Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Bulldogs alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. D.J. Stewart Jr., a 6'6'' small forward who graduated from MSU in 2021, made a significant impact in the California Classic NBA Summer League in Sacramento, helping his team secure the champion title that year. Currently playing professionally in Slovenia, Stewart Jr. showcased his talent by leading Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana to a remarkable victory over the league-leading Krka team with a record of 26-1. In a standout performance, Stewart Jr. was named the MVP of the game after scoring an impressive 27 points, securing 6 rebounds, and providing 4 assists in just 26 minutes of play. Notably, he displayed exceptional accuracy from the free-throw line, going a perfect 9-for-9. Despite being situated at the bottom in their group, Stewart Jr.'s stellar performance against Krka was pivotal in the team's success, ultimately leading them to emerge as the champion of the game. Individually, Stewart Jr. has been having a standout season, boasting impressive averages of 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game in the six games he has played thus far. His consistent high-level performance has undoubtedly contributed to his team's success and solidified his reputation as a skilled and impactful finalist.
#2. Puerto Rican RJ Melendez, a 6'7'' forward and 23-year-old Bulldogs alum from 2025, showcased his skills while playing professionally in Puerto Rico. In a recent game, Melendez, despite his remarkable performance, was unable to help his team, Capitanes de Arecibo, secure a victory. The second-placed Arecibo suffered an 82-88 defeat on the road against the lower-ranked (#6) Piratas in the Group A matchup. Melendez stood out as the top scorer in the game, contributing 30 points along with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in 36 minutes of play. These impressive statistics are a testament to Melendez's talent and potential, especially considering that this is his debut season in professional basketball. Despite his stellar performance, Capitanes de Arecibo fell short of securing the win against the Piratas. Throughout the season, Melendez has consistently delivered outstanding performances, averaging 19.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in the 12 games he has played so far. His individual success highlights his impact on the court and solidifies his position as a rising star in the pro basketball scene.
#3. Tyson Carter, a 6'4'' shooting guard who is 28 years old and graduated from MSU in 2020, currently plays professionally in Serbia. In a recent game, despite his strong performance, he was unable to help Crvena zvezda secure a victory. The team, ranked 18th, suffered a narrow 90-89 defeat at home against the 19th-ranked Spartak in the Joined in Play-Off group. Carter showcased his skills by scoring 10 points and providing 3 assists within 23 minutes of play. Even though he put up an impressive performance against Spartak, contributing 10 points and 3 assists, his team, unfortunately, ended up as the runner-up in the game. Throughout the season, Carter has maintained relatively good statistics, averaging 12.0 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game across four games.
#4. Experienced champion Arnett Moultrie, a 6'10'' center and 35-year-old Bulldogs alumnus from 2012 who received the All-SEC First Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Mexico. In a recent game, Moultrie, despite his impressive performance, was unable to lead Pioneros de Los Mochis (18-22) to victory as they suffered a 75-89 defeat to the second-ranked Frayles de Guasave. During the game, Moultrie showcased his skills by achieving a double-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists in just 32 minutes of play. This marked Pioneros de Los Mochis' third consecutive loss. Despite Moultrie's exceptional efforts against Frayles, his team was unable to secure the win. His remarkable display on the court even earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com. Throughout the season, champion Moultrie has been having an outstanding individual year, boasting impressive statistics. He maintains an average of 17.2 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game (the fourth best in the league), and 1.6 assists per game across 44 games.
