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 played in two of Cleveland's three games last week, averaging 15.5 points and 2.0 rebounds as the Cavaliers went 2-1. He is shooting 43.6 percent from beyond the arc, good for 12th in the NBA.
Neemias Queta, C, Boston Celtics — Queta is in his fifth season in the NBA and third with the Celtics. Queta averaged 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in Boston's four wins last week. He ranks third in the league with a .661 field goal percentage, 12th in offensive rebounds with 96 and 16th in blocks with 43 while also ranking eighth in win shares per 48 minutes with .207.
Darius Brown II, G, Cleveland Charge — Brown is in his second professional season, both with the Charge. Brown averaged 17.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals per game as Cleveland went 2-0 last week. Brown ranks third in the G-League in steals with 16.
Taylor Funk, F, San Diego Clippers — Funk is in his third professional season and first with the Clippers. Funk averaged 6.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in two games last week, with San Diego going 1-1 in that stretch.
Dexter Akanno, SF, VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier — Akanno is in his first professional season with the Gladiators of the German BBL. Akanno averaged 7.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in his last two games as Trier went 1-1.
Dan Akin, PF/C, Kolossos BC — Akin is in his third professional season and first with the Greek Basketball League's Kolossos. Akin scored six points and collected four rebounds in a 90-76 win over Maroussi.
Justin Bean, F, Alba Berlin — Bean is in his fourth professional season and third with Alba Berlin of the German BBL. Bean posted his third double-double of the year, scoring a season-high 20 points to go along with 11 rebounds in a 76-73 loss to Oldenburg.
Diogo Brito, G, Monbus Obradoiro — Brito is in his fifth professional season and first with Monbus Obradoiro of Spain's LEB Gold. Brito scored one point and added four rebounds and two assists in Obradoiro's 87-85 win over Palencia.
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. Nakhchivan was off last week and will return to action on Jan. 9 against Sumqayit.
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 were off last week and will play next on Jan. 10 against the Limerick Celtics.
Aubin Gateretse, C, Limburg United — Gateretse is in his first professional season with Limburg United of Belgium's BNXT League. Limburg was off last week and will return to action against ZZ Leiden on Jan. 10.
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 scored three points in nine minutes in Gargzdu's 82-75 win over Jonava.
Ian Martinez, G, Elitzur Yavne — Martinez is in his first professional season with Elitzur Yavne of the Israeli National League. Martinez did not play in Yavne's 87-83 win over Hapoel Safed Galil.
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 averaged 24.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.0 steals in two games last week, where Al Shamal went 0-2.
Chris Smith, G, Hiroshima Dragonflies — Smith is in his 10th professional season and his first with Hiroshima of the Japanese B1 League. Smith averaged 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in Hiroshima's two games last week as the Dragonflies went 1-1 against Alvark Tokyo.
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