Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Bulldogs players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Kenneth Lofton Jr., a 6'6" power forward and 24-year-old professional basketball player, graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 2022, where he earned the prestigious All-C-USA First Team award that same year. Currently, Lofton Jr. is showcasing his talents in Israel, playing for Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem. On Wednesday night, he played a pivotal role in leading his team to a hard-fought 90-83 victory over the closely ranked Le Mans (2-3) in the BKT Eurocup. His outstanding performance earned him the MVP of the game honors. During the match, Lofton Jr. contributed an impressive 15 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and dished out 3 assists, all within just 24 minutes of play, demonstrating his efficiency and impact on the court. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem currently holds an undefeated record of 5-0 in the Regular Season and is positioned second in the league standings. This remarkable start speaks volumes about the team's cohesion and competitive edge, with Lofton Jr. making significant contributions in his very first season with the squad. Individually, Lofton Jr. is having an excellent season, putting up strong statistics that highlight his all-around capabilities. He is averaging 18.8 points per game (ppg), 6.8 rebounds per game (rpg), and 2.2 assists per game (apg), underscoring his consistency and importance to the team’s success. His performance not only makes him a key player for Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem but also marks him as one to watch in the league moving forward.
#2. Tahlik Chavez, a 6'2'' guard and 25-year-old Bulldogs alumnus from the class of 2024, who earned the All-C-USA Third Team honor that same year, is currently playing professional basketball in Slovakia. He was a major contributor in Patrioti Levice's narrow 78-76 victory over the closely-ranked Dinamo (1-3) in the FIBA Europe Cup on Tuesday night. In that game, Chavez delivered an impressive performance by scoring 15 points and grabbing 3 rebounds over 28 minutes of play. This standout contribution is particularly notable given that it is only his third season playing professional basketball. His efforts played a crucial role in securing the win for Levice, which now holds a 2-2 record and is positioned fifth in the league standings. Throughout the current season, Chavez has maintained solid averages of 7.3 points per game (ppg) and 2.3 rebounds per game (rpg), demonstrating consistent development as a key player for his team.
#3. Cobe Williams, a 6'0'' point guard and 26-year-old professional basketball player, graduated from Tulsa in 2024. Prior to that, he played college basketball at Louisiana Tech University from 2019 to 2023, during which he earned the prestigious NABC Division I All-District 11 First Team award in his final year. Currently playing professionally in Germany, Williams recently played a key role in NINERS Chemnitz's commanding 96-77 victory over the eighth-ranked JL Bourg in the BKT Eurocup on Wednesday night. In that game, Williams contributed significantly by scoring 9 points and providing 8 assists in just 23 minutes of play. His all-around performance also included grabbing 3 rebounds, showcasing his versatility and impact on the court. This win marked the NINERS Chemnitz's fourth consecutive victory, further solidifying their strong position as third in the league with a 4-1 record. This season is Williams’ first with NINERS Chemnitz, and he has been making an impressive impact. Individually, he is having an excellent season, boasting strong statistics with an average of 17.6 points per game, 1.8 rebounds per game, and 4.6 assists per game. Williams' consistent high-level performance is proving vital to his team's success and their ongoing winning streak.
#4. Dravon Mangum, a 6'8'' forward and 26-year-old Bulldogs alumnus from the 2024 graduating class, who earned a spot on the C-USA All-Academic Team that same year, is currently playing professional basketball in Serbia. On Saturday night, Mangum played a pivotal role in leading KK Hercegovac Gajdobra to an important victory against the closely-ranked Sloga KR, with a final score of 82-73 in the Serbian Meridianbet Košarkaška Liga Srbije. In this game, Mangum contributed an impressive 13 points and pulled down 6 rebounds over the course of 32 minutes on the court. His performance was instrumental in securing his team's first win after enduring three consecutive losses. KK Hercegovac Gajdobra, now holding a 2-3 record, is positioned tenth in the league standings. Despite this, it is still early in the season, and much can change as the competition progresses. This season marks Mangum’s first year with KK Hercegovac, and so far, he has been averaging solid numbers with 9.6 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game, and 1.4 assists per game. His consistent contributions highlight his importance to the team as they strive to improve their standing in the league.
#5. Kalob Ledoux, a 6'4" guard and 29-year-old professional basketball player, graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 2021. During his collegiate career, he played a key role in leading his team to become the C-USA West Division Regular Season Champion that year, showcasing his talent and leadership on the court. Currently playing professionally in Norway, Ledoux continues to make a significant impact. On Saturday night, he led Fyllingen BBK to a commanding victory over the closely-ranked Baerum team, who held a 3-6 record. Fyllingen dominated the game with a final score of 116-78 in the Norwegian Basketligaen Norge, and Ledoux’s outstanding performance earned him the MVP honors of the match. In just 24 minutes of play, he scored an impressive 24 points, while also contributing 4 rebounds and 4 assists, demonstrating his all-around skills and ability to elevate his team’s play. Fyllingen BBK, now holding a 5-2 record, is currently placed fifth in the league standings, with Ledoux being a central figure in their success. Individually, he is having a stellar season, boasting impressive statistics with averages of 23.5 points per game (ppg), 4.0 rebounds per game (rpg), 5.2 assists per game (apg), and 2.0 steals per game (spg). His consistent high-level performance underscores his vital role as a champion player and a key contributor to his team's competitive standing.
