Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Runnin Bulldogs players who continue their career in pro basketball.
Notice impressive performance of David Efianayi (12 points), Isaiah Richards (7 points), and Jamaal Robateau (28 points).
#1. Nigerian player David Efianayi, a 6'2'' guard who is 30 years old and graduated from Gardner-Webb in 2019, has been making his mark in professional basketball in Israel. Recently, despite his solid performance, he couldn't prevent his team, Maccabi Playtika Tel-Aviv (24-2), from suffering a significant loss in their latest game. In a highly anticipated match against Hapoel Tel-Aviv, the league leaders, M.Tel-Aviv, were defeated 115-97 by the second-ranked team. Efianayi, contributing 12 points in just 17 minutes of play, showcased his skills on the court. This defeat marked the end of Maccabi Playtika Tel-Aviv's impressive streak of nineteen consecutive victories. With only one more game left in the Regular Season, the upcoming match will be crucial for Efianayi and his team. In the game against Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Efianayi displayed his talent by scoring 12 points, securing 2 rebounds, and providing 2 assists. Despite his noteworthy performance, his team fell short of securing a victory. Throughout the season, Efianayi has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in the two games he has played thus far. It is worth noting that Efianayi, a naturalized Nigerian player, continues to make valuable contributions to his team's efforts in the competitive Israeli basketball league.
#2. Isaiah Richards, a 6'10'' forward and 25-year-old former Runnin Bulldogs alumnus from 2025, is currently playing professionally in Israel. Despite his best efforts, he could not lead Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva to victory against E.Netanya in the Israeli Winner League. In the game, Richards contributed 7 points, 12 rebounds, and 1 assist during his 28 minutes on the court. Unfortunately, his team suffered a close 79-83 loss on the road to the lower-ranked E.Netanya, currently sitting at #12 in the league standings. As the regular season nears its end, Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva has only one more critical game left to play. This season marks Richards' debut with the team, and he has been averaging 6.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game over the six games he has played so far. Despite his impressive performance against E.Netanya, the team fell short of securing the much-needed victory. Richards continues to showcase his skills on the court, striving to make a significant impact for his team as they head towards the crucial final stages of the season.
#3. Australian Jamaal Robateau, a 6'5'' guard who graduated from Gardner-Webb in 2018, showcased his skills in a remarkable performance for Sunshine Coast Phoenix. In a recent Australian NBL One game, he led his team to a commanding 116-87 victory over the fifth-ranked Thunder with an outstanding display. Robateau, the MVP of the game, delivered an impressive performance by scoring 28 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in just 32 minutes of play. Notably, he demonstrated incredible accuracy by going a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line, showcasing his prowess on the court. His stellar performance was instrumental in securing the win for his team, demonstrating his capabilities as a true champion. Sunshine Coast Phoenix, currently placed third in the North group, has been on a winning streak, with this victory marking their fourth consecutive triumph. Robateau's impact on the team is undeniable, with his consistent contributions reflected in his season stats of 14.1 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists per game, and 2.3 steals per game in eight appearances. His exceptional performance against Logan T. further solidified his reputation as a standout player and a key asset for his team as they continue their journey towards success in the league.
#4. Experienced champion Onzie Branch, a 6'7'' forward/guard who is 34 years old and an alum of the Runnin Bulldogs from 2014, currently plays professionally in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, in a recent game, he was unable to lead Atleticos de San German (15-9) to victory against the Santeros (11-11) in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional. Branch, despite his skills, could not consider Thursday's game as one of his standout performances as he only managed to score 3 points in 5 minutes of play. The Atleticos de San German, who are currently in first place with a record of 15-9, suffered a 87-94 defeat to the Santeros, who are ranked third in Group A. Despite Branch's commendable effort in the game against Aguada, where he scored 3 points and grabbed 3 rebounds, his team ultimately fell short of securing the victory. Throughout this season, Branch has been averaging 3.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game over the course of 20 games.
Other former Gardner-Webb University players, who play in pro basketball:
Daniel Laster (6'7''-PF-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Tasomix Rosiek Stal Ostrow Wielkopolski in Polish OBL
Tyrell Nelson (6'9''-F-1995, played in 2013-17) plays for Uralmash in Russian VTB United League
Liam O'Reilly (6'2''-G-1996, played in 2016-18) plays for PGE Start Lublin in Polish OBL
Kareem Reid (6'9''-C-2000, played in 2019-23) plays for Horsens IC in Danish BasketLigaen
Ademide Badmus (6'7''-F-2002, played in 2021-25) plays for Huesca in Spanish Segunda FEB
DQ Nicholas (6'1''-PG-2000, played in 2022-24) plays for Kozuv in North Macedonian Super League
Tyrone Simos-Primerano (6'7''-G, played in 2018-22) played for Knox Raiders in Australian NBL One few monts ago
Jamaine Mann (6'6''-PF-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Nyon in Swiss SBL
Ludovic Dufeal (6'8''-F-1999, played in 2018-23) plays for Saint Chamond Basket Valle du Gier in French ProB
Zion Williams (6'4''-G-1998, played in 2021-22) plays for Moron in Spanish Segunda FEB
Jerome Hill (6'6''-F-1994, played in 2012-15) plays for Albany Goodlife in the MBL
Christian Alexander (6'8''-C, played in 2021-22) plays for L.Xanthis in Greek National League 1
L'Hassane Niangane (6'10''-C-1994, played in 2015-18) played for Paris Academie in French Regional League last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Gardner-Webb University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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