plays for LU in Latvian LBL
Shaquille Hines (6'7''-PF-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Ehime Orange Vikings in Japanese B2 League
Johnny Crnogorac (7'1''-C-1995, played in 2017-19) plays for Sydney City Comets in Australian NBL One
Luis Valera (6'7''-F/C-1988, played in 2008-10) plays for Guadalajara in Spanish Tercera FEB
Dan Manzi Kimasa (6'9''-SF-1995, played in 2023-24) played for Tigers in Rwandan RBL last year
K.T. Raimey (6'3''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) plays for Akdeniz Spor in Cypriot North League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Texas Rio Grande Valley basketball alumni.
Lesley Varner Jr is last week best Vaqueros alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @koroivosbc)
