Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Flames players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Notice impressive performance of Tomasz Gielo (16 points), Caleb Homesley (8 points), and Darius McGhee (7 points).
#1. Experienced Polish forward Tomasz Gielo, standing at 6'9'' and aged 33, is a graduate of Ole Miss in 2016. However, he showcased his skills playing for Liberty between 2011 and 2015 before turning professional in Poland. In a recent game, Gielo, a key player for King Szczecin with his impressive track record, unfortunately couldn't lead his team to victory. Despite his noteworthy performance, where he emerged as the second-highest scorer with 16 points and also secured 2 rebounds in 33 minutes of play, King Szczecin suffered an 80-86 defeat on the road against the lower-ranked Zastal, who holds the eighth position in the league standings. This loss marked King Szczecin's first after a series of four consecutive victories. Notably, this season marks Gielo's debut with the team, and he has been maintaining solid statistics with an average of 12.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game across the 33 games he has participated in so far. Despite the setback in the recent game, Gielo displayed a commendable performance against Zastal, emphasizing his valuable contribution to the team as a standout player.
#2. Caleb Homesley, a 6'6'' forward/guard and 29-year-old alumnus of the Flames from 2020, currently plays professionally in Turkey. Recently, he was named the All-A-Sun All-Tournament MVP in the same year. In a dominating performance last Tuesday, Homesley helped Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul, currently in third place in the league with a record of 21-9, secure a resounding 91-65 victory over the closely-ranked Trabzonspor (19-11) in the Turkish ING Basketbol Super Ligi. During the game, Homesley showcased his skills by contributing 8 points, 1 rebound, and an impressive 5 assists in just 20 minutes of play. His remarkable performance was crucial in leading his team to victory, solidifying his reputation as a true champion on the court. Throughout the season, Homesley has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game in the 29 games he has played thus far. His consistent contributions have undoubtedly made him a standout finalist in the league.
#3. Darius McGhee, the 26-year-old point guard who graduated from Liberty in 2023 and received the All-A-Sun Player of the Year award that same year, currently plays professionally in France. In a recent match, he played a significant role in his team's dominant 91-71 victory over the closely-ranked SIG Strasbourg (17-13) in the French Betclic ELITE league. Despite being just 5'9'' tall, McGhee showcased his skills as a champion player by contributing 7 points in 19 minutes of play. Despite JL Bourg en Bresse (18-12) being placed seventh in the league, McGhee's standout performance against Strasbourg helped his team secure their first victory after suffering four consecutive losses. With only one more game left in the Play-In, the upcoming match holds crucial importance for the team. McGhee's impressive display against Strasbourg, where he not only scored points but also grabbed 2 rebounds and provided 1 assist, highlights his value as a finalist player on the court. Throughout the season, McGhee has maintained solid statistics, averaging 10.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game in the 31 games he has played so far. It is worth noting that despite being a naturalized American, McGhee continues to excel in the professional basketball scene in France, showcasing his talent and determination as a champion player.
#4. Taiwanese champion Ray Chen, a 6'0'' point guard, and 32-year-old Flames alumnus from 2017, used to help them secure the CIT Championship Quarterfinals victory that year. Currently playing professionally in China, he unfortunately couldn't lead Shougang Beijing Ducks (29-13) to a win against the Sharks (38-4) in the Chinese Basketball Association. In the match, Chen showcased his skills by recording 8 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals while making all of his six free throws in 31 minutes of play. Despite his solid performance, Shougang Beijing Ducks fell short against the dominant Sharks, losing 85-99 in Shanghai. Despite the defeat, Chen's individual performance was noteworthy, contributing 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists against the formidable Shanghai Sharks. Throughout the season, Chen has maintained good statistics, averaging 11.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game across 46 appearances.
#5. Jayvon Maughmer, a 6'6'' guard who is 24 years old and a Liberty graduate from 2025, played a crucial role in helping his team secure the C-USA Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently playing professionally in Poland, Maughmer recently faced off against the aforementioned Tomasz Gielo in the Polish Orlen Basket Liga. In a recent game, Maughmer contributed significantly to Zastal BC Zielona Gora's victory over the second-ranked Wilki Morskie with a score of 86-80. During the game, he scored 5 points, made 6 assists, and played for a total of 36 minutes. This marks Maughmer's first season with the team, and his performance on the court has been exceptional. In another game, Maughmer showcased his skills by scoring 5 points, grabbing 1 rebound, and providing 6 assists against King, ultimately leading his team to victory. His remarkable performance highlights his talent and ability to contribute to his team's success. Throughout this year, Maughmer has maintained an average of 10.0 points per game, 3.6 rebounds per game, and 1.7 assists per game in the 35 games he has played.
#6. Puerto Rican basketball player Jorge Pacheco, standing at 6'2'' and 27 years old, has been making waves in the professional basketball scene since his time as a Flames alumni in 2020. His standout performance that year played a crucial role in helping the team secure the A-Sun Regular Season Champion title. Currently, Pacheco continues to showcase his talent as he competes professionally in Puerto Rico. In a recent game against the fifth-ranked Leones, Pacheco displayed his skills on the court, contributing significantly to his team's commanding 84-68 victory. Despite playing for 23 minutes, Pacheco managed to score 9 points, demonstrating his scoring prowess and value to the team. Furthermore, in a matchup against Ponce, Pacheco once again proved his worth as a key player by scoring 9 points, grabbing 2 rebounds, and providing 1 assist. His well-rounded performance was instrumental in securing another important victory for his team, further solidifying his reputation as a finalist. Throughout the current season, Pacheco has been maintaining a solid performance, averaging 8.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game across 22 games. His consistent contributions on the court highlight his dedication and skills as a champion player in the Puerto Rican Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
#7. Theo Johnson, a 6'7'' small forward who is 31 years old and graduated from Liberty in 2016, showcased his skills in a recent USBL game where his team secured an impressive victory over the Salem Capitals with a final score of 99-73. In this game, Johnson made significant contributions by scoring 6 points, collecting 7 rebounds, and providing 4 assists in just 22 minutes of gameplay. His exceptional performance was instrumental in helping his team emerge as the champion. Throughout the current season, Johnson has been averaging 8.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game across 15 games. Notably, Johnson has a background as a former player in the prestigious Eurobasket Summer League, known as one of the top international summer leagues available in the market.
Other former Liberty University players, who play in pro basketball:
Taelon Peter (6'4''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Indiana Pacers in the NBA
Lovell Cabbil (6'2''-PG-1997, played in 2015-19) plays for Gornik Zamek Ksiaz Walbrzych in Polish OBL
Andrew Smith (6'9''-F/C-1992, played in 2011-15) plays for Pesaro in Italian Serie A2
Scottie James Jr. (6'8''-F-1996, played in 2016-16) plays for Gigantes de Carolina in Puerto Rican BSN
Kyle Rode (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2019-24) played for Austin Spurs in the NBA G League few monts ago
Shiloh Robinson (6'8''-F-2001, played in 2019-24) plays for KKS Polonia Warszawa in Polish 1Liga
James B. Sinclair II (6'1''-G-1991) plays for Georgia Panthers in the United Cup
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Liberty University basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
