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MBB: Dawgs in the Pros

Several Georgia basketball alums are reaching the crucial points in their respective professional seasons across the world. Four former Bulldogs are continuing to grow into strong roles with their squads stateside.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the Denver Nuggets have continued a strong start to the 2023-24 NBA season sitting in the third place in the Western Conference with a 14-7 record. Caldwell-Pope equaled his season-high in points on November 24 in a NBA In-Season Tournament group play loss against the Houston Rockets. In the past two weeks, the shooting guard averaged 13.1 points per game, 3.3 assists per game and 2.4 rebounds per game. Caldwell-Pope’s season totals sit at 235 points (11.2 ppg), 58 assists (2.8 apg), 43 rebounds (2.0 rpg) and 35 steals (1.7 spg). 

In the Eastern Conference, Nic Claxton is in strong form following his return from as injury in the Brooklyn Nets’ season opener. In the last five games, Claxton has averaged 5.2 points per game, along with 9.2 rebounds per game and 2.6 blocked shots per game. His 14 rebounds against the Charlotte Hornets on November 30 is a season-high. Averaging 12.7 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game and 1.5 assists per game, the center has helped the Nets to a 10-9 start to the season, and the Atlantic division team sits in ninth place in the conference. 

Back in the Western Conference, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves own a league-best 15-4 record and occupy the top spot in the conference. The former No. 1 overall selection has missed the last two games due to injury but has continued to put together a stellar season that is good for top fifteen in scoring across the league (26.2 ppg). In his last four games before his injury absence, Edwards averaged 27.8 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game and 5.0 assists per game. 

In addition, Terry Roberts, Georgia’s leading scorer last season, has joined the roster of the Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets. Robters is 1.5 points, 0.3 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game in four games played for the Nets. Long Island is 5-4 and tied for fourth in the East Regional of the G League’s Showcase Cup.

Fifteen former Bulldogs have been underway in their respective seasons overseas. A review of each player’s season to date has been compiled below.

Braelen Bridges and the Leicester Riders in the United Kingdom’s British Basketball League have parted ways. In 12 games played for the Leicester outfit, Bridges complied 93 points (7.8 ppg), 43 rebounds (3.6 rpg) and 11 assists (0.9 apg). 

Aaron Cook is underway with his new team Bremerhaven in the German ProA League after completing a spell with Peja in the Kosovo Superliga. After two games played, Cook has totaled 29 points (14.5 ppg), 6 rebounds (3.0 rpg) and 13 assists (6.5 apg). The German side is 3-7 on the season and currently sits in 15th place in the league standings. 

In the Qatari Basketball League, Tyree Crump has continued to impress for his new team, Al Khor. In his last three starts Crump has scored 84 points (28.0 ppg), while also adding on 15 assists (5.0 apg) and 14 rebounds (4.7 rpg). His 34 points in his most recent contest against Al Ahli Doha is a season high. Al Khor sits in eighth place in the QBL standings and own a 1-6 record. 

Nemanja Djurisic and Polish side Stal are off to a 6-5 start to the Polish OBL season and are tied for third place in the standings. In the last two matchups, Djurisic has scored 11.0 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game and 4.5 assists per game. On the season, the forward has amassed 91 points (11.4 ppg), 49 rebounds (6.1 rpg), 24 assists (3.0 apg) and eight steals (1.0 spg). 

After spending the 2022-23 season with Azerbaijan side Sabah, Mike Edwards has signed with Georgian Superleague side Tkibuli Orbi. Edwards has not yet recorded playing time for Orbi but concluded the season in Azerbaijan with 222 points (11.7 ppg), 141 rebounds (7.4 rpg), 20 assists (1.1 apg) and 19 blocked shots (1.0 bpg). 

