Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Crimson alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. German Chandler Pigge, a 6'5'' guard who graduated from Harvard in 2026 and earned the prestigious All-Ivy League Second Team award that same year, is currently playing professional basketball in the United Kingdom. In Wednesday night's intense FIBA Europe Cup matchup, Pigge emerged as a major contributor to Manchester Basketball's hard-fought 89-85 victory over the closely-ranked Bigbank/Kalev, who hold a 2-2 record. This game was particularly significant as it featured two of the top four teams in the league, making it the game of the round. During the contest, Pigge showcased his impressive skills by scoring 16 points and recording 3 steals over 33 minutes on the court. His performance was especially remarkable given that this is only his first season playing professional basketball. Beyond scoring, he also added 2 rebounds and 2 assists, playing a crucial role in securing the win for Manchester Basketball. Currently, Manchester Basketball holds a 1-2 record and is positioned fourth in the league standings, but with the season still in its early stages, much can change. Pigge's contributions have been consistently strong this season. Over the three games he has played so far, he is averaging 9.3 points per game, 1.7 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, and 1.7 steals per game. This solid start highlights his potential and importance to the team in his first year with Manchester Basketball.
#2. Experienced point guard Siyani Chambers, standing 6'0'' and aged 32, is a distinguished Crimson alumnus from the class of 2017, having earned the prestigious All-Ivy League First Team award that same year. Currently, Chambers is showcasing his talents professionally in Romania. In a recent Romanian Liga Națională Baschet de Masculin game on Saturday night, he played a pivotal role in CS Valcea 1924 Rm Valcea's commanding 97-67 victory over one of the league's weakest teams, Galati, who entered the match with a 0-5 record. Chambers was a major contributor to this triumph, scoring an impressive 15 points and dishing out 5 assists in just 22 minutes of play. Additionally, he grabbed 1 rebound, further demonstrating his all-around impact on the court. His performance was instrumental in helping Valcea, currently holding a 4-1 record and sitting third in the league standings, secure this decisive win. Individually, Chambers continues to have an outstanding season, maintaining strong statistics across the board. Over five games, he is averaging 15.4 points per game, 2.2 rebounds per game, and 4.6 assists per game, underscoring his consistent high-level play and vital role as a leader on his team.
#3. Canadian Luka Sakota, a 6'6" guard who graduated from Northeastern in 2024 after playing at Harvard between 2019 and 2023, where he earned the prestigious CSC NCAA Division I Academic All-District Team award in his final year, is currently playing professional basketball in Poland. In a recent game on Saturday night in the Polish Orlen Basket Liga, Sakota led Arriva Polski Cukier Torun to a convincing 87-71 victory over the fifth-ranked Zastal, who held a 3-2 record before the match. Sakota contributed significantly to his team's success by scoring 16 points and delivering 5 assists in 32 minutes of play. This performance is particularly impressive considering it is only his third season as a professional basketball player. His efforts were instrumental in making Arriva Polski Cukier Torun the champion of this game. Despite the team's overall record of 2-3, which places them 12th in the league standings, Sakota's individual achievements stand out. Throughout the season, Sakota has maintained excellent statistics, currently leading the league with an average of 19.6 points per game (ppg), along with 2.8 rebounds per game (rpg) and 4.2 assists per game (apg) over five games. Beyond his Canadian nationality, Sakota also holds a Croatian passport, adding an international dimension to his professional profile. His continued growth and strong performances suggest a promising future in professional basketball.
