Shockers overseas: Updates on pro careers of former Wichita State basketball players
While the Wichita State men’s basketball team is preparing for the start of the 2021-22 season, it’s also the start of the season for many former Shockers currently playing professionally overseas.
The Eagle has compiled a list of WSU alumni players who are current pros and provided statistical updates on each one.
2020 graduates
After receiving an extended look in NBA Summer League, Jaime Echenique appears to be set to play for the Washington Wizards’ G-League team this season, the Capital City Go-Go. After a strong rookie season in Spain’s top-tier league where he averaged 12.7 points and 4.6 rebounds, Echenique is now closing in on his dream of becoming the first Colombian-born player to play a regular-season game in the NBA. Echenique should begin NBA G League play later this week.
2019 graduates
After spending last season in the second-tier Italian league, Markis McDuffie earned a promotion to the first-tier division in Italy as the leading scorer for Napoli. In six league games so far this season, McDuffie is averaging a team-best 15.2 point shooting 68.8% on two-pointers, 37.5% on three-pointers and 90.9% on free throws. In four Supercoppa Cup games, McDuffie is also averaging a team-high 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
In the second season of his professional career, Samajae Haynes-Jones has landed a starting point guard role for Pecsi in the top league in Hungary. Through eight games so far this season, Haynes-Jones is averaging a team-best 19.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.3 steals. He’s also shooting 50% on two-pointers, 42% on three-pointers and 93% from the foul line so far this season.
2018 graduates
The former Shocker who has reached the highest level of professional basketball outside the NBA is Conner Frankamp, who is playing in the EuroLeague for prestigious club Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia. After three straight years of scoring at least 16 points in lesser leagues, Frankamp received the big-time bump-up in competition this summer. In a reserve role, Frankamp is averaging 6.6 points in 14.6 minutes per game in seven EuroLeague games this season and averaging 2.3 points in three league games.
After successful stops among the best leagues in the world in Russia, Italy and Turkey, Rashard Kelly has earned a spot in another top-tier league this season with a starting forward spot with Dijon in the top France league. Kelly has already made a strong impression in the team’s first two Champions League games, averaging 17.0 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists. In six league games this season, Kelly is averaging 9.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 steals.
Another 2018 graduate with a strong start to their professional career has been Darral Willis, who is now playing in the top Russia league for Enisey. In just two league games, Willis is averaging 16.0 points and 8.0 rebounds. He’s also played one game in the Europe Cup and finished with 11 points and eight rebounds for the club.
Back for his second straight year playing in his home country, Rauno Nurger has found a home with Kalev-Cramo in the Estonia league. After averaging 10.0 rebounds and 6.0 rebounds last season, Nurger is averaging 10.8 points and 7.0 rebounds in four games in VTB United League play. In 14 games spread across all competitions this season, Nurger is averaging 8.3 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 53.8% from the floor.
After three straight seasons of averaging at least 16 points, Zach Brown received a significant bump up for this season by joining the Hamburg Towers in Germany’s top-tier league. Brown is averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in the team’s two EuroCup games so far, while he is averaging 3.5 points through the first six league games.
2016 graduates
It does not appear that Bush Wamukota is currently playing professionally, although he did play this past season in the newly-formed Basketball Africa League. The 28-year-old, 7-footer averaged 6.0 points and 6.0 rebounds for his short stint with the Patriots BBC.
2015 graduates
Following a six-year run in Germany’s top league, Darius Carter has found a new home this season in Spain’s third-tier league playing for Club Ourense as the starting power forward. Through four games, Carter is averaging 5.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game.
It does not appear that Tekele Cotton is currently playing professionally. The 28-year-old guard most recently played for Cento in the second-tier Italian league last season, averaging a team-high 14.5 points to go along with 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
2014 graduates
After a brief stint in Saudi Arabia last year, Cleanthony Early recently signed with Parque Hostos in the Dominican Republic league. In his first game, Early scored 17 points to go along with seven rebounds and three assists in a 91-78 victory.