#6. Isaiah Crawford, a 6'6'' forward and a 25-year-old Bulldogs alumnus from the class of 2024, who earned the prestigious All-C-USA Player of the Year award that same year, currently plays professionally in the NBA. On Saturday night, he played a vital role in his team's commanding 119-98 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. During the game, Crawford contributed 8 points and secured 1 rebound in just 19 minutes of play. His solid performance was instrumental in helping his team dominate the contest and ultimately become the champion of the game. Although this season Crawford is averaging 2.8 points per game, his impact in this particular matchup clearly demonstrated his ability to step up when it matters most.
#7. Experienced forward Jaron Johnson, standing 6'6'' and currently 34 years old, is a notable alumnus of Louisiana Tech University, having graduated in 2014. During his collegiate career, he played a key role in leading La Tech to become the Conference USA Regular Season Co-Champion that same year, highlighting his impact on the team's success. Now playing professionally in Italy, Johnson has continued to demonstrate his skills and leadership on the court. Recently, Johnson contributed significantly to Paperdi Caserta's hard-fought victory over the closely-ranked Mestre, with a final score of 77-70 in the Italian Serie A2, the country’s second division basketball league, on Sunday night. In this important matchup, Johnson scored 5 points in 23 minutes of play. Beyond scoring, he also grabbed 3 rebounds and provided 1 assist, showcasing his ability to contribute across multiple facets of the game. His performance was instrumental in helping his team secure the win against a strong opponent. Throughout the current season, Johnson has maintained impressive statistics, averaging 12.4 points per game—making him one of the league’s leading scorers—along with 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. These solid numbers reflect his consistent contribution and highlight why he remains a key player for his team in the competitive Italian Serie A2 league.
#8. DaQuan Bracey, a 5'11" point guard and a 29-year-old Bulldogs alumnus from the class of 2020, who earned the prestigious All-C-USA First Team award that same year, is currently playing professional basketball in Kosovo. In his first game of the season for Peja, Bracey showcased his skills and determination, scoring an impressive 7 points. In addition to his scoring, he contributed 3 rebounds and dished out 6 assists over the course of 30 minutes on the court. Despite Bracey's strong individual performance and valuable playmaking efforts, Peja was unable to overcome their opponents, Bashkimi, and ultimately suffered a defeat with a final score of 86-79. His efforts, however, highlighted his ongoing commitment and impact as a player, even though the team fell short in this matchup.
#9. Will Allen, a 6'7'' forward and 25-year-old graduate from La Tech's class of 2026, played a pivotal role in helping his college team reach the final of the C-USA Tournament that same year. Currently, Allen is playing professionally in Albania, where he recently made a significant contribution to his team's commanding 81-54 victory over the league outsider Flamurtari in the Albanian Superliga on Saturday night. In that game, Allen showcased his skills by scoring an impressive 6 points and securing 9 rebounds within 23 minutes of play. His performance was instrumental in leading his team to an easy win, demonstrating his ability to impact both offensively and defensively on the court. Throughout this season, Allen has maintained solid averages, contributing 8.3 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, along with 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. His consistent efforts continue to make him a valuable asset to his professional team in Albania.
#10. Scooter Williams, a 6'5" guard and a 24-year-old Bulldogs alumnus from the class of 2026, played a pivotal role in leading his college team to the final of the C-USA Tournament that year, showcasing his talent and competitive spirit as both a champion and finalist. Currently, Williams is pursuing his professional basketball career in Lithuania, where he continues to demonstrate his exceptional skills on the court. On Saturday night, Williams led Alytus to a significant victory over BC Rytas Vilnius' second team, a league outsider, with a final score of 101-91 in the Lithuanian Nacionaline krepsinio lyga, the country's second division. His outstanding performance earned him the MVP honors of the game. In 37 minutes of play, Williams delivered an impressive stat line, scoring 34 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, dishing out 5 assists, and blocking 3 shots. His scoring prowess and all-around contribution were instrumental in securing the win for Alytus. Throughout the season, Williams has been putting up remarkable numbers individually, establishing himself as one of the league's top performers. He currently averages 26.2 points per game, which ranks him as the second-best scorer in the league. Additionally, he contributes 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, with the latter marking him as the third-best playmaker in the league. Defensively, he excels with averages of 1.3 blocks per game (fourth-best in the league) and 2.5 steals per game (third-best in the league). Williams’ well-rounded game and consistent high-level performance continue to make him a key player to watch in the Lithuanian league.
Other former Louisiana Tech University players, who play in pro basketball:
Kenneth Smith (6'3''-PG-1993, played in 2011-15) signed for Reggio Emilia in Italian Serie A
Alex Hamilton (6'4''-PG-1993, played in 2012-16) plays for Atleticos de San German in Puerto Rican BSN
Daniel Batcho (6'11''-F-2002, played in 2023-25) played for Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League
Stojan Gjuroski (6'8''-F-1991, played in 2010-10) signed for Kumanovo MK in North Macedonian Super League
Amorie Archibald (6'4''-G-1999, played in 2017-22) signed for Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabian SBL
Erik McCree (6'8''-F-1993, played in 2013-13) signed for Gifu Swoops in Japanese B.One League
Trevor Gaskins (6'3''-PG-1989, played in 2011-12) plays for J.Guzman in Ecuadorian Liga Basquet Pro
Drew Gordon (6'10''-C/F-1997, played in 2019-21) plays for 4 Bears Roar in the TBL
Michale Kyser (6'10''-C-1991, played in 2011-15) plays for Astros de Jalisco in Mexican LNBP
Tyler Henry (6'4''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) played for Marsonia in Croatian Prva Liga
Derric Jean (6'2''-G-1997, played in 2015-20) signed for Hadramout in Yemeni D1
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Louisiana Tech University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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