Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Blue Dragons alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
Look at great performance of Devonte Bandoo (23 points), Jacquez Yow (22 points), and Frankyn Batista (3 points).
#1. Canadian champion Devonte Bandoo, a 6'3'' guard who graduated from Baylor in 2020, showcased his skills while playing for Hutchinson between 2016 and 2018. During his time there, he earned the prestigious NJCAA D1 Region 6 All-Tournament Team award. Currently, he is competing professionally in Mexico for Venados de Mazatlan. In a recent game against the Angeles, despite Bandoo's remarkable performance, the bottom-ranked Mazatlan team suffered a defeat with a score of 89-78 on the road. Bandoo, the standout champion, led his team in scoring with 23 points and contributed 5 rebounds in 36 minutes of play. His individual effort was commendable, but unfortunately, it was not enough to secure a victory for his team against the higher-ranked opponents. Throughout the season, Bandoo has consistently displayed impressive stats, averaging 16.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. As a champion player, he continues to excel individually despite the team's challenges on the court.
#2. Jacquez Yow, a 6'6'' forward who is 26 years old, is a former Saints alumnus from 2024. Prior to joining the Saints, he played for Hutchinson between 2021 and 2022, where he received the All-KJCCC D1 Third Team award in his final year. Currently playing professionally in Bulgaria for Akademik Plovdiv, Yow showcased his skills in a recent game against Spartak Pleven. Despite Yow's stellar performance, scoring 22 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and recording 2 blocks in 43 minutes, Akademik Plovdiv suffered a 90-82 defeat against the higher-ranked Spartak Pleven. Yow's remarkable individual season with the team includes averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, highlighting his significant contributions on the court. With only two games remaining in the Regular Season, every match becomes crucial for Akademik Plovdiv. This marks Yow's first season with the team, and his standout performances are a testament to his talent and dedication on the basketball court.
#3. Dominican Republic's Frankyn Batista, a 6'6'' forward at 27 years old, who graduated from Pace in 2023 and previously played in Hutchinson between 2019 and 2020, showcased his skills in the Dominican Republic Liga Nacional de Baloncesto. In a thrilling match on Wednesday night, Batista helped Indios de San Francisco, the current finalist, secure a commanding 108-89 victory against the closely-ranked Leones, who are also formidable contenders in the league with a 1-1 record. Despite only playing for 5 minutes, Batista contributed 3 crucial points in his debut game for Indios this season. The matchup between these top 4 ranked teams was significant, with Indios holding the second position in the league standings. However, as the season is still in its early stages, the competition remains open and unpredictable. Batista's performance on the court was noteworthy, as he not only scored 3 points but also grabbed 1 rebound and provided 1 assist against Leones. His contributions were instrumental in guiding his team to victory, highlighting his impact and value as a player. This season marks Batista's first year with the team, and his experience as a former Eurobasket Summer League player adds to his basketball pedigree, demonstrating his commitment to excelling in the sport.
#4. Experienced champion Alex Davis, a 6'9'' forward at 34 years old, is an alum of the Bulldogs from 2015, having also played in Hutchinson between 2012 and 2013, before starting his professional career in Japan. In a recent match in the Japanese B3 League, Davis showcased his skills by contributing significantly to an easy victory over the 13th-ranked Pats Five, with a final score of 89-46 on Saturday night. Davis played a crucial role in the game, scoring 8 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and providing 2 assists in just 19 minutes of play. The Kagawa Five Arrows, currently leading the league with a record of 43-8, are in a strong position as they head towards the end of the regular season. With only one more game left in the Regular Season, Davis and his team are gearing up for a critical match. His remarkable performance against Yamaguchi not only led his team to victory but also highlighted his exceptional skills and unwavering determination, cementing his status as a true champion. Throughout the season, Davis has maintained impressive stats, averaging 11.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game, further establishing himself as a standout finalist player in the league.
#5. Robert Whitfield, a 6'3'' guard who graduated from UMKC in 2020 and previously played in Hutchinson between 2017 and 2018 where he helped them reach the final of NJCAA D1 District VI, is currently playing professionally in Argentina. In a recent game, he led Lanus to a decisive victory over the sixth-ranked Quilmes with a score of 86-72 in the Argentinian La Liga Argentina, the second division of basketball in Argentina. Whitfield showcased his skills by contributing 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in 28 minutes of play, proving to be a valuable asset to his team. Lanus Buenos Aires, with a record of 21-11, is currently placed third in Conferencia Sur. This season marks Whitfield's first with the team, and he has been making a significant impact with his impressive average stats of 12.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. His exceptional performance against Quilmes highlights his talent and contribution to the team, underscoring why he is regarded as a true champion on the court.
#6. Daniel Braster, a 6'8'' guard/forward who is an alumnus of the Braves from 2025, previously played in Hutchinson between 2020 and 2021 where he contributed to their success in becoming the KJCCC D1 West Division Champion during that year. Currently, Braster is pursuing his professional basketball career in the United Kingdom. In a recent game last Sunday, Braster, despite delivering an impressive performance, was unable to lead the London Cavaliers (15-11) to victory. The team suffered a defeat at the hands of the lower-ranked Trailblazers (#8) with a score of 86-81 in Derby. Braster stood out as the top scorer of the game, recording 21 points and 5 rebounds in 29 minutes of play. Throughout the season, Braster has maintained high statistics, averaging 17.6 points per game, 9.1 rebounds per game (ranking fourth best in the league), and 2.4 assists per game. His exceptional performance on the court has been noteworthy, showcasing his talent and skills as a player. It is also worth noting that Braster participated in the Eurobasket Summer League, an experience that ultimately helped him secure a professional basketball opportunity.
