POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
EuroBasket Pro Panthers Weekly Update
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
Every week we bring you a list of the top former Panthers players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Serbian Aleksa Novakovic, a 6'7'' forward at 29 years old who graduated from EIU in 2016 and currently plays professionally in Hungary, made a significant contribution to Falco-Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely's narrow 93-92 victory over the third-ranked Kaposvari (17-9) in the Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnoksag I/A on Friday night. Despite scoring only 3 points in 13 minutes of play, Novakovic's presence on the court proved crucial for his team's success. This win helped Falco-Vulcano Energia KC Szombathely, currently sixth in the Play-Off group with a record of 19-7, to further solidify their position in the competition.
Novakovic, in his first season with the team, showcased his value by scoring 3 points and grabbing 1 rebound against Kaposvari, ultimately aiding his team in securing the victory and emerging as the champion. Throughout the season, Novakovic has maintained solid averages of 8.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, showcasing his versatility and skill on the court.
#2. Mack Smith-McEwen, a 6'3'' guard who is 28 years old and an alumnus of the Broncos in 2022, previously played for EIU between 2017 and 2021 before joining a professional team in North Macedonia. In a recent North Macedonian Super League game on Wednesday night, Smith-McEwen played a crucial role in helping KK MZT Skopje Aerodrom secure a dominant victory over the third-ranked Pelister, with a final score of 87-58. Despite scoring only 2 points in 10 minutes of play, his contribution was significant in the context of the game.
The matchup between KK MZT Skopje Aerodrom and Pelister was a highly anticipated game between two top 3 ranked teams in the group Places 1-6, with KK MZT Skopje Aerodrom currently holding the first position with a record of 22-5. This victory marked an important moment for Smith-McEwen, as it is his first season with the team and his performance, although modest in terms of points and playing time, was crucial in securing the win.
Smith-McEwen's overall performance this season has been commendable, with average statistics of 13.0 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 4.0 assists per game. His consistent contributions on the court have been instrumental in the team's success, culminating in their recent triumph over Pelister to emerge as the champion of the game.
#3. Ranell Crossland, a 6'6'' small forward who is 30 years old and a graduate of EIU in 2018, showcased his skills in a recent game for the St. Louis Griffins in The Basketball League. Despite scoring only 4 points and contributing 3 assists in 21 minutes of play, Crossland played a pivotal role in the Griffins' 112-94 victory over the Grove City Whitetails (4-13). The St. Louis Griffins, with a somewhat modest 9-3 record this season, benefitted greatly from Crossland's performance on the court.
His impressive stats of 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists against Grove City Whitetails not only helped lead his team to victory but also solidified his status as a champion. Crossland's consistent performance this season, where he averages 8.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, highlights his value to the team.
It is worth noting that Crossland has a background as a former player in the Eurobasket Summer League, a prestigious platform for players aspiring to compete in basketball overseas.
Other former Eastern Illinois University players, who play in pro basketball:
Muusa Dama (6'10''-C/F-1996, played in 2016-18) plays for Shimane Susanoo Magic in Japanese B1 League
Lazar Grbovic (6'8''-F-2000, played in 2023-25) plays for Mornar in Montenegrin Erste Liga
Jermaine Hamlin (6'10''-F-2000, played in 2021-24) plays for Cherkasy in Ukrainian Superleague
Tiger Booker (5'10''-PG-2000, played in 2023-24) plays for Komarno in Slovakian Tipos SBL
Artese Stapleton (6'3''-G, played in 2024-25) plays for Madzari in North Macedonian Super League
Curry McKinney (6'4''-G, played in 2009-11) played for West Coast Breeze in the TBL few monts ago
Levi Noel (6'6''-SF-1991, played in 2010-11) played for City of Birmingham Rockets in British BCB last year
Sekou Kalle (6'10''-F, played in 2024-25) plays for Sagrado Corazon in Spanish Tercera FEB
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Eastern Illinois University basketball alumni.
Aleksa Novakovic is last week best Panthers alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @kkboraccacak)
