POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
EuroBasket Pro Spiders Weekly Update
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
Every week we bring you a list of the top former Spiders players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Grant Golden, a 6'10'' center who graduated from Richmond in 2022, is currently playing professionally in France for ES Chalon-Sur-Saone. In a recent game against the formidable SIG Strasbourg, despite his commendable efforts, Golden could not prevent his team from suffering a crushing defeat on the road. The final score was 102-81 in favor of Strasbourg, who held the eighth rank at the time.
Being the second-highest scorer for Chalon-Sur-Saone in that game, Golden demonstrated his prowess by contributing 14 points in just 22 minutes of play. It was a valiant effort from the champion scorer, showcasing his exceptional skills on the court. However, the team could not secure a victory.
This season marks Golden's debut with ES Chalon-Sur-Saone, and he has been putting up relatively good statistics so far. With an average of 10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in the 16 games he has participated in, Golden is proving to be a valuable asset for his team despite the recent loss.
#2. Finnish basketball player Andre Gustavson, standing at 6'6'' and a former Spiders alumnus from the class of 2023, showcased his skills in a recent game in the Belgian Pro Basketball League. Despite Filou Oostende's position as the second-to-last team in the league standings, Gustavson led his team to a remarkable 83-77 victory over league leaders Okapi Aalst. In his third season as a professional player, Gustavson's performance was exceptional, contributing 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist in just 22 minutes of play.
This victory marked Gustavson's first year with Filou Oostende, and his impact on the team was evident as he played a key role in securing the win against a strong opponent. With an average of 8.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game in the six games he has played this season, Gustavson has been proving himself as a standout player in the league.
His standout performance against Okapi Aalst showcased his determination and skill on the court, solidifying his reputation as a true champion in the making. As Gustavson continues to excel in his basketball career, his contributions to Filou Oostende's success are becoming increasingly apparent.
#3. T.J. Cline, a 6'9'' power forward who graduated from Richmond in 2017 and received the All-Atlantic 10 Player of the Year award that year, currently plays professionally in Israel. Despite his efforts, Cline was unable to lead Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona (9-17) to victory against Hapoel Tel-Aviv (22-4) in the Israeli Winner League, as his team suffered a close 75-81 defeat in Tel Aviv. This loss marked Ironi Hai Motors Nes-Ziona's third consecutive defeat, concluding the Regular Season.
In his first season with the team, Cline contributed 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in the game against Hapoel Tel-Aviv, showcasing his versatility on the court. However, despite his solid individual performance, the team fell short of securing the win. With an average of 4.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game in the 19 games he has played this season, Cline continues to be a valuable asset to his team.
It is noteworthy that Cline holds both American and Israeli citizenship, allowing him to play in Israel as a domestic player. While Monday's game may not have been one of his best, Cline's dedication and skills as a player remain evident as he strives to make an impact in the league.
#4. Haitian Nathan Cayo, a 6'7'' forward who is 28 years old and an alum of the Spiders from 2022, played a crucial role in helping his team emerge as the champion of the Atlantic 10 Tournament in that year. Currently playing professionally in Canada, he recently led the Niagara River Lions to a thrilling 2-point victory over the Stingers with a score of 101-99 in a Canadian Elite Basketball League game on Sunday night.
During this game, Cayo exhibited an exceptional performance and was rightfully awarded the MVP title. He showcased his skills by contributing 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks in just 32 minutes of play. Despite the Niagara River Lions having a somewhat weak record of 2-3 this season, it is important to note that this is just the early stages of the competition, leaving room for potential turnarounds and surprises.
In a standout display against Edmonton, Cayo once again proved his capabilities by scoring an impressive 21 points, securing 6 rebounds, and providing 4 assists, ultimately steering his team to victory. His remarkable performance was instrumental in clinching the win, highlighting why he is truly a champion on the court.
Throughout this season, Cayo has maintained solid statistics, averaging 14.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in the five games he has participated in so far. Additionally, it is noteworthy that he holds dual American and Haitian citizenship, allowing him the flexibility to play in Haiti as a domestic player.
#5. French champion Solly Stansbury, a 31-year-old forward standing at 6'7" who graduated from Richmond in 2018 and currently plays professionally in France, led Levallois Metropolitans BC to a 77-70 victory over the eighth-ranked Lourdes-Tarbes in the French Nationale Masculine 1 (third division) during Sunday night's game. Stansbury showcased his skills as a finalist by scoring 12 points and grabbing 3 rebounds in 32 minutes of play. This stellar performance contributed significantly to his team's success, securing a crucial win. Levallois Metropolitans BC, currently fourth in Group A with a record of 26-14, benefitted greatly from Stansbury's contributions on the court. Throughout the season, Stansbury has maintained solid averages of 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in the 43 games he has played thus far.
Other former University of Richmond players, who play in pro basketball:
Tyler Burton (5'9''-G-2000, played in 2019-23) plays for Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA
Justin Harper (6'10''-F-1989, played in 2007-11) plays for Link Tochigi Brex Utsunomiya in Japanese B1 League
Dusan Neskovic (6'8''-F-2000, played in 2024-25) plays for MLP Academics Heidelberg in German BBL
DeLonnie Hunt (6'0''-PG-2001, played in 2023-25) plays for Dinamo in Croatian Premijer Liga
Jordan King (6'0''-PG-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for Maroussi in Greek GBL
Terry Allen (6'8''-F-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Scafati in Italian Serie A2
Jacob Gilyard (5'9''-PG-1998, played in 2017-22) plays for BCM Gravelines Dunkerque in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Neal Quinn (7'0''-C-2001, played in 2022-24) plays for BCM Gravelines Dunkerque in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Isaiah Bigelow (6'7''-F-2000, played in 2022-24) plays for Alba in Hungarian A Division
Blake Francis (6'0''-PG-1998, played in 2018-18) plays for Avellino in Italian Serie A2
David Gonzalvez (6'4''-G-1987, played in 2006-10) plays for Honka in Finnish Korisliiga
Tyler Harris (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2023-24) plays for ACO Basket in Finnish 1st Division A
Matt Grace (6'9''-F-1999, played in 2023-23) plays for Komotini GAS in Greek National League 1
Kendall Anthony (5'8''-PG-1993, played in 2011-15) plays for UniFacisa Paraiba in Brazilian NBB
ShawnDre Jones (5'11''-PG-1994, played in 2013-17) played for The Shine in the The Basketball Tournament few monts ago
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of University of Richmond basketball alumni.
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| | Grant Golden (France) (Photo: @aekbasketba)
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| | Andre Gustavson (Belgium) (Photo: @Bcoostende)
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| | T.J. Cline (Israel) (Photo: @hapoeleilat)
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