Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Every week we bring you a list of the top former Bearkats players who continue their career in pro basketball.
#1. Javion May, a 26-year-old guard standing at 6'2'' who graduated from SHSU in 2023 and received the WAC All-Defensive Team award that year, currently plays professionally in Ukraine. In a recent game, he was a standout player for BC Kyiv Basket, helping secure a convincing 100-70 victory over Niko Basket, who are at the bottom of the league with a 0-3 record. May's stellar performance included a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds, along with 7 assists and 3 steals in 32 minutes of play. His remarkable display of skills and determination as a champion was instrumental in his team's success on the court. BC Kyiv Basket, with a 4-1 record, currently holds the second position in the league standings. With only two games remaining in the Regular Season, every match now carries significant importance for the team. May's consistent high-level performance throughout the season is reflected in his impressive statistics, averaging 15.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.0 steals per game over the four games he has played so far. His exceptional contributions both offensively and defensively highlight his prowess as a finalist and a key player for BC Kyiv Basket.
#2. Savion Flagg, a 6'7'' guard/forward and 27-year-old alumni of Bearkats from 2022, who was a finalist for the Lou Henson National Player of the Year Award that year, is currently playing professionally in Italy. In a recent game, despite his outstanding performance, Flagg was unable to lead Cantu to victory as they suffered a significant 92-72 defeat on the road against the higher-ranked Trieste (#13). Flagg emerged as the top scorer of the game, contributing 21 points along with 4 assists and 3 steals during his 35 minutes on the court. Despite his individual brilliance, Cantu is yet to secure a win in the Regular Season, having lost all four games so far. However, with the season still in its early stages, there is room for improvement and turnaround for the team. This marks Flagg's first year with the team, and he has been showcasing his skills effectively, averaging an impressive 17.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, ranking third in the league in steals. His consistent high-level performance on the court reflects his strong contributions to the team, even in the face of challenging outcomes.
#3. Kai Mitchell-Watkins, a 6'7'' forward/center who graduated from SHSU in 2020 and received the All-Southland Conf. First Team award that year, is currently showcasing his skills as a professional player in Chile. In a recent game, he led CEB Puerto Montt to a significant 86-72 victory over the fourth-ranked Puente Alto in the Chilean Liga Nacional de Basquetbol. Not only did Mitchell-Watkins help secure the win, but he also earned the MVP title for his outstanding performance. He displayed his versatility by achieving a double-double with 23 points and 19 rebounds in just 36 minutes of play. CEB Puerto Montt, currently in sixth place in the Places 1-8 group with a record of 9-10, has one more crucial game left in the Second Stage. Mitchell-Watkins, in his first season with the team, has been a key player throughout the season. His exceptional showing in the game against Puente Alto, where he not only scored and rebounded effectively but also contributed with 2 assists, highlights his importance to the team. His impressive performance even earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, cementing his reputation as a champion on the court. Individually, Mitchell-Watkins has had an exceptional season, maintaining high statistics with an average of 18.9 points per game, 10.9 rebounds per game, 2.0 assists per game, 1.1 blocks per game, and 1.5 steals per game in 20 games. His consistent contributions and remarkable abilities make him a standout player in the league.
#4. Damon Nicholas Jr., a 6'4'' guard and Bearkats alumnus from 2026, showcased his talent as a professional basketball player in the Czech Republic. Playing for BK Lokomotiva Plzen, he played a pivotal role in their recent victory over Olomoucko, a team struggling in the league with a 1-7 record. Despite Plzen's challenging position in the league standings at second from the bottom, Nicholas Jr.'s standout performance helped secure a much-needed win after a series of six consecutive losses. In the game, he scored 15 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and contributed 2 assists in 30 minutes of play. These impressive statistics highlight his impact on the court, especially considering that this is his debut season in professional basketball. Nicholas Jr.'s exceptional display not only propelled his team to victory but also solidified his reputation as a champion. Throughout the season, Nicholas Jr. has maintained solid averages of 13.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game over five appearances. His consistent contributions and skillful play have undoubtedly made him a key player for BK Lokomotiva Plzen as they strive for success in the league.
