Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC We bring you last week's top former Red Storm players who are currently playing in pro basketball.
#1. Justin Simon, a 6'5'' shooting guard and 30-year-old professional basketball player, graduated from St. John's University in 2019. During his collegiate career, he earned the prestigious All-Big East Defensive Player of the Year award that same year, highlighting his defensive prowess. Currently playing professionally in Germany, Simon has become a key figure for VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier. On Saturday night, Simon was a major contributor to the Gladiators Trier's impressive 97-88 victory over Rasta Vechta, a team struggling at the bottom of the league with a 1-5 record. In this German easyCredit BBL matchup, Simon showcased his versatility and impact by scoring 14 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in just 22 minutes of play. Additionally, he provided 2 assists, further demonstrating his all-around game and leadership on the court. VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier, boasting a strong 5-1 record, currently sit second in the league standings. This win marked the team's fifth consecutive victory, underscoring their momentum early in the season. However, given that it is still the early stages of the campaign, the dynamics of the league remain fluid, and many outcomes are still possible. Throughout the season, Simon has maintained impressive averages of 8.7 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 5.2 assists per game, and 2.8 steals per game, leading the league in steals. His consistent performance cements his role as a vital player for the Gladiators Trier and a significant defensive and offensive threat in the German league.
#2. Experienced forward JaKarr Sampson, a 6'9'' player and 33-year-old Red Storm alumnus from the 2014 class, currently playing professionally in China, played a pivotal role in leading the Shougang Beijing Ducks to a commanding 105-86 victory over the 14th-ranked Qingdao Eagles (2-4) in the Chinese Basketball Association on Thursday night. Sampson was named the MVP of the game, showcasing his dominance by recording an impressive double-double with 27 points and 15 rebounds in just 28 minutes of play. The Shougang Beijing Ducks, now undefeated with a perfect 6-0 record, hold the top position in the league standings, having won all six games in the Regular Season so far. Sampson's exceptional performance against Qingdao epitomized his value to the team—he not only scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds but also contributed 2 assists, playing a crucial role in securing the win. Highlighting his outstanding all-around contribution, Sampson was awarded the prestigious Triple-Double Badge by eurobasket.com, recognizing his ability to impact the game in multiple facets. Throughout the season, Sampson has maintained very strong individual statistics, averaging 17.6 points per game (ppg), 9.6 rebounds per game (rpg), and 1.2 assists per game (apg), underscoring his consistency and effectiveness on the court. Additionally, it is noteworthy that JaKarr Sampson is a naturalized Bahraini, adding an international dimension to his basketball career.
#3. Julian Champagnie, a 6'7" forward who graduated from St. John's in 2022 and was honored with the USBWA All-District II Team award that year, currently plays professionally in the NBA. On Tuesday night, he emerged as the major contributor to the San Antonio Spurs' commanding 130-103 victory over the Sacramento Kings, who entered the game with a struggling 0-5 record. In an impressive display of skill and athleticism, Champagnie scored a remarkable 26 points, while also adding 3 rebounds and 3 assists in just 25 minutes of playing time. His outstanding performance played a pivotal role in securing the Spurs' third consecutive win this season, despite the team holding a somewhat modest 3-2 record overall. This game marked Champagnie's fourth year with the San Antonio Spurs, and he continues to have a very strong individual season. His season averages stand out with 11.6 points per game (ppg), 3.4 rebounds per game (rpg), 1.4 assists per game (apg), along with 1.2 blocks per game (bpg) and 1.2 steals per game (spg), showcasing his well-rounded contributions on both ends of the court.
#4. Dominican Republic native Joel Soriano, a 6'10'' center and 26-year-old Red Storm alumnus from the class of 2024, currently playing professionally in Spain, was unable to help Monbus Obradoiro CAB Santiago de Compostela (3-2) secure a win in their recent game last Sunday. Despite Soriano’s very good individual performance, Obradoiro suffered a heavy defeat on the road, being crushed 106-76 by the second-ranked Tenerife. Soriano emerged as the second-best scorer for his team, contributing an impressive 16 points. In addition to his scoring, he also grabbed 9 rebounds in just 20 minutes of play, showcasing his strong presence on the court. This season marks Soriano’s first with Obradoiro, and he has already made a significant impact. In the matchup against Tenerife, Soriano delivered an impressive overall performance, tallying 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist. Despite his strong individual efforts, his team was unable to convert this into a victory, ultimately falling short in the game. Throughout the season, Soriano has posted relatively good statistics, averaging 14.6 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game, the latter being the second-best rebounding average in the league. His consistent performance highlights his value and potential as a key player for Monbus Obradoiro.