#5. Panamanian player Iverson Molinar, standing at 6'4'' and playing as a guard, is 26 years old and a recent graduate of MSU in 2022. In his first season with the Romanian team, he has already made a significant impact. Recently, he led Cluj Napoca to a hard-fought victory against the league leader Oradea with a score of 88-83 in the Romanian Liga Nationala Baschet de Masculin. This game, held on Thursday night, was crucial as it featured two of the top 3 ranked teams in group Joins LN in the second stage. Molinar's impressive performance included scoring 14 points in just 16 minutes of play, showcasing his accuracy by going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Additionally, he provided 1 assist during the game, contributing significantly to his team's success. U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca, Molinar's current team, is currently placed first in group Joins LN in the second stage, thanks in part to his contributions on the court. Despite being in his first season with Cluj Napoca, Molinar has maintained solid statistics throughout the year, averaging 11.1 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game over eight games. His consistent performance and leadership qualities demonstrate his potential as a champion in the making.
#6. Aric Holman, a 6'10'' former Bulldogs player from the class of 2019, showcased his exceptional talent as a finalist in the game on Tuesday night. Playing for Formosa Dreamers in Taiwan's TPBL, Holman led his team to a 99-90 victory over the closely-ranked Kings. He was named the MVP of the game for his outstanding performance. Holman demonstrated his prowess on the court by achieving a double-double with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 31 minutes of play. Throughout the season, Holman has been delivering impressive individual performances, maintaining high statistics. He boasts an average of 17.8 points per game, 10.6 rebounds per game, 3.2 assists per game, 1.5 blocks per game (the second best in the league), and 1.2 steals per game across 36 games. His consistent contributions and remarkable skills make him a standout champion player in the league.
#7. In the recent game, Roquez Johnson, a 6'7'' forward/center who is 33 years old and graduated from MSU in 2015, played for Lanus (21-11) against San Isidro. Despite his solid performance, Lanus, currently in third place, suffered a significant 90-72 defeat to the second-ranked San Isidro in the Conferencia Sur. Johnson contributed 11 points and 4 rebounds in just 20 minutes of play. Throughout the season, he has maintained good stats, averaging 10.5 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game across 34 games.
Other former Mississippi State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Tolu Smith (6'11''-F-2000, played in 2019-24) plays for Detroit Pistons in the NBA
Claudell Harris Jr. (6'4''-G-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Promitheas in Greek GBL
Garrison Brooks (6'10''-C-1999, played in 2021-22) plays for Chiba Jets in Japanese B1 League
Travis Daniels (6'8''-F-1992, played in 2014-16) plays for Urunday in Uruguayan LUB
Craig Sword (6'3''-SG-1994, played in 2012-16) plays for Rayos de Hermosillo in Mexican CIBACOPA
Jimmy Bell Jr. (6'10''-C, played in 2023-24) plays for Orbi in Georgian Superleague
Eric Reed Jr. (6'4''-SG-2000, played in 2022-23) plays for MLP Academics Heidelberg in German BBL
Lamar Peters (6'0''-PG-1998, played in 2016-19) plays for Caballeros de Culiacan in Mexican CIBACOPA
Gavin Ware (6'9''-F/C-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Limoges CSP Elite in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Dashawn Davis (6'2''-G-2000, played in 2022-24) plays for Decin in Czech Republic NBL
Cameron Matthews (6'7''-F-2001, played in 2020-25) plays for Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the NBA G League
Quinndary Weatherspoon (6'3''-G-1996, played in 2015-19) plays for Qingdao Eagles in Chinese CBA
Dee Bost (6'3''-PG-1989, played in 2008-12) plays for Caneros in Dominican Rep. LNB
Reggie Perry (6'10''-F-2000, played in 2018-20) plays for Beijing Royal Fighters in Chinese CBA
Tyler Stevenson (6'9''-PF-2002, played in 2022-23) plays for Komarno in Slovakian Tipos SBL
Robert Woodard II (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2018-20) plays for Platense in Argentinian La Liga
Fred Thomas (6'5''-F-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Imortal in Portuguese Liga Betclic
Piotr Stelmach (6'9''-PF-1984, played in 2003-07) plays for Hibernians in Maltese BOV League D1
D.J. Jeffries (6'7''-F-1999, played in 2021-24) plays for EPG Guardians Koblenz in German ProA
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Mississippi State University basketball alumni.
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