LOGAN, Utah — There are currently 15 former Utah State men's basketball players on professional rosters worldwide, including three on NBA rosters. 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 averaged 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in Cleveland's last four games, helping the Cavaliers to a 3-1 record. The native of Bountiful, Utah, scored a career high 32 points on Feb. 11 against Washington, shooting 11 of 12 from the field and 9 of 10 from long distance. He is shooting 47.4 percent from beyond the arc, good for second in the NBA behind the Lakers' Luke Kennard.
Neemias Queta, C, Boston Celtics — Queta is in his fifth season in the NBA and third with the Celtics. Queta averaged 9.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in Boston's last three games, all Celtic wins. He ranks fifth in the league with a .642 field goal percentage, 10th in offensive rebounds with 158 and 13th in blocks with 69 while also ranking ninth in win shares per 48 minutes with .203.
Darius Brown II, G, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Charge — Brown is in his second professional season, both with the Cleveland organization. Brown averaged 9.3 points, 12.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds during the Charge's recent three-game win streak. On Feb. 20, he signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, making him eligible to be on the Cavaliers' active roster for up to 15 regular season games. Brown leads the G-League with 197 assists and ranks 10th in steals with 42.
Taylor Funk, F, San Diego Clippers — Funk is in his third professional season and first with the Clippers. Funk averaged 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists 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 did not play in Trier's last two games.
Dan Akin, PF/C, Kolossos BC — Akin is in his third professional season and first with the Greek Basketball League's Kolossos. Akin scored 10 points and added six rebounds in a 102-97 win over second-place Panathinaikos.
Justin Bean, F, Alba Berlin — Bean is in his fourth professional season and third with Alba Berlin of the German BBL. Bean averaged 14.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists, including a season-high 21 points in a 98-92 win over Bamberg, as Alba went 2-2 in four games 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 averaged 7.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in Obradoiro's last two games, both wins.
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 110-107 win over Sumqayit in the season finale. He averaged 2.0 points, 2.0 assists and 9.2 minutes per game in six games played this season.
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 went 2-1 over their last three games.
Aubin Gateretse, C, Limburg United — Gateretse is in his first professional season with Limburg United of Belgium's BNXT League. Gateretse averaged 9.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks as Limburg went 3-0 in their last three games.
Brandon Horvath, C, Nitra Blue Wings — Horvath is in his fourth professional season, beginning the year with BC Gargzdai-SC of the Lithuanian Basketball League before moving to Nitra Blue Wings of the Slovakian Tipos SBL. Horvath averaged 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in two Blue Wing victories.
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 did not play in Oberwart's last two games, where they went 1-1.
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 16.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists as Hiroshima swept two games against the Shiga L-Stars.
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