LOGAN, Utah — There are currently 15 former Utah State men's basketball players on professional rosters worldwide, including two in the NBA. See how each of them have performed so far this season.
Sam Merrill, G, Cleveland Cavaliers — Merrill is in his sixth season in the NBA and fourth with the Cavaliers. Merrill was not active due to injury during Cleveland's last five games, in which the Cavaliers went 2-3. Merrill currently ranks 12th in the league with a 3-point percentage of .444.
Neemias Queta, C, Boston Celtics — Queta is in his fifth season in the NBA and third with the Celtics. Queta averaged 10.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in Boston's last six games as the Celtics went 4-2. Queta ranks fifth in the league with a .650 field goal percentage, ninth in offensive rebounds with 77 and 14th in blocks with 32.
Darius Brown II, G, Cleveland Charge — Brown is in his second professional season, both with the Charge. Brown averaged 11.5 points, 7.3 assists and 3.5 steals per game as Cleveland went 3-1 over its last four games. Brown leads the G-League with 125 assists and ranks tied for second in steals with 35.
Taylor Funk, F, San Diego Clippers — Funk is in his third professional season and first with the Clippers. Funk averaged 11.2 points and 4.0 rebounds in his last six games, with San Diego going 4-2 in that stretch. Funk is shooting 47.1 percent from beyond the arc this season, ranking fourth in the G-League.
Dexter Akanno, SF, VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier — Akanno is in his first professional season with the Gladiators of the German BBL. Akanno averaged 3.0 points in his last two games, helping Trier to victories over Ludwigsburg and Bonn.
Dan Akin, PF/C, Kolossos BC — Akin is in his third professional season and first with the Greek Basketball League's Kolossos. Akin scored five points and added seven rebounds as Kolossos fell 82-70 to PAOK.
Justin Bean, F, Alba Berlin — Bean is in his fourth professional season and third with Alba Berlin of the German BBL. Bean averaged 10.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in his last four games, helping Alba to a 2-0 record in Basketball Champions League play and a 1-1 record in BBL games. Alba advanced to the Round of 16 of the Basketball Champions League after topping Group B with a 5-1 record.
Diogo Brito, G, Monbus Obradoiro — Brito is in his fifth professional season and first with Monbus Obradoiro of Spain's LEB Gold. Brito scored eight points in Obradoiro's 97-69 win over Fuenlabrada.
Kris Clark, G, Nakhchivan — Clark, who has been playing professional basketball since 2008, is in his first season with Nakhchivan in the Azerbaijani Basketball League. Clark did not play in Nakhchivan's last two games.
RJ Eytle-Rock, G, EJ Sligo All-Stars — Eytle-Rock is in his third professional season and first as a player-coach with the Irish Men's Super League's EJ Sligo All-Stars. The All-Stars fell 103-88 to the UCC Demons on Dec. 14.
Aubin Gateretse, C, Limburg United — Gateretse is in his first professional season with Limburg United of Belgium's BNXT League. Gateretse averaged 10.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in Limburg's last two games, helping his team to two victories.
Brandon Horvath, C, BC Gargzdai-SC — Horvath is in his fourth professional season and first with BC Gargzdai-SC of the Lithuanian Basketball League. Horvath averaged 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in his last two games, during which Gargzdai went 0-2.
Ian Martinez, G, Elitzur Yavne — Martinez is in his first professional season with Elitzur Yavne of the Israeli National League. Martinez averaged 9.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in Yavne's last three games, where they went 0-3.
Shane Rector, G, Al Shamal Doha — Rector is in his ninth professional season and his first with Al Shamal Doha of the Qatari QBL. Rector played in one of Al Shamal's last two games, a 105-80 win over Qatar Club in which he scored 36 points and collected three rebounds and three assists.
Chris Smith, G, Hiroshima Dragonflies — Smith is in his 10th professional season and his first with Hiroshima of the Japanese B1 League. Smith averaged 17.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists in Hiroshima's last five games as the Dragonflies went 1-4.
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