EuroBasket Pro Spartans Weekly Update

- May 12, 2026

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

EuroBasket Pro Spartans Weekly Update

Michigan St. logo Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC

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

   #1. Experienced champion Matt Costello, a 6'10'' center/forward at 32 years old, graduated from Michigan State in 2016 after helping them win the Big Ten Tournament that year. Currently playing professionally in Spain, he recently made a significant impact in a game for Valencia Basket. In a thrilling Euroleague match against the seventh-ranked Panathinaikos with a final score of 91-87 in favor of Valencia Basket, Costello showcased his skills by scoring 8 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in just 22 minutes of play. Valencia Basket, with a record of 25-13, holds the second position in the league standings, thanks in part to Costello's contributions on the court. The victory against Panathinaikos marked his team's fourth consecutive win, highlighting their strong performance this season. Costello's impressive display exemplified his status as a champion player, as he played a crucial role in securing the win for his team. Throughout the season, Costello has maintained an average of 6.4 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game, demonstrating his consistent performance on the court. Despite being a naturalized American, Costello has proven himself as a valuable asset to his team in Spain, showcasing his talent and determination as a finalist.

   #2. Frankie Fidler, a 23-year-old former Spartans alumni from 2025 standing at 6'7'' and currently playing professionally in Latvia, showcased his talent in a recent game for Rigas Zelli. Despite being the top scorer with 31 points, along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists, Fidler's team suffered a 94-84 defeat against VEF Riga, who are ranked lower in the standings. Fidler, who helped Spartans win the Big Ten Regular Season Champion title in 2025, is having an exceptional season individually, leading the league in scoring with an average of 21.8 points per game. Additionally, he is averaging 7.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists (ranking third in the league), and 1.5 steals per game (second best in the league). His impressive performance in the game against VEF Riga, where he made all fifteen of his free throws, highlights his skill and contribution to his team, despite the unfortunate outcome.

   #3. Aaron Henry, a 6'6'' forward who graduated from Michigan State in 2021 and currently plays professionally in Japan, demonstrated his prowess on the court as a key player for the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins. In a recent match against the league leaders, Tochigi Brex, Henry played a vital role in his team's 75-66 victory. The 26-year-old athlete showcased his versatility by achieving a double-double, scoring 17 points, securing 11 rebounds, and contributing 5 assists and 3 steals during his 37 minutes of play. Despite being placed fourth in the West group, the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins have benefited greatly from Henry's stellar performances throughout the season. His exceptional display against Tochigi Brex not only helped secure the win but also earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, solidifying his reputation as a champion player and a finalist in his craft. Individually, Henry has had an impressive season with notable statistics, averaging 17.0 points per game, 5.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.1 blocks per game (the second-best in the league), and leading the league with 2.0 steals per game. His consistent contributions on both ends of the court highlight his talent and dedication to excelling in professional basketball.

   #4. Denzel Valentine, a 6'5'' guard/forward and 32-year-old Spartans alum from 2016, currently playing professionally in Italy, recently showcased his skills for Umana Reyer Venezia. Despite his best efforts, Umana Reyer Venezia fell short against Tortona in the Italian Serie A, with a final score of 78-75 in favor of Tortona, who are ranked lower at #5 in the league standings. Valentine's individual performance was noteworthy, as he contributed 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in just 20 minutes of gameplay. His solid stats for the season include an average of 6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. With only three games remaining in the Regular Season, every match becomes crucial for Umana Reyer Venezia. Despite the setback against Tortona, Valentine's efforts on the court as a key player for his team have been consistent throughout the season. He remains focused on helping his team succeed as they aim to secure a spot in the playoffs and compete for the championship title.

   #5. Bryn Forbes, a 6'3'' guard who graduated from Michigan State in 2016, is currently playing professionally in Romania. Recently, he showcased his skills by leading Valcea to a decisive victory over the 13th-ranked Ploiesti CSM with a score of 97-75 in the Romanian Liga Nationala Baschet de Masculin. Forbes was the standout player of the game, earning the MVP title for his remarkable performance. He contributed significantly to his team's success by scoring 21 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and dishing out 6 assists in 34 minutes of play. CS Valcea 1924 Rm Valcea, currently ranked ninth in the league with a record of 15-13, benefited greatly from Forbes' stellar performance. His impressive season statistics further highlight his impact, averaging 17.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Forbes' exceptional skills and contributions on the court have undoubtedly played a crucial role in helping his team secure victories and establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the league.

   #6. Marcus Bingham Jr., a 7'0'' center and 25-year-old Spartans alumni from the class of 2022, showcased his basketball prowess by leading his Russian team UNICS to a thrilling 107-104 victory over Zenit in the VTB United League. In a closely contested match, Bingham Jr. delivered a stellar performance, contributing 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist in 34 minutes of play. His impactful presence on the court helped secure the crucial win for his team. With impressive season averages of 15.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.7 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game, Bingham Jr. has been a standout player in the league. His consistent high-level play has solidified his reputation as a champion in the making.