#4. Canadian Noah Kirkwood, a 6'7'' forward and a 26-year-old alumnus of Crimson from the class of 2022, where he earned the prestigious All-Ivy League First Team award, is currently playing professional basketball in Slovenia. Despite his strong individual performance, he was unable to help Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, a league outsider struggling with a 0-5 record, in their most recent game. In that contest, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana faced the league-leading Aris on the road and narrowly lost 73-78. Kirkwood contributed significantly by scoring 12 points in 27 minutes of play. Additionally, he grabbed 2 rebounds and provided 1 assist, showcasing his versatility and effort on both ends of the court. Unfortunately, despite Kirkwood's commendable performance and consistent contributions, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana has yet to secure a win this Regular Season, having lost all five of their games so far. Over these five games, Kirkwood averages a solid 8.8 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game, and 1.2 assists per game, highlighting his role as a key player for the team even as they face ongoing challenges.
#5. Ghanian-born Christopher Ledlum, a 6'6'' small forward and 25-year-old athlete, boasts an impressive academic and athletic background. He graduated from St. John's University in 2024, although he spent the majority of his collegiate basketball career at Harvard from 2019 to 2023. During his time at Harvard, Ledlum distinguished himself not only on the court but also academically, earning the prestigious CSC NCAA Division I Academic All-District Team award in his final year. Currently playing professionally in Russia, Ledlum is making a significant impact with Zenit Saint Petersburg in the highly competitive VTB United League. In Friday night’s game, he contributed to Zenit’s hard-fought 83-72 victory over the ninth-ranked Dinamo Vladivostok, a team with a 2-5 record. Playing 15 minutes, Ledlum scored 5 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and dished out 1 assist, playing a crucial role in securing the win for his team. His contributions on both ends of the floor were instrumental in leading Zenit to their third consecutive victory, further solidifying their strong position in the league. Zenit Saint Petersburg currently holds a 6-2 record, placing them third in the league standings. This season marks Ledlum’s first with the team, and he has quickly established himself as a valuable asset. Over six games, he is averaging 8.7 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, and 1.2 steals per game, showcasing his well-rounded skill set and consistent performance. Additionally, Ledlum is a naturalized American, adding an international dimension to his professional career.
#6. Canadian Corey Johnson, a 6'5'' shooting guard and a 30-year-old alumnus of Crimson from the 2019 class, played a pivotal role in leading his college team to become Ivy League Regular Season Co-Champion that year. Currently, he is playing professional basketball in the United Kingdom, representing the Yorkshire Dragons. In a recent closely contested game against the Hemel Storm, Johnson delivered a solid individual performance, scoring an impressive 9 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, dishing out 5 assists, and adding 3 steals while playing 40 minutes on the court. Despite his strong all-around contributions, his team was narrowly edged out, losing the game by a slim margin of 94-91. Throughout the season, Johnson has showcased his skills consistently, putting up high statistics that reflect his importance to the team. Over six games, he is averaging 18.5 points per game (ppg), 5.5 rebounds per game (rpg), 5.5 assists per game (apg), and 1.3 steals per game (spg), highlighting his well-rounded impact on both ends of the floor. It is also noteworthy that Johnson holds dual citizenship, possessing both American and Canadian passports, which allows him to be classified as a domestic player when playing in Canada. This dual status could provide him with additional professional opportunities in the future.
Other former Harvard University players, who play in pro basketball:
Balsa Dragovic (6'10''-F-1996, played in 2015-19) signed for Tamis PN in Serbian KLS
Zena Edosomwan (6'9''-C/F-1993, played in 2013-17) plays for Atomeromu in Hungarian A Division
Robert Baker (6'10''-F-1998, played in 2016-20) played for New Zealand Breakers in Australian NBL
Louis Lesmond (6'6''-G-2002, played in 2021-25) signed for Quimper UJAP in French ELITE 2
Steve Moundou Missi (6'7''-SF-1992, played in 2011-15) signed for Rueil in French NM2
Keith Wright (6'8''-F-1989, played in 2008-23) played for Les Sables in French NM1
Danilo Djuricic (6'9''-F-1999, played in 2017-21) plays for Brampton Honey Badgers in CEBL
Wesley Saunders (6'5''-G-1993, played in 2011-15) plays for Mineros de Zacatecas in Mexican LNBP
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Harvard University basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