John Florveus, playing for Levski in the Bulgarian National Basketball League, has scored in double digits in every contest so far this season. In his last three games, Florveus has compiled 50 points (16.7 ppg) and 21 rebounds (7.0 rpg). The center recorded a season high 19 in points against Rilski on November 24. The Bulgarian club is even on the season with a 5-5 record, good for a tie for fourth place in the league standings.

Although Bornova has endured a challenging start to the Turkish Basketball League season, occupying 15th place and owning a 5-8 record, J.J. Frazier has continued to pace the team’s offense. In his last two games, Frazier has tallied 34 points (17.0 ppg), while also contributing 14 rebounds (7.0 rpg) and 12 assists (6.0 apg). On the season, the guard is averaging 18.6 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game and 6.6 assists per game. 

In the Russian VTB United League, Avtodor’s Rayshaun Hammonds recently recorded a season high in points after posting 29 against Minsk on November 22. This season, Hammonds has tallied 249 points (17.8 ppg) and 16 assists (1.1 apg), and his four rebounds in his most recent contest saw him reach the century mark for boards on the season. Avtodor is currently 5-9 and is in 12th place in the league standings.

Jordan Harris and Circus Brussels Basketball are tied for third place in the BNXT League with a 6-5 record and 17 points. Harris scored 15 and 20 in his last two games, respectively, and his four steals against Leuven on November 26 is a season high. The guard has compiled 136 points (12.4 ppg), 58 rebounds (5.3 rpg), 23 assists (2.1 apg) and 25 steals (2.3 spg) this year.

Jailyn Ingram is continuing to impress in the North Macedonian Prva Liga after a notching a season high in points on November 25 against Akademija FMP with 30. Averaging 16.9 points per game, Ingram has helped Gostivar to a steady 4-5 record and fourth place in the league stadnings. On top of his 169 points this season, the forward has contributed 62 rebounds (6.2 rpg), 26 assists (2.6 apg), nine blocked shots and eight steals.

Travis Leslie has played two games in the 2023-24 season in Kuwait for Kazma in the West Asia Super League. In those two contests, Leslie has scored 48 points (24.0 ppg), along with adding 16 rebounds (8.0 rpg), three assists and five steals. Kazma boasts a 12-2 record on the season, and the outfit is currently holding the second spot in the league standings.

Two Bulldogs are still competing in Japan, with Yante Maten playing for San-en NP in the Japanese B1 League and Terrance Woodbury suiting up for Kumamoto Volters in the Japanese B2 League. San-en NP returned to action after a near one-month break in action, and Maten scored 35 points (17.5 ppg) to help his side earn two more victories. On the season, the former SEC Player of the Year has amassed 206 points (12.9 ppg), 121 rebounds (7.6 rpg) and 31 assists (1.9 apg). San-en NP is 14-2 and first in the Central Division of the B1 League. Woodbury eclipsed 350 points this season for the Kumamoto Volters after a 21-point outing against Shizouka on December 3 saw his season point total reach 365 (19.2 ppg). On top of his scoring, Woodbury’s 77 rebounds (4.1 rpg), 56 assists (2.9 apg) and 23 steals (1.2 spg) have helped his side to a 12-7 record while sitting in third place in the West division of the B2 League.

The other pair of Bulldogs playing abroad in the same country is Derek Ogbeide and Gerald Robinson, in the Italian Serie A. Ogbeide, playing for Pistoia, has tallied 112 points (11.2 ppg), 80 rebounds (8.0 rpg) and 11 assists (1.1 apg) on the season. Ogbeide has scored in double digits in five of his 10 contests this season and has helped Pistoia to fifth place in the league standings with a 5-5 record. Robinson’s squad, Scafati, is one game back in the league standings with a 4-6 record. The guard has been steady in his last two games for the Italian side scoring seven points in each outing, while also tying his season high in rebounds with four in the November 25 contest against Sassari. On the season, Robinson has totaled 105 points (10.5 ppg), 26 rebounds (2.6 rpg) and 54 assists (5.4 apg). 

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