   #7. Gabe Brown, a 6'7'' forward who graduated from Michigan State in 2022 and received the All-Big Ten Third Team award that year, currently plays professionally in France. Despite his strong performance, Brown could not assist SIG Strasbourg (17-12) in their recent game last Saturday. The team suffered a defeat on the road against the higher-ranked ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket (#4) with a score of 89-81. Even though Brown managed to score 13 points in 27 minutes, his team was unable to secure the victory. In the match against ASVEL, Brown showcased his skills by contributing 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. However, despite his notable efforts, Strasbourg ultimately fell short in the game. Throughout the season, Brown has maintained relatively good statistics with an average of 14.6 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game.

   #8. Kenny Goins, a 29-year-old power forward standing at 6'7'' and an alumni of the Spartans from 2019, was a crucial part of the team that secured the Big Ten Regular Season Co-Champion title that year. Currently playing professionally in Poland, Goins recently played for Trefl Sopot in a game last Wednesday. Despite his solid performance, where he scored 10 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 27 minutes, Trefl Sopot was defeated 94-79 by the lower-ranked Anwil (#7) in Wloclawek. Even though Goins showcased an impressive display on the court against Anwil, contributing 10 points and 8 rebounds to the game, his efforts were not enough to secure a victory for his team. Throughout this season, Goins has been maintaining an average of 9.5 points per game, along with 6.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

   #9. Cassius Winston, a 6'1'' point guard who graduated from Michigan State in 2020 and received the USBWA All-District V Team award, currently plays professionally in Israel. In a recent game, Winston showcased his skills by helping Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem secure a convincing 87-74 victory over the seventh-ranked M.Rishon in the Israeli Winner League. Despite scoring only 4 points, Winston significantly contributed with 6 assists during his 15 minutes on the court. His noteworthy performance included scoring 4 points, grabbing 1 rebound, and providing 6 assists against M. Rishon, ultimately proving instrumental in his team's success and further establishing his reputation as a champion on the court. Winston's impressive season statistics of 13.4 points per game, 2.0 rebounds per game, and 3.6 assists per game highlight his consistent contributions to the team's performance.

   #10. Polish basketball champion Szymon Zapala, a towering 7'0'' center and 25-year-old Spartans alumnus from 2025, played a key role in helping his team clinch the Big Ten Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently playing professionally in Poland, Zapala recently shared the court with his teammate and fellow finalist Kenny Goins in the latest Polish Orlen Basket Liga game. Despite his best efforts, Zapala couldn't lead Trefl Sopot to victory over Anwil, as his team suffered a 94-79 defeat. In the game, Zapala showcased his skills by scoring 6 points and grabbing 2 rebounds in just 13 minutes of play. Despite his impressive individual performance, his team fell short in securing the win. Throughout the season, Zapala has been maintaining solid averages of 6.9 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game.

Other former Michigan State University players, who play in pro basketball:

Jase Richardson (6'3''-G-2005, played in 2024-25) plays for Orlando Magic in the NBA
Gary Harris (6'4''-SG-1994, played in 2012-14) plays for Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA
Jaren Jackson Jr. (6'11''-F/C-1999, played in 2017-18) plays for Utah Jazz in the NBA
Max Christie (6'6''-SG-2003, played in 2021-22) plays for Dallas Mavericks in the NBA
Jaden Akins (6'4''-G-2003, played in 2021-25) plays for Detroit Pistons in the NBA
Miles Bridges (6'7''-SF-1998, played in 2016-18) plays for Charlotte Hornets in the NBA
Draymond Green (6'6''-F-1990, played in 2008-12) plays for Golden State Warriors in the NBA
Xavier Tillman Sr. (6'8''-F-1999, played in 2017-20) plays for Charlotte Hornets in the NBA
Mady Sissoko (6'9''-C-2000, played in 2020-24) plays for Trieste in Italian Serie A
Gavin Schilling (6'9''-C-1995, played in 2013-16) plays for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in German BBL
Raymar Morgan (6'8''-F/C-1988, played in 2006-10) played for Science City Jena in German BBL few monts ago
Malik Hall (6'8''-F-2000, played in 2019-24) plays for Urban Latti Kiryat Ata in Israeli Winner League
Tyson Walker (6'1''-G-2000, played in 2021-24) plays for Melbourne United in Australian NBL
A.J. Hoggard (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2020-24) plays for Raptors 905 Mississauga in the NBA G League
Joey Hauser (6'9''-F-1999, played in 2019-23) played for College Park SkyHawks in the NBA G League last year
Branden Dawson (6'7''-F-1993, played in 2011-15) played for Correcaminos UAT Victoria in Mexican LNBP last year
Nick Ward (6'10''-C/F-1997, played in 2016-19) plays for Quimper UJAP in French ProB
Travis Trice II (6'0''-PG-1993, played in 2011-15) plays for Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rican BSN
Durrell Summers (6'5''-SF-1989, played in 2007-11) plays for Pioneros in Venezuelan SPB
Jason Richardson (6'6''-G-1981, played in 1999-01) played for Chicago Triplets in the Big3 last year
Eron Harris (6'3''-G-1993, played in 2014-14) played for Lebanon Leprechauns in the TBL last year
Brandon Wood (6'2''-G-1989, played in 2011-12) played for Shield 219 in the The Basketball Tournament last year
Shannon Brown (6'3''-G-1985, played in 2003-06) played for Huntsville Dawgs in the NBL-US last year

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