Since leaving WSU in 2014, Kadeem Coleby has found a home in Japan’s top-tier league with the Akita Northern Happinets. The soon-to-be 32-year-old, 6-foot-9 center has played for the team since the 2018-19 season and has been a consistent producer. Coleby averaged 12.8 points and 8.4 rebounds in 2019, 10.1 points and 6.9 rebounds in 2020 and 12.3 points and 7.9 rebounds last season. Coleby is once again listed on the team’s roster, but has not played in a game yet this season.
After spending most of his time as a professional in South America, Nick Wiggins has made the move to the Dominican Republic for this season. The 30-year-old, 6-foot-6 wing is averaging 6.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 steals in 18.1 minutes per game for Indios de San Francisco.
After taking off last season, Chadrack Lufile has returned to the professional ranks with Miercurea Ciuc in the top league in Romania. The 6-foot-9, 31-year-old forward had been playing with his home county, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the African Championships. Lufile has not played professionally since the 2019-20 season when he spent time in Argentina’s top league. He just played in his first game of the season, posting a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds.
2013 graduates
The former floor general of the Shockers’ 2013 Final Four team, Malcolm Armstead, has found a new home playing in Greece’s second-tier league for Enosi Kavalas. The team is off to a 2-1 start under Armstead’s control, as the 32-year-old, 6-foot guard is averaging 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists early.
2012 graduates
After averaging a career-best 16.8 points last season in Sweden, Toure’ Murry is preparing for an upcoming season in Kuwait for Al Qadsia. Murry, who will soon turn 32, is entering his 10th professional season and is coming off his best season to date. Not only did the 6-foot-6 guard average 16.8 points and lead BC Lulea to the playoffs, Murry also averaged 2.6 rebounds and 3.0 rebounds.
The arrival of Joe Ragland has already turned Hapoel Holon into a frontrunner in Israel’s Winner League. The team is off to a 3-1 start with Ragland averaging 12.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists as the team’s starting point guard. The soon-to-be 32-year-old is in the midst of his 10th professional season in a career where he has played in some of the best leagues in the world.
Japan has become the home away from home for Garrett Stutz, the 7-footer who has been a full-fledged star there for the last three seasons. He averaged 20.8 points and 14.4 rebounds in Japan’s second-tier league, then averaged 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds when he bumped up to the top-tier league last season. Now at 31, Stutz is back in the second-tier league playing for the Saga Ballooners and averaging 16.5 points and 10 rebounds through the first two games of the season.
2010 graduates
Maybe the most impressive international career has come from the oldest AfterShocks player in Clevin Hannah, who is still a starting guard in Spain’s top-tier Liga Endesa for MoraBanc Andorra with his 34th birthday coming up in November. The 5-foot-11 guard has spent seven of his 11 seasons professionally playing in Spain’s top league, while he has carved out a home the last three seasons with Andorra. Hannah is off to a scorching start to the 2021-22 season, averaging 13.5 points on 56.5% shooting through eight games, including a 20-for-36 start from beyond the arc. Hannah recently scored a career-best 33 points, which featured 12-of-16 shooting and five three-pointers, and added four assists in a 76-75 loss to Valencia to earn MVP honors for Week 7 in the ACB League for the first time in his career.
After turning pro following two seasons at WSU from 2006-08, Gal Mekel has carved out a successful career as a point guard in some of the top leagues in the world. He’s spent the last three seasons playing in Spain’s top-tier league and in an ironic twist, Mekel is now teammates with former Shocker Clevin Hannah, the point guard brought in to replace him following his departure. Injuries have plagued Mekel, now 33, in recent seasons and he’s only played in one game this season due to another injury.
2009 graduates
With his 36th birthday approaching in December, Ramon Clemente is still plugging away down in Puerto Rico. He is in the midst of his 13th professional season for the Quebradillas Pirates, where the 6-foot-7 forward is averaging 6.9 points and 5.0 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game off the bench.
.jpg)