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 performed last week.
Sam Merrill, G, Cleveland Cavaliers — Merrill is in his sixth season in the NBA and fourth with the Cavaliers. Merrill started all three of Cleveland's games and averaged 7.3 points per game last week, helping the Cavaliers to a 3-0 record. He is shooting 45.2 percent from beyond the arc, good for sixth in the NBA.
Neemias Queta, C, Boston Celtics — Queta is in his fifth season in the NBA and third with the Celtics. Queta averaged 5.3 points, 11.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in Boston's last three games, including a 10-point, 19-rebound, five-block performance in a 114-93 win over Houston. He ranks fifth in the league with a .635 field goal percentage, sixth in offensive rebounds with 151 and 14th in blocks with 65 while also ranking 10th in win shares per 48 minutes with .199.
Darius Brown II, G, Cleveland Charge — Brown is in his second professional season, both with the Charge. Brown averaged 11.0 points, 9.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds, highlighted by a 15-point, 12-assist double-double against the Greensboro Swarm, as Cleveland went 2-1 last week. Brown ranks second in the G-League in assists (160) and seventh in steals (37).
Taylor Funk, F, San Diego Clippers — Funk is in his third professional season and first with the Clippers. Funk averaged 11.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in two games last week, where San Diego went 1-1.
Dexter Akanno, SF, VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier — Akanno is in his first professional season with the Gladiators of the German BBL. Akanno scored three points and grabbed two rebounds in Trier's 97-67 loss to Ulm.
Dan Akin, PF/C, Kolossos BC — Akin is in his third professional season and first with the Greek Basketball League's Kolossos. Akin scored a season-high 13 points and added eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in a 90-78 loss to PAOK Thessaloniki.
Justin Bean, F, Alba Berlin — Bean is in his fourth professional season and third with Alba Berlin of the German BBL. Bean averaged 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in Alba's three games last week, going 2-1 across all competitions.
Diogo Brito, G, Monbus Obradoiro — Brito is in his fifth professional season and first with Monbus Obradoiro of Spain's LEB Gold. Brito scored six points and added two rebounds in Obradoiro's 92-77 win over Zamora.
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 95-92 loss to Ordu.
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 lost to Neptune on Feb. 7, 95-78.
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 on Feb. 13 against Oostende.
Brandon Horvath, C, Nitra Blue Wings — Horvath is in his fourth professional season, starting first with BC Gargzdai-SC of the Lithuanian Basketball League before moving to Nitra Blue Wings of the Slovakian Tipos SBL. Horvath played his first game for the Blue Wings on Feb. 7, scoring 21 points while collecting nine rebounds and three assists in a 109-93 win over Spisski Rytieri.
Ian Martinez, G, Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart — Martinez is in his first professional season overseas, having debuted with Elitzur Yavne of the Israeli National League before signing with Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart of the Austrian Basketball Super League. Martinez scored 10 points and added two rebounds in Oberwart's 80-61 loss to Kapfenberg.
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 24.9 points, 5.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 16 games this season for Al Shamal, who were eliminated in the first round of the QBL playoffs.
Chris Smith, G, Hiroshima Dragonflies — Smith is in his 10th professional season and his first with Hiroshima of the Japanese B1 League. Smith averaged 20.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists as Hiroshima swept two games against Akita NH last week.
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