Former Men’s Basketball Players Thriving Overseas
1/27/2021 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – Since hanging up their UB jerseys, a number of former men's basketball players have gone on to have successful careers playing professionally oversees. Currently, over a dozen former men's basketball players are playing professionally in Europe.
Former MAC Player of the Year Mitchell Watt has enjoyed a long career playing professionally and is currently lacing up his high tops in Italy. He is in his fourth season with Umana Reyer Venezia a team in Italian Serie A, the highest tier of basketball in Italy. He led Reyer Venezia to the FIBA Europe Cup Championship in 2018, the Italian League Championship in 2019 and the Italian Cup Championship in 2020.
Last season, Watt was named Italian Serie A First Team and Italian Serie A All-Defensive First Team. He is averaging 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game this season.
One of Watt's current teammates is another former UB standout, Wes Clark. The former UB point guard is in his third season playing professionally in Italy. This season, he is averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for Reyer Venezia. Clark also played for a season in Germany.
Also playing in the same league as Watt and Clark is Nick Perkins. The three-time MAC Sixth Man of the Year began his career playing in Japan where he averaged 20 points per game over two seasons. This year he is playing for New Basket Brindisi in Italy and is averaging 12 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
On January 17, Perkins and Brindisi lost to Watt, Clark and Reyer Venezia, 89-77.
Former All-MAC point guard Davonta Jordan is in his first season playing professionally in Bulgaria. He is averaging 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game for Balkan Botevgrad of the Bulgarian NBL.
Jordan's teammate at UB, Jeremy Harris, is in his second season playing oversees. He began his career playing in Hungary before moving to Sweden for his sophomore campaign. Harris plays for Boras Basket of the Swedish Basketball League. He is averaging 14 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
2015 MAC Tournament MVP Xavier Ford began his career playing in the NBA G League before continuing his career in Europe. Ford might be the most well-traveled Bull, playing in five different countries on three different continents over his career. He began this season in France before recently signing with Union Neuchatel Basket in the Swedish Basketball League.
Corey Raley-Ross is currently playing in North Macedona after stops in Spain and Kosovo. Playing for Kumanovo, he is averaging 19 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season.
Other former Bulls playing oversees include Titus Robinson (Cyprus), Blake Hamilton (Cyprus), Antwain Johnson (Georgia), John Boyer (Germany) and Raheem Johnson (Georgia).
Back in the United States, the 2019 MAC Player of the Year CJ Massinburg will begin his second season with Long Island Nets of the NBA G-League. They will participate in the NBA G League's 2021 season at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., in February.
Former MAC Player of the Year Mitchell Watt has enjoyed a long career playing professionally and is currently lacing up his high tops in Italy. He is in his fourth season with Umana Reyer Venezia a team in Italian Serie A, the highest tier of basketball in Italy. He led Reyer Venezia to the FIBA Europe Cup Championship in 2018, the Italian League Championship in 2019 and the Italian Cup Championship in 2020.
Last season, Watt was named Italian Serie A First Team and Italian Serie A All-Defensive First Team. He is averaging 14.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game this season.
One of Watt's current teammates is another former UB standout, Wes Clark. The former UB point guard is in his third season playing professionally in Italy. This season, he is averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game for Reyer Venezia. Clark also played for a season in Germany.
Also playing in the same league as Watt and Clark is Nick Perkins. The three-time MAC Sixth Man of the Year began his career playing in Japan where he averaged 20 points per game over two seasons. This year he is playing for New Basket Brindisi in Italy and is averaging 12 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
On January 17, Perkins and Brindisi lost to Watt, Clark and Reyer Venezia, 89-77.
Former All-MAC point guard Davonta Jordan is in his first season playing professionally in Bulgaria. He is averaging 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game for Balkan Botevgrad of the Bulgarian NBL.
Jordan's teammate at UB, Jeremy Harris, is in his second season playing oversees. He began his career playing in Hungary before moving to Sweden for his sophomore campaign. Harris plays for Boras Basket of the Swedish Basketball League. He is averaging 14 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
2015 MAC Tournament MVP Xavier Ford began his career playing in the NBA G League before continuing his career in Europe. Ford might be the most well-traveled Bull, playing in five different countries on three different continents over his career. He began this season in France before recently signing with Union Neuchatel Basket in the Swedish Basketball League.
Corey Raley-Ross is currently playing in North Macedona after stops in Spain and Kosovo. Playing for Kumanovo, he is averaging 19 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season.
Other former Bulls playing oversees include Titus Robinson (Cyprus), Blake Hamilton (Cyprus), Antwain Johnson (Georgia), John Boyer (Germany) and Raheem Johnson (Georgia).
Back in the United States, the 2019 MAC Player of the Year CJ Massinburg will begin his second season with Long Island Nets of the NBA G-League. They will participate in the NBA G League's 2021 season at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla., in February.
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