Monday, June 27, 2016

Men's Basketball in the Pros...

Catching up a little bit...BGSU went back and cataloged the BG players who are playing professionally right now.  Remembering that basketball is one sport where there are more options than just playing in the pros in the US.  There are nice livings and huge life experiences to be had overseas (and some increasing opportunities in North America).  Two members of BG's coach staff are good examples of that...both Coach Huger and Coach Stacy played a dozen years or more in Europe.  (For a complete list of BG players who have played professionally overseas, click here.  You might be surprised to know Mawel Soler, Darion Goins, Ryne Hamblet, Chris Knight...and others...have pro experience.

So, to look at our current inventory...

First, of course, Richaun Holmes is playing in "The Association," when he experienced a rookie season on the least successful team.  Holmes played 51 games at about 14 minutes a game.  He had 11 games where he scored in double figures.

Anthony Henderson played for the Mid-South Echoes in the ABA.  (The ABA is a semi-pro league that actually has 70 teams.  In fact, you can reserve a market on the home page.

A'uston Calhoun has just re-signed with Angers ABC 49 in France.  They compete in NM1, which is the third level of French basketball.  Calhoun scored 15.9 PPG and 6.7 rebounds in 11 games after joining this club.

Jordan Crawford is playing for the Westchester Knights of the D-league.  He played in 49 games, made 6 starts, and scored 8 points a game with 2.4 assists.  He had a big year before that in Cyprus when he scored 27 PPG and was the playoffs MVP, undoubtedly setting the stage to be drafted in the D-league.

Scott Thomas has been very successful in Belgium.  He plays for Hubo Limburg United and led the team in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.  Thomas was named to the Eurobasket.com All-Belgian League First Team.  He is playing in the top league in Belgium.

Mike Dabney (MIKE DABNEY!) a walk-on who saw minutes (and contributed) late in his BG career, is playing in the pros in Mexico for Ostioneros De Guaymas.  Dabney, who has played in 32 games on the season, is averaging 14.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 blocks per game.   They are actually still playing in their playoffs.  The team is in the semi-finals, down 2-1.  The next game is tonight, 6/27.

Nate Miller, the leading cog on the last Falcon regular season title team in 2009, is still active, playing in Isreal.  On the season overall, Miller played in 23 games where he averaged 18.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.7 steals per game.

Martin Samarco, a JUCO G who contributed some scoring to the late Dakich years, playing now for the Panteras de Miranda in the Venezuelan League. In 29 games, Samarco averaged 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in 28.8 minutes of action per contest.

On a coaching standpoint, Jay Larranaga is an assistant for the Boston Celtics and I believe will end up being a Head Coach in the NBA some day.  Also, Cam Black II is a scouting assistant for the Atlanta Hawks.

As always, best wishes to our Falcon alumni.  We are proud of you everyday.

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