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MBB: Dawgs in the Pros – Christmas Update

A number of former Georgia basketball alumni have continued to impress in their respective professional seasons abroad. Further, four former Bulldogs are competing stateside. 

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the Denver Nuggets are the third seed in the Western Conference with an 18-10 record after a third of the season has been completed. In the last seven games, Caldwell-Pope has helped the team to four wins and three losses. In that span, the guard missed three games due after entering the league’s concussion protocol after a head collision with the Chicago Bulls’ Nicola Vucevic. In his last five games however, Caldwell-Pope has averaged 7.6 point per game, 1.6 rebounds per game and 1.4 assists per game. On the season, the former Bulldog standout has scored 273 points (10.5 ppg), 51 rebounds (2.1 rpg) and 65 assists (2.5 apg). 

In the Eastern Conference, Nic Claxton has helped pace the Brooklyn Nets’ offense with 11.2 point per game, 10.0 rebounds per game and 2.0 blocks per game in the squad’s last seven games. His 15 rebounds against the Washington Wizards on December 8 was a season high this year, and his four blocks against the Golden State Warriors on December 16 tied his season high. Claxton has tallied 206 points (12.1 ppg), 157 rebounds (9.2 rpg), 23 assists (1.4 apg) and 40 blocks (2.4 bpg) this season, and the Nets are in the ninth place in the conference with an even 13-13 record.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, atop the Western Conference, share a league-best 20-5 record with the Boston Celtics. Anthony Edwards has helped the squad to go 5-1 in the last six games, and the club has only lost one of the last 10. Edwards missed out against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 11 due to a hip injury but has featured in every contest since. On the season, the guard continues to impress with 541 points (24.6 ppg), 119 rebounds (5.4 rpg) and 112 assists (5.1 apg), with a season-high 11 assists coming against the Dallas Mavericks on December 4. 

Terry Roberts has continued to showcase his talents for the Long Island Nets in the NBA G League. Through eight games played, Roberts has posted 3.8 points per game, 0.9 assists per game and 0.1 rebounds per game. Long Island, the G League affiliate for the Brooklyn Nets, are currently in fourth place in the Eastern division with a 8-6 record in the Showcase Cup standings.

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

In Aaron Cook’s last two games for Bremerhaven in the German ProA League, the guard has posted 19 and 15 points, respectively, while also adding on five rebounds (2.5 rpg) and nine assists (4.5 apg). On the season, Cook has tallied 63 points (15.8 ppg), 11 rebounds (2.8 rpg), 22 assists (5.5 apg) and 5 steals (1.3 spg). The German side is currently in 14th place in the league with a 4-8 record.

Tyree Crump, with his new side Al Khor in the Qatari Basketball League, has continued to star on offense. Crump has scored 64 points (21.3 ppg) in his last three matchups, while also scoring over 20 points in all but one contest this season. Averagaing 24.4 points per game through seven games played, the guard has tacked on 37 rebounds (5.3 rpg), 35 assists (5.0 apg) and eight steals (1.1 spg) as his side looks to improve on a 1-9 record in league play.

In Poland, 2015 Georgia basketball alumnus Nemanja Djurisic is still competing in the Österreichische Basketball Bundesliga for Stal, and the outfit occupies sixth place in league standings with a 7-6 record. In the last two games, Djurisic has posted 16 points (8.0 ppg), nine rebounds (4.5 rpg) and two assists and a steal. The forward has compiled 107 points (10.7 ppg), 58 rebounds (5.8 rpg) and 26 assists (2.6 apg) through 10 games this season.

Mike Edwards has recently joined Georgian Superleague side Orbi for the remainder of the 2023-24 season. Edwards joins the outfit after completing a spell with Sabah in the Azerbaijan Basketball League. The center has scored 14 points in both of his contests so far this season, while also adding on 12 rebounds (6.0 rpg), one assist, one block and one steal. Orbi sits in eighth place in league standings with a 4-5 record.

Another center making waves abroad, John Florveus is enjoying a successful season with Levski in the Bulgarian National Basketball League. Starting every game for the outfit this season, Florveus has scored 181 points (15.1 ppg), while also adding on 103 rebounds (8.6 rpg), 10 assists (0.8 apg) and nine blocked shots (0.8 bpg). In the last two contests, the center has posted 13 and 14 points, respectively, and his 15 rebounds in the most recent contest against Cherno More is a season high. Levski, with a 5-7 record, are currently seventh in league standings.

In the Turkish Basketball League, 2017 All-SEC first team selection J.J. Frazier has paced the offense for Bornova in the last three games, scoring 20 or more points in each contest. In the most recent game against Kocaeli on December 15, Frazier also reached a season-high in steals with five. Bornova owns a 6-9 record, and on top of Frazier’s 192 points (19.2 ppg), 73 rebounds (7.3 rpg) and 70 assists (7.0 apg) will look to climb the league standings.

Rayshaun Hammonds, with Avtodor in the Russian VTB United League, has helped the