#5. Australian champion Cameron Huefner, a 6'8'' forward who graduated from SHSU in 2025, is currently playing professionally in Australia. Despite his efforts, Huefner could not lead the Perth Wildcats (4-2) to victory against the Kings (4-2) in a recent Australian National Basketball League match. The Wildcats suffered a disappointing 102-81 loss to the Kings in Sydney, marking their first defeat after a streak of four consecutive wins. During the game, Huefner showcased his skills by contributing 8 points and 3 rebounds in just 16 minutes of play. Although he put up an impressive performance, his team fell short against the Kings. This season, the talented player is averaging 2.2 points per game in six matches. Huefner's standout abilities were recognized in 2025 when he received the Australiabasket.com All-Australian NBL1 Central Grand Final MVP award, proving his prowess on the basketball court.
#6. Qua Grant, a 6'1'' guard and 26-year-old Bearkats alumni from 2023, currently plays professionally in Israel. Despite his outstanding performance, Grant could not lead M. Rishon to victory against H. HaEmek. In the match, he scored 7 points, made 5 assists, and played for 34 minutes. Unfortunately, his team suffered a significant loss by 20 points with a final score of 80-60. In the game against H. HaEmek, Grant showcased his skills by contributing 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists. Even though he displayed an impressive performance, his team was unable to secure a win. Throughout the season, Grant has maintained solid statistics, averaging 11.5 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 7.0 assists per game (ranking as the third best in the league), and 1.5 steals per game in the two games played so far.
#7. Tristan Ikpe, a 6'6'' forward who graduated from SHSU in 2023 and currently plays professionally in Slovakia, recently showcased his skills in a game where his team, the Blue Wings, faced off against Keravnos. Despite his commendable performance with 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 34 minutes of play, his team ultimately fell short with a final score of 78-88 against their opponents. Ikpe's consistent contributions on the court are reflected in his impressive season statistics this year, averaging 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game across three matches.
#8. Polish champion Jakub Karwowski, a 7'1'' center and 30-year-old Bearkats alumni from 2022, currently playing professionally in Poland, showcased his skills in a commanding performance for LKS II. In a recent game against the 15th-ranked OKK Sokol Ostrow Mazowiecka in the Polish 2 Liga, Karwowski led his team to a resounding 125-56 victory. His dominant presence on the court was evident as he secured a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play. This marked his debut game for LKS II this season, and his impact was immediate and significant. Facing Ostrow Mazow, Karwowski's stellar performance included not only his scoring and rebounding but also contributing an assist, showcasing his versatility and value to his team. His remarkable display earned him the prestigious Triple-Double Badge from eurobasket.com, solidifying his reputation as a finalist player. Karwowski's exceptional skills and contributions were instrumental in securing the win for LKS II, further cementing his status as a champion in the world of basketball.
Other former Sam Houston State University players, who play in pro basketball:
Veljko Ilic (6'10''-F-2002, played in 2025-26) signed for Lietkabelis in Lithuanian LKL
Aurimas Majauskas (6'8''-F-1993, played in 2013-17) signed for iLerna Lleida in Spanish Liga Endesa
Demarcus Gatlin (6'4''-G-1992, played in 2010-15) plays for Geelong United in Australian NBL One
Michael Holyfield (6'11''-C-1992, played in 2011-15) signed for Taipei Fubon Braves in Taiwanese PLeague+
Donte Powers (6'2''-G, played in 2020-23) played for Teuta in Albanian Superliga
Gilberto Clavell (6'7''-F-1989, played in 2009-11) plays for Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rican BSN
Lamar Wilkerson (6'6''-G-2001, played in 2022-25) played for Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Summer League
Chad Bowie (6'2''-G-1996, played in 2018-20) plays for Kepler in Rwandan RBL
Jesse Lopez (6'7''-F-1994, played in 2013-13) played for Mineros in Mexican CIBAPac
Brennen Burns (5'10''-PG-2002, played in 2024-25) plays for Camberwell Dragons in Australian Big V
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Sam Houston State University basketball alumni.
|
|
|
Ex-Players
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
