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 5.3 points, 3.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game in Cleveland's last three games, helping the Cavaliers to a 2-1 record. He is shooting 44.6 percent from beyond the arc, good for fourth in the NBA.
Neemias Queta, C, Boston Celtics — Queta is in his fifth season in the NBA and third with the Celtics. Queta averaged 7.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in Boston's last three games, in which the Celtics went 2-1. The 2024 NBA champion posted a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double in a 120-100 win over Dallas. He ranks third in the league with a .639 field goal percentage, eighth in offensive rebounds with 179 and 14th in blocks with 78 while also ranking 17th in defensive win shares with 2.8.
Darius Brown II, G, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Charge — Brown is in his second professional season, both with the Cleveland organization. Brown averaged 15.5 points, 14.0 assists and 2.5 steals in two games played for the Cleveland Charge, helping the team to a 1-1 record. Brown leads the G-League with 10.2 assists per game and ranks sixth in steals per game with 2.2.
Taylor Funk, F, San Diego Clippers — Funk is in his third professional season and first with the Clippers. San Diego was off last week and will return to action against the Rip City Remix on March 11.
Dexter Akanno, SF, Caen Basket Calvados — Akanno is in his first professional season overseas, having debuted with the VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier of the German BBL before signing with Caen Basket Calvados in the French ProB league. Akanno scored 15 points and grabbed four rebounds in his French debut, an 82-71 win for Caen over Blois.
Dan Akin, PF/C, Kolossos BC — Akin is in his third professional season and first with the Greek Basketball League's Kolossos BC. Kolossos was off last week and will play next against Iraklis on March 14.
Justin Bean, F, Alba Berlin — Bean is in his fourth professional season and third with Alba Berlin of the German BBL. Bean scored six points in 12 minutes played in an 87-54 win over Heidelberg.
Diogo Brito, G, Monbus Obradoiro — Brito is in his fifth professional season and first with Monbus Obradoiro of Spain's LEB Gold. Brito scored a season-high 19 points and added three rebounds and three assists in Obradoiro's 97-77 win over Fuenlabrada.
Kris Clark, G, Guba — Clark, who has been playing professional basketball since 2008, is in his first season in the Azerbaijani Basketball League, starting with Nakhchivan before moving to Guba. Clark scored eight points while also dishing out nine assists and grabbing five rebounds in a 117-116 loss to Sumqayit. In 11 games played with Guba, Clark has averaged 8.9 points and 6.2 assists per game.
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 defeated the UCC Demons 118-109 on March 7.
Aubin Gateretse, C, Hubo Limburg United — Gateretse is in his first professional season with Hubo Limburg United of Belgium's BNXT League. Gateretse scored a career-high 23 points on 11-of-13 shooting and collected seven rebounds in an 82-77 win over Den Helder.
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 16.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in two games last week, where the Blue Wings went 1-1.
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 94-78 win over Klosterneubu.
Shane Rector, G, Zonkeys de Tijuana — Rector is in his ninth professional season, starting the year with Al Shamal Doha of the Qatari QBL before signing with Zonkeys de Tijuana in the Mexican CIBACOPA. Rector averaged 25.0 points, 3.3 assists and 3.3 rebounds in three games played last week, including a 37-point outing against Toros Loguna, as Tijuana went 2-1 in those games.
Chris Smith, G, Hiroshima Dragonflies — Smith is in his 10th professional season and his first with Hiroshima of the Japanese B1 League. Smith averaged 24.5 points, 3.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds as Hiroshima swept two games against Koshigaya.
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