EuroBasket Pro Hawkeyes Weekly Update

EuroBasket Pro Hawkeyes Weekly Update


Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC

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


   #1. Joe Wieskamp, a 6'6'' guard/forward from Iowa who graduated in 2021, has been making waves in the German easyCredit BBL league where he currently plays professionally for Science City Jena. Recently, he showcased his skills in a thrilling match against MLP Academics Heidelberg, where he led his team to a narrow 81-79 victory. Wieskamp's stellar performance earned him the MVP title of the game, as he contributed 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist during his 41 minutes on the court. Despite Science City Jena's position as 16th in the league with a record of 12-22, Wieskamp's impact has been undeniable. This season marks his debut with the team, and he has been consistently delivering impressive performances. With an average of 16.1 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game (ranking fourth in the league) in the 33 games he has played so far, Wieskamp has proven himself to be a standout player in the league. Wieskamp's contributions on the court not only reflect his individual talent but also his ability to elevate his team to victory. His determination and skillset truly exemplify why he is regarded as a champion in the world of basketball.

   #2. Experienced British player, Gabriel Olaseni, standing at 6'10'' and a former Hawkeyes alumnus from 2015, currently plays professionally in Turkey. Despite his commendable performance in the recent game, where he scored 11 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and even contributed 2 assists in 31 minutes of play, his team Mersin Spor unfortunately suffered a loss of 80-90 to the higher-ranked (#6) Trabzonspor. This defeat marked Mersin Spor's eighth consecutive loss, as the Regular Season had already concluded. Throughout the season, Olaseni has shown consistent performance, averaging 11.1 points per game, 7.8 rebounds (the second-best in the league), and 1.7 assists in a total of 30 games. Despite his individual achievements and contributions to the team, notably being awarded the All-Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year in 2015, Olaseni was unable to help Mersin Spor secure a victory in their final game of the season.

   #3. Serbian Filip Rebraca, a 6'9'' forward aged 28, who graduated from Iowa in 2023 and helped them win the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament that year, is currently playing professionally in Serbia. In a recent match, he led FMP BG to a thrilling 99-95 victory over the 20th-ranked Mega BG in a highly anticipated derby game in the Serbian Meridianbet Kosarkaska lige Srbije on Tuesday night. During the game, Rebraca showcased his skills by scoring 13 points, pulling down 8 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots in 28 minutes of playing time. Despite KK FMP SoccerBet Beogradis being positioned second from the bottom (#21) in the Joined in Play-Off group, Rebraca's arrival this season has made a noticeable impact on the team's performance. This season, Rebraca has been consistently delivering strong performances, averaging 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in the two games played so far. His impressive display in the recent match against Mega BG, where he contributed significantly to his team's victory, further solidifies his reputation as a champion on the court.

   #4. Canadian Ben Krikke, a 6'9'' center/forward and 24-year-old Hawkeyes alumnus from the class of 2024, currently plays professional basketball in Lithuania. Despite his recent strong performance, Krikke was unable to help Jonava (9-22) secure a win in their last game. Facing the higher-ranked (#7) team Juventus, Jonava suffered a narrow 90-95 defeat at home. In the game, Krikke played for 23 minutes and managed to score 12 points. This loss marked Jonava's first defeat after a streak of three consecutive victories, making their upcoming final game in the Regular Season crucial for their playoff hopes. Against Juventus, Krikke displayed an impressive performance by scoring 12 points, securing 2 rebounds, and contributing 1 assist. Although he showcased his skills on the court, his team ultimately fell short in securing the victory. Throughout the season, Krikke has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game across 28 appearances. As Jonava prepares for their last game of the Regular Season, Krikke's contributions will be key as they aim to secure a spot in the playoffs.

   #5. Jarrod Uthoff, a 6'9'' power forward who is 32 years old and graduated from Iowa in 2016, currently plays professionally in Italy. Despite his impressive credentials, including winning the CoSIDA NCAA Division I Academic All-Americans of the Year award in 2016, he was unable to lead Trieste (13-16) to a victory over Cremona (11-17) in the Italian Serie A. In the game against Cremona, Uthoff contributed 6 points and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes of play. However, Trieste suffered a narrow 89-94 defeat on their home court to the lower-ranked (#11) Cremona, marking their fourth consecutive loss. With only three games remaining in the Regular Season, every upcoming match will be crucial for Trieste. Despite Uthoff's solid performance against Cremona, the team was unable to secure the win. Throughout this season, Uthoff has maintained an average of 7.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game across 29 appearances.

   #6. Andrew Thelwell, a 6'3'' guard and 23-year-old alum of the Hawkeyes from 2025, currently playing professionally in France, made a significant impact in Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez's recent victory over the sixth-ranked JA Vichy with a score of 72-62 in the French ELITE 2 league. Despite scoring only 4 points and registering 3 steals in his 14 minutes on the court, Thelwell's contributions were crucial to his team's success. In the game against Vichy, he not only scored 4 points but also secured 1 rebound and provided 1 assist, all of which were instrumental in helping his team secure the win and emerge as the champion. Thelwell has been showcasing solid performance throughout the season, averaging 11.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in 30 appearances. It is worth noting that Thelwell is a naturalized American, adding to his versatile skill set and contributing to his success as a finalist in the league.

   #7. Aaron White, a 6'9'' forward who is 33 years old and graduated from Iowa in 2015, currently plays professionally in Japan. Recently, he was unable to lead SeaHorses Mikawa to victory against the Golden Kings. In a disappointing performance last Saturday, White only managed to score 2 points in 7 minutes on the court as his team narrowly lost 82-79. Despite this setback, White displayed a solid performance in a game against Ryukyu GK, contributing 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a win for his team. Throughout this year, White has maintained averages of 6.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game over 56 games.


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

Tony Perkins (6'4''-G-2001, played in 2020-24) plays for Nymburk in Czech Republic NBL
Luka Garza (6'10''-C-1998, played in 2017-21) plays for Boston Celtics in the NBA
Keegan Murray (6'8''-F-2000, played in 2020-22) plays for Sacramento Kings in the NBA
Payton Sandfort (6'7''-F-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA
Kris Murray (6'8''-F-2000) plays for Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA
Devyn Marble (6'6''-SF-1992, played in 2010-23) plays for Al Naser in UAE ULB
Peter Jok (6'6''-G-1994, played in 2013-17) plays for P.Luanda in Angolan Division I
Tyler Cook (6'9''-PF-1997, played in 2016-19) plays for Osos de Manati in Puerto Rican BSN
Ryan Kriener (6'10''-F/C-1998, played in 2016-20) plays for Shiga Lakestars in Japanese B1 League
Anthony Clemmons (6'2''-PG-1994, played in 2012-16) plays for Koshigaya Alphas in Japanese B1 League
Reggie Evans (6'8''-F/C-1980, played in 1998-02) played for Miami 305 in the Big3 few monts ago
Even Brauns (6'9''-C-2002, played in 2023-25) plays for Yamaguch Pats Five in Japanese B3 League
Douglas Thomas (6'9''-C-1983, played in 2002-06) plays for Tri-City Tide in the TBL

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

Joe Wieskamp (Germany) (Photo: @basketsjena)

Gabriel Olaseni (Turkey) (Photo: @mersinmsk)