#7. Deshawn Freeman, a 6'7'' forward who is 32 years old and a graduate of Rutgers University in 2018, has been making a name for himself in the professional basketball scene in Italy. Despite having previously played for Hutchinson between 2013 and 2015, where he notably helped them secure the NJCAA D1 District VI Champion title, Freeman has now found success playing for Cividale in the Italian Serie A2 league. In a recent game against the eighth-ranked Rimini, Freeman showcased his skills by contributing significantly to Cividale's impressive 89-76 victory. He delivered a standout performance by scoring 18 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and providing 3 assists in 33 minutes of play. His stellar performance on the court was instrumental in securing the win for his team, highlighting his ability to rise to the occasion and play like a true champion when it matters most. Throughout the season, Freeman has maintained solid statistics, averaging 12.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. His consistent contributions on both ends of the court have undoubtedly been instrumental in Cividale's success, further solidifying his reputation as a top player in the league.
#8. Saquan Singleton, a 28-year-old guard standing at 6'6'' and an alum of the Patriots from 2023, showcased his talent in Hutchinson between 2018 and 2020. He received the prestigious All-KJCCC D1 West Division First Team award during his time there. Currently playing professionally in Colombia, Singleton recently demonstrated his skills in a game for Toros Del Valle against the Storm, helping his team secure a convincing 73-47 victory in the Colombian LBP. In the game, Singleton made a significant impact by scoring 14 points, collecting 4 rebounds, providing 6 assists, and making 3 steals in just 26 minutes of play. His exceptional performance continued in another game against Carrib.Storm, where he once again displayed his versatility by scoring 14 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, and distributing 6 assists. These remarkable contributions were instrumental in leading his team to victory, ultimately resulting in them being crowned as the champion. Throughout the season, Singleton has maintained impressive averages of 6.0 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, 6.3 assists per game (leading the league in assists), and 2.3 steals per game, showcasing his all-around skills and value to his team.
#9. Coreontae DeBerry, a 31-year-old center standing at 6'10'', graduated from Cincinnati in 2016. Despite playing in Hutchinson between 2013 and 2014, he received the All-KJCCC D1 Western Division First Team award that year. Currently playing professionally in the TBL, DeBerry recently led the Lebanon Leprechauns to a remarkable 131-124 victory against the Columbus Wizards in The Basketball League. In a mere 19 minutes of play, he showcased his skills as a champion on the court by scoring 14 points and blocking 2 shots. His impressive performance included not only scoring but also contributing 2 rebounds and 2 assists against Columbus, ultimately helping his team secure the win. DeBerry's consistent performance is reflected in his season stats, averaging 14.6 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game. His valuable contributions and leadership as a finalist were evident in the recent game, solidifying his reputation as a standout player in the league.
#10. Canadian Jabari Craig, a 6'10'' center and 30-year-old Pirates alumnus from 2018, showcased his skills in the recent game for Port City Power in The Basketball League. Despite only playing for 13 minutes, Craig made a significant impact, contributing 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocks. His stellar performance was instrumental in Port City Power's 108-95 victory over the Newfoundland Rogues. Craig's consistent contributions on the court have been key to his team's success, further solidifying his reputation as a champion. Throughout the season, Craig has been maintaining impressive averages of 8.1 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 1.5 blocks per game, demonstrating his value as a finalist player.
Other former Hutchinson Community College players, who play in pro basketball:
Shakur Juiston (6'7''-F-1996, played in 2015-17) plays for Udine in Italian Serie A
Curtis Hollis (6'6''-SF-1998, played in 2016-18) plays for VEF Riga in Latvian LBL
Keanu Pinder (6'11''-F/C-1995, played in 2014-16) plays for Akita Northern Happinets in Japanese B1 League
Malique Jacobs (6'3''-G-2000, played in 2018-19) plays for Vitoria SC in Portuguese Liga Betclic
Bashir Ahmed (6'7''-F/G-1993, played in 2014-16) plays for Al Fidaa in Syrian SBL
Kai Mitchell-Watkins (6'7''-F/C-1997, played in 2016-18) played for Sorgues in French NM3 few monts ago
D'Von Campbell (6'1''-G-1992, played in 2012-13) plays for Belize City Defenders in Belizean BEBL
Kadeem Allen (6'2''-G-1993, played in 2012-14) plays for Juvi Cremona in Italian Serie A2
Samajae Haynes-Jones (6'1''-PG-1996, played in 2015-17) plays for Zubry Bialystok in Polish 1Liga
Sal Nuhu (6'8''-C-1995, played in 2016-18) played for Caimanes in Colombian LBP last year
Melquan Collins (6'6''-PF, played in 2020-21) played for Connecticut Crusaders in the TBL last year
Quantel Denson (6'9''-C-1992, played in 2010-11) played for Frederick Flying Cows in the TBL last year
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Hutchinson Community College basketball alumni.
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