POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
EuroBasket Pro Bobcats Weekly Update
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
Here is the weekly review of the top performing Bobcats alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Experienced champion James Feldeine, a 6'4'' center who is 37 years old and graduated from Quinnipiac in 2010, played a crucial role in helping them win the NEC Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently, he is playing professionally in Uruguay for Nacional. In a recent game, despite his outstanding performance, Feldeine could not lead Nacional (22-10) to victory. The team, sitting in second place, suffered a close 92-91 defeat to Aguada, who was ranked third in the Places 1-6 group.
During the game, Feldeine showcased his skills by scoring 23 points and contributing 7 assists in 39 minutes of play, making him the second-best scorer of the match. This season marks Feldeine's first with the team, and he has been delivering impressive performances consistently. Despite his remarkable individual statistics, including averaging 17.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in the 37 games he has played so far, Feldeine's efforts were not enough to secure a win for Nacional.
It is worth noting that Feldeine is a naturalized Dominican player who has been making significant contributions to his team throughout the season.
#2. Guinean player Ousmane Drame, standing at 6'9'' and a versatile forward/center at 32 years old, is a former Bobcats alumnus from 2015. That year, he was honored with the prestigious All-MAAC Defensive Player of the Year award. Currently, he showcases his skills playing professionally in Romania. In a recent match, despite Drame's commendable efforts, he couldn't guide Dinamo Bucuresti (20-8) to a victory. The team suffered a close defeat, with a score of 101-105 on the road against the lower-ranked (#4) Craiova.
Drame's performance in the game was notable, recording a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds in just 26 minutes of play. He displayed an impressive showing against Craiova, contributing 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 assist. However, despite his strong individual display, Dinamo Bucuresti ultimately fell short and was unable to secure the win.
Throughout the current season, Drame has maintained solid averages of 9.9 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game, ranking as the second-best rebounder in the league across 36 games. It is worth noting that Ousmane Drame is a naturalized American, adding to his diverse background and experience in the world of basketball.
#3. Italian champion Jacob Rigoni, a 6'6'' forward at 27 years old, who graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and received the MAAC All-Tournament Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Australia. In a recent game, he led the Sturt Sabres to a thrilling 84-81 victory over the seventh-ranked Central District Lions in the Australian NBL One, the second division of the league. Rigoni's exceptional performance earned him the MVP title of the game, as he scored 22 points, collected 8 rebounds, and provided 2 assists in 37 minutes on the court.
The Sturt Sabres, with a record of 10-2, hold the third position in the Central group thanks to Rigoni's standout contributions. His remarkable display against Central District Lions not only showcased his skills but also played a pivotal role in securing the championship for his team. Throughout the season, Rigoni has maintained high statistics, averaging 20.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game across 12 games.
It is also noteworthy that Rigoni holds dual American and Italian citizenship, allowing him the flexibility to potentially play in Italy as a domestic player in the future.
Other former Quinnipiac University players, who play in pro basketball:
Donovan Smith (6'10''-C/F-1993, played in 2015-17) plays for Converge FiberXers in Filipino PBA
Cameron Young (6'5''-G-1996, played in 2016-19) plays for Pinar Karsiyaka SK Izmir in Turkish BSL
Ike Nweke (6'7''-F/C-2000, played in 2022-23) plays for Karhubasket in Finnish Korisliiga
Matt Balanc (6'4''-SG, played in 2018-24) played for Horsens IC in Danish BasketLigaen few monts ago
Savion Lewis (6'1''-G-2000, played in 2018-25) plays for Leotar in Bosnia and Herzegovina Division I
Richie Springs (6'9''-F-2001, played in 2023-25) plays for Sloga Uppsala in Swedish Basketligan
Andrew Robinson (6'7''-G/F-1996, played in 2015-19) played for Ballarat Miners in Australian NBL One last year
Tyrese Williams (6'3''-G-2000, played in 2018-23) plays for PS Karlsruhe Lions in German ProA
Aaron Falzon (6'8''-F-1996, played in 2019-20) played for Besancon in French NM1 last year
Zaid Hearst (6'5''-G-1992, played in 2011-15) plays for Matero Magic in Zambian D1
Alexis Reyes (6'7''-F-2002, played in 2022-25) plays for Million in Dominican Rep. TBS
Shaq Shannon (6'1''-G, played in 2011-14) played for Philadelphia Raiders in the ECBL last year
Chaise Daniels (6'8''-C-1995, played in 2014-18) played for Connecticut Crusaders in the TBL last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Quinnipiac University basketball alumni.
James Feldeine is last week best Bobcats alumni, who plays professional basketball (Photo: @james.feldeine.3)
