Best performed former Illinois State University players in pro basketball in last week games

- May 29, 2026

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Best performed former Illinois State University players in pro basketball in last week games

Illinois St. logo Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC

Here is the weekly review of the top performing Redbirds alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Notice impressive performance of Paris Lee (14 points), Kendall Lewis (22 points), and Phil Fayne II (8 points).

   #1. Paris Lee, a 31-year-old point guard standing at 6'1'' and a graduate of Illinois State in 2017, currently plays professionally in Russia. Recently, he led his team UNICS to a significant victory over the closely-ranked Zenit, with a final score of 78-73 in the VTB United League. This game, which took place last Monday, showcased Lee's exceptional skills on the court, where he scored 14 points, provided 9 assists, and made 3 steals in 33 minutes of play. The match between UNICS and Zenit was highly anticipated, as both teams are among the top 4 in the league standings. UNICS Kazan, with a record of 33-7, currently holds the second position in the league. Lee's remarkable performance in this game highlighted his abilities as a champion player, contributing significantly to his team's success. This season marks Lee's first with UNICS, and he has been consistently delivering strong performances. With an average of 10.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in the 26 games he has played so far, Lee has been a key player for his team. Additionally, it is worth noting that Lee is a naturalized American, further adding to his diverse background and experience in the sport.

   #2. Kendall Lewis, a 6'8'' forward and Redbirds alumnus from 2021 who helped them become the champion of the Sun Belt Tournament that year, currently plays professionally in Romania. In a recent game, Lewis, despite putting up an impressive performance, could not lead Pitesti (16-12) to victory. Pitesti suffered a 93-100 loss on the road against the lower-ranked (#7) Sibiu team. Lewis showcased his skills by scoring 22 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in 30 minutes of play, making him the second-best scorer of the game. Despite his individual efforts, Pitesti faced their fourth consecutive defeat. Throughout the season, Lewis has maintained strong statistics, averaging 15.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in 34 appearances. His consistent performance highlights his value as a finalist and a key player for his team.

   #3. Phil Fayne II, a 29-year-old center/forward standing at 6'9", graduated from Illinois State University in 2019, where he received the prestigious All-MVC First Team award. Currently playing professionally in Poland, he recently played a crucial role in Zastal BC Zielona Gora's narrow 85-83 victory over the closely-ranked Arka in the Polish Orlen Basket Liga. Despite only scoring 8 points in 16 minutes, Fayne II's contribution was pivotal in securing the win for his team. Zastal BC Zielona Gora, for whom Fayne II is playing in his first season, is currently placed eighth in the league standings. In the game against Arka, Fayne II showcased his skills by not only scoring 8 points but also grabbing 3 rebounds and making 1 assist. His exceptional performance on the court played a significant role in his team emerging as the champion of the match. Throughout this season, Fayne II has maintained an average of 7.3 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game in the 37 games he has played so far. It is worth noting that although Fayne II is a naturalized American, he has been making a name for himself in the Polish basketball scene with his remarkable talent and dedication to the sport.

   #4. Swedish Elijah Clarance, a 6'5'' guard and 27-year-old Redbirds alumnus from 2019, currently plays professionally in France. Recently, he received the Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro B Honorable Mention award for his achievements that year. In a recent match, Clarance competed for Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball but unfortunately couldn't lead his team to victory against Poitiers in the French ELITE 2, the second division league. During the game, Clarance played for 6 minutes and scored 4 points. This match marked his debut for Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball this season. Despite his efforts, his team narrowly lost 96-100 to Poitiers, who is ranked fifth in the Play-Out group. Clarance displayed his scoring prowess by emerging as the top scorer for his team against Poitiers, contributing a total of 4 points. However, despite his solid performance, Saint-Quentin Basket-Ball was unable to secure a win against their lower-ranked opponents.

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

Devaughn Akoon-Purcell (6'5''-G/F-1993, played in 2014-16) plays for Shandong Heroes in Chinese CBA
Jordan Davis (6'4''-G-2002, played in 2023-25) plays for Mega BG in Serbian KLS
Osiris Eldridge (6'3''-F/G-1988, played in 2006-10) played for US Monastir in Tunisian ProA few monts ago
Dalton Banks (6'2''-G-2001, played in 2023-25) plays for Margveti in Georgian Superleague
Mikyle McIntosh (6'7''-F-1994, played in 2013-17) plays for Oliveirense in Portuguese Liga Betclic
Daishon Knight (6'1''-PG-1991, played in 2013-15) plays for ES Sahel in Tunisian ProA
Jaycee Hillsman (6'7''-G-1996, played in 2018-18) plays for Earthfriends Tokyo Z in Japanese B3 League
Deontae Hawkins (6'8''-F-1993, played in 2014-17) plays for Ordu in Azerbaijani ABL
Zach Copeland (6'4''-G-1997, played in 2017-17) plays for Cento in Italian Serie A2
Seneca Knight (6'6''-G-2000, played in 2022-23) plays for Mestre in Italian Serie A2

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