Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC Here is the weekly review of the top performing Wolverines alumni, who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Charles Callison, a 6'1'' point guard and 31-year-old professional basketball player, has had an interesting journey in his career. He graduated from WSU in 2017, but before that, he showcased his talent at SBVC between 2014 and 2015. During his time at SBVC, Callison earned the prestigious All-Foothill Conference Player of the Year award, highlighting his outstanding abilities on the court early in his career. Currently, Callison plays professionally in Russia, where he represents the Enisey team. In their most recent game, despite his exceptional performance, Callison was unable to help Enisey secure a win. The team suffered a narrow 99-106 loss at home against the higher-ranked MBA Moscow, who are positioned 8th in the league standings. Callison stood out as the top scorer for Enisey, delivering an impressive 31 points, along with 4 assists over 42 minutes of play. Additionally, he contributed 2 rebounds, demonstrating his well-rounded game. This defeat marked Enisey's third consecutive loss, leaving their record at 1-5. However, it is important to note that the season is still in its early stages, and there remains plenty of time for the team to turn things around. For Callison, this season is his first with Enisey, and he is already making a significant impact. Individually, Callison is having a very strong season, posting impressive statistics. Over the six games he has played so far, he is averaging 16.0 points per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, and an impressive 5.5 assists per game, which ranks him as the third-best playmaker in the league. His performance underscores his value to the team and his potential to help Enisey improve as the season progresses.
#2. Arian Azemi, a 6'2'' guard and a 27-year-old professional player, is an alumnus of Profs, graduating in 2022. Prior to that, he played at SBVC between 2017 and 2019, where he played a significant role in helping the team secure the PCAC North Regular Season Champion title during that period. Currently, Azemi is playing professionally in Kosovo, where he continues to showcase his skills and leadership on the court. In a recent game in the Kosovan ProCredit Superliga on Saturday night, Azemi was a major contributor to KB Bashkimi Prizren's impressive 93-80 victory over the league outsider Vellaznimi. In this match, he recorded an impressive 18 points, along with 4 rebounds and 5 assists, playing a crucial role in securing the win. Bashkimi, now with a 6-1 record, holds the first-place position in the league standings, thanks in part to Azemi's strong performances. Throughout the current season, Azemi has maintained solid averages, putting up 7.2 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, and 4.0 assists per game over six games, further establishing himself as a key player for his team.
#3. Eric Hancik, a 6'5'' guard/forward and 26-year-old professional basketball player, who graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) in 2023 and previously competed at San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) between 2018 and 2020, has been making a significant impact in the Albanian Superliga this season. Playing for Kamza Basket Tirana, Hancik led his team to a narrow 84-82 victory over the seventh-ranked Elbasani (1-2) in Friday night’s thrilling contest. In this crucial game, Hancik demonstrated his skill and versatility by scoring an impressive 17 points, securing 6 rebounds, and contributing 1 assist over the course of 37 minutes on the court. His performance was instrumental in Kamza’s success, helping the team maintain its undefeated record in the Regular Season with a flawless 3-0 standing. Notably, the Regular Season has already concluded, and Kamza Basket Tirana currently holds the second position in the league standings. This marks Hancik’s first season with Kamza, and he has quickly established himself as a key player for the team. Across the three games he has played, he has put up solid numbers, averaging 15.0 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, and an impressive 2.7 steals per game, which ranks him as the second-best in the league in that category. Hancik’s contributions on both ends of the floor highlight his importance to Kamza Basket Tirana’s championship aspirations this season.
#4. Swedish player Craig Lecesne, a 6'9'' forward and 29 years old, is an accomplished basketball athlete with a notable background. A Spartans alumnus from the class of 2020, Lecesne also played at SBVC between 2017 and 2018, where he played a pivotal role in helping the team secure the PCAC North Regular Season Champion title that year. Currently, he is playing professionally in Iceland. In his current stint with Sindri, Lecesne recently competed against KR Reykjavik in the Icelandic Bonus League. Despite his strong individual performance, where he scored 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play, he was unable to help Sindri overcome KR Reykjavik. The match resulted in a narrow 102-107 loss for Sindri, who remain at the bottom of the standings with a 0-4 record. KR Reykjavik, on the other hand, holds a solid second place with a 4-0 record. This season marks Lecesne’s first with Sindri, and so far, he has been delivering relatively good statistics, averaging 12.5 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game across four contests. As a naturalized Swedish player, Lecesne continues to showcase his skills and contribute meaningfully to his team, even though Sindri has yet to secure a win in the regular season.
#5. Zack Rollins, a 6'7'' guard/forward standing at 31 years old, is a professional basketball player currently competing in Spain. He graduated from Montana State University Billings (MSUB) in 2019, but prior to that, he played at San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) between 2014 and 2016. During his time at SBVC, Rollins played a crucial role in helping the team achieve the status of Foothill Conference Co-Champion that year, showcasing his talent and leadership early in his career. Now playing professionally for Logro Basket, Rollins has been an important asset to the team in his first season. Despite his solid contributions, he was unable to lead Logro Basket, currently ninth in the Group B standings with a 2-3 record, to victory in their most recent game. The team narrowly lost 97-101 at home in Logroño against the top-ranked Azulejos. In that game, Rollins delivered an outstanding individual performance, finishing as the top scorer with 24 points. In addition to his scoring, he contributed 5 rebounds over 34 minutes on the court, along with 1 assist. His ability to perform well against a leading team highlights his value and skill level, even though the team fell short of a win. Over the course of the season so far, Rollins has maintained relatively strong statistics, averaging 12.4 points per game, 3.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game across five games. These numbers reflect his consistent impact on both ends of the floor. It is also notable that Zack Rollins is a naturalized American, which adds an interesting dimension to his background and eligibility in international basketball circuits. Overall, Rollins remains a key player for Logro Basket as they aim to improve their standing in the league.
#6. Aamari Smith, a 6'3'' guard and a Poets alumnus from the class of 2025, began his collegiate basketball journey playing at SBVC between 2022 and 2023. During his time there, he was instrumental in helping the team reach the CCCAA State Championship Quarterfinals, showcasing his talent and leadership on the court. Now playing professionally in Spain, Smith continues to demonstrate his impressive skills and impact. Most recently, Smith was the major contributor in Gijon Circulo's commanding 91-58 victory over the 13th-ranked Sigaltec in the Spanish Tercera FEB (the fourth division) on Saturday night. In this game, he scored an impressive 17 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 4 assists, and added 2 blocks in just 26 minutes of play. His well-rounded performance played a crucial role in securing the dominant win for his team. Throughout the season, Smith has maintained a high level of play, putting up strong individual statistics. Over the course of four games, he is averaging 16.3 points per game (ppg), 4.5 rebounds per game (rpg), 1.5 assists per game (apg), and 2.5 steals per game (spg). His consistent contributions on both ends of the floor highlight why he is such a valuable player for his professional team in Spain.
Other former San Bernardino Valley College players, who play in pro basketball:
Dominique Daniels (5'10''-G-2002, played in 2021-23) signed for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
Devin Fortune (6'6''-F-2001, played in 2021-22) plays for Noarlunga City Southern Tigers in Australian NBL One
Noah Bigirumwami (6'9''-F/C-1997, played in 2017-18) played for GC Zurich in Swiss SBL
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of San Bernardino Valley College basketball alumni.
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