#5. Nahiem Alleyne, a 6'4'' guard and 25-year-old professional basketball player who graduated from St. John's in 2024, played a pivotal role in leading the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt to a significant victory against the 14th-ranked Science City Jena, who hold a 2-4 record, with a final score of 93-82 in the German easyCredit BBL on Friday night. Alleyne showcased his skills by scoring an impressive 13 points and securing 5 rebounds in just 20 minutes of play, demonstrating his efficiency and impact on the court. The Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt, holding a strong 4-1 record, are currently positioned third in the league standings. This win marked the team's fourth consecutive victory, highlighting their momentum and determination this season. Alleyne's performance was instrumental in this success, as he also contributed 1 assist, underscoring his all-around game and ability to support his teammates effectively. Throughout this season, Alleyne has maintained solid averages, contributing 9.4 points per game (ppg), 2.8 rebounds per game (rpg), and 1.6 assists per game (apg), reflecting his consistent and valuable presence on the team. His efforts continue to be a key factor in the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt's strong showing in the league.
#6. Daniss Jenkins, a 6'4" guard and 25-year-old Red Storm alumnus from the class of 2024, who earned the prestigious All-Big East Second Team award in his final collegiate year, currently plays professionally in the NBA. On Sunday night, Jenkins led the Detroit Pistons to a commanding 106-93 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Demonstrating his all-around skills, Jenkins scored an impressive 18 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists over the course of 39 minutes on the court. His outstanding performance was instrumental in securing the win for his team, showcasing his ability to impact the game in multiple facets. Throughout the season, Jenkins has maintained a very strong individual performance, averaging 11.2 points per game (ppg), 3.8 rebounds per game (rpg), and 4.0 assists per game (apg), underscoring his consistent contribution to the Pistons' efforts.
#7. Mustapha Heron, a 6'5'' guard who is 28 years old and graduated from St. John's in 2020, currently plays professionally in Uruguay. In a recent game last Thursday, he was unable to lead his team, Defensor (with a record of 1-1), to victory. Despite Heron's very good and impressive performance, Defensor was narrowly defeated 89-82 in a highly competitive derby matchup against the league-leading Bigua. Heron stood out as the top scorer of the game, putting up an impressive 20 points. In addition to his scoring, he contributed significantly on the boards with 8 rebounds over the course of 30 minutes of play, along with providing 1 assist. His strong individual effort highlighted his ability to perform at a high level, but unfortunately, it was not enough to overcome Bigua's dominance in this particular contest. Looking at his performance over the season, Heron has maintained relatively solid statistics, averaging 13.0 points per game (ppg) and 6.0 rebounds per game (rpg), demonstrating his consistent contribution on both offense and defense for Defensor.
#8. Jamaican Stefan Smith, a 6'2'' guard and 27-year-old Red Storm alumnus from the 2022 class, currently playing professionally in Germany, was unable to lead NINERS Chemnitz (1-5) to a win in their recent game last Monday. Despite Smith’s very good individual performance, Chemnitz fell short, losing 98-88 to the much higher-ranked s Oliver Baskets (#7) in Wuerzburg. Smith was the top scorer for his team, putting up an impressive 17 points. In addition to his scoring, he made significant contributions in other areas, recording 5 assists and 4 steals, while showing perfect accuracy at the free throw line by going 6 for 6. Over the course of 31 minutes on the court, he also grabbed 1 rebound, demonstrating his all-around impact on the game. Although Smith’s individual stats and effort were commendable, his team was unable to translate his strong performance into a victory. His consistent contributions, however, highlight his value on the court. This season, Smith has been having a very good run statistically, averaging 16.2 points per game (ppg), 2.3 rebounds per game (rpg), 4.7 assists per game (apg), and 1.5 steals per game (spg). It is also notable that Smith holds Canadian nationality in addition to being Jamaican, adding to his diverse background as a professional athlete competing at a high level in Germany.
#9. Bryce Hopkins, a 6'7'' forward/guard and 25-year-old professional basketball player, graduated from St. John's in 2026, where he played a pivotal role in leading the team to become the Big East Regular Season Champion that year. Currently competing in the NBA, Hopkins plays for the Denver Nuggets. However, in their recent game last Monday, he was unable to help the Nuggets secure a win. Despite delivering a commendable performance, Denver was decisively defeated 134-114 by the Golden State Warriors in Oakland. During the game, Hopkins showcased his skills by scoring an impressive 13 points over 32 minutes of play. In addition to his scoring, he contributed 3 rebounds and 1 assist, demonstrating his all-around impact on the court. Unfortunately, even with his solid individual effort and valuable contributions, the Nuggets fell short and could not clinch the victory. For the current season, Hopkins is averaging 3.8 points per game (ppg) and 2.0 rebounds per game (rpg), reflecting his ongoing development and role within the team.
#10. Bosnia and Herzegovina's Amar Alibegovic, a 6'9'' power forward and a 31-year-old Red Storm alumnus from the 2018 class, currently plays professionally in Italy. On Wednesday night, he played a key role in Tortona's narrow 86-83 victory over the closely-ranked Seawolves in the BKT Eurocup. During the game, Alibegovic contributed 8 points and secured 5 rebounds in just 22 minutes of action, showcasing his efficiency and impact on the court. His standout performance was particularly evident against Rostock, where he not only scored 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds but also provided 2 assists. These impressive contributions were instrumental in leading his team to victory, highlighting his well-rounded game and ability to perform under pressure. For the current season, Alibegovic is averaging 7.8 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game, reflecting his consistent contribution to the team’s efforts. Additionally, it is noteworthy that he holds dual citizenship—both American and Bosnian and Herzegovinian—which allows him to play in Bosnia as a domestic player, providing valuable roster flexibility for his team.
Other former St. John's University players, who play in pro basketball:
DJ Kennedy (6'6''-F-1989, played in 2007-11) played for Hapoel Galil Elyon in Israeli Winner League
Aaron Wheeler (6'9''-F-1998, played in 2021-22) signed for Hapoel Eilat in Israeli Winner League
Dillon Mitchell (6'8''-F-2003, played in 2025-26) signed for Boston Celtics in the NBA
Zuby Ejiofor (6'9''-F/C-2004, played in 2023-26) signed for Atlanta Hawks in the NBA
Phil Greene IV (6'2''-G-1992, played in 2011-15) played for Rostock Seawolves in German BBL
Christopher Ledlum (6'6''-SF-2001, played in 2023-24) signed for Zenit in Russian VTB United League
Justin Burrell (6'9''-F-1988, played in 2007-11) signed for Niigata Albirex in Japanese B.One League
Justin Brownlee (6'6''-F-1988, played in 2009-11) plays for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Filipino PBA
Marcus LoVett Jr. (6'0''-G-1996, played in 2015-15) signed for Henan in Chinese NBL
Federico Mussini (6'2''-G-1996, played in 2013-17) plays for Avellino in Italian Serie A2
Tariq Owens (6'10''-F-1995, played in 2015-18) signed for Avellino in Italian Serie A2
Marvin Clark (6'7''-SF-1994, played in 2016-16) signed for Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabian SBL
Arnaldo Barea (6'8''-C-1997, played in 2020-21) signed for Iwate Big Bulls in Japanese B.One League
Bashir Ahmed (6'7''-F/G-1993, played in 2016-18) played for Al Fidaa in Syrian SBL
Montez Mathis (6'4''-G-1999, played in 2023-23) signed for IR Reykjavik in Icelandic Subway League
Sir'Dominic Pointer (6'6''-G/F-1992, played in 2011-15) played for Al Ittihad in Syrian SBL
D'Angelo Harrison (6'4''-G-1993, played in 2011-15) signed for Al Ittihad in Syrian SBL
Jordan Dingle (6'3''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) played for Bora in Kosovan Superliga
Christian Jones (6'7''-F-1993, played in 2012-16) played for Maccabi Ma'ale Adumim in Israeli Artzit
Sean Conway (6'5''-G-2000, played in 2023-24) signed for Kordall Steelers Rodange in Luxembourg LBBL
Ron Mvouika (6'5''-G/F-1991, played in 2015-16) signed for ART Giants Duesseldorf in German ProB
Shamorie Ponds (6'1''-G-1998, played in 2016-19) played for HK JinNiu in Chinese NBL
Deivon Smith (6'0''-PG-2002, played in 2024-25) played for Golden State Warriors in the NBA Summer League
Kadary Richmond (6'6''-G-2001, played in 2024-25) played for Washington Wizards in the NBA Summer League
Aaron Scott (6'7''-F-2003, played in 2024-25) played for Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Summer League
Notice: The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of St. John's University basketball alumni.
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Ex-Players
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