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 scored 13 points and grabbed four rebounds in a 128-122 loss to Orlando before missing the Cavaliers' last two games due to injury. He is shooting 44.5 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 9.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in Boston's last four games, in which the Celtics went 2-2. The all-time leader in blocks at Utah State posted a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double in a 111-100 win over Washington. He ranks fourth in the league with a .638 field goal percentage, eighth in offensive rebounds with 190 and 13th in blocks with 84 while also ranking 15th in defensive win shares with 3.0.
Darius Brown II, G, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Charge — Brown is in his second professional season, both with the Cleveland organization. Brown averaged 13.8 points, 12.8 assists and 7.3 rebounds in four games played as he helped the Cleveland Charge to a 4-0 record. Brown leads the G-League with 10.4 assists per game and ranks sixth in steals per game with 2.1.
Taylor Funk, F, San Diego Clippers — Funk is in his third professional season and first with the Clippers. Funk averaged 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in San Diego's last four games, where the Clippers went 2-2.
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 seven points and grabbed five rebounds in a 71-59 loss to Rouen.
Dan Akin, PF/C, Kolossos BC — Akin is in his third professional season and first with the Greek Basketball League's Kolossos BC. Akin scored seven points while adding eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals in a 98-85 win over Iraklis.
Justin Bean, F, Alba Berlin — Bean is in his fourth professional season and third with Alba Berlin of the German BBL. Bean averaged 7.0 points in two games played last week, helping Alba to a 1-1 record 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 4.5 points and 4.o rebounds in Obradoiro's two wins last week.
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 seven points while also dishing out six assists and grabbing five rebounds in a 95-88 win over Lankaran.
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 to Killester 100-79 in their season finale on March 14.
Aubin Gateretse, C, Hubo Limburg United — Gateretse is in his first professional season with Hubo Limburg United of Belgium's BNXT League. Gateretse averaged 11.0 points and 8.0 rebounds as Limburg split two games against Union Mons, including posting a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double in a victory on March 15.
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 scored a season-high 25 points and collected nine rebounds in an 87-78 win over Prievidza.
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 averaged 17.0 points in two games last week as Oberwart went 0-2.
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 14.0 points in two Tijuana victories over Mazatlan.
Chris Smith, G, Hiroshima Dragonflies — Smith is in his 10th professional season and his first with Hiroshima of the Japanese B1 League. Smith averaged 22.0 points, and 5.0 rebounds as Hiroshima went 1-2 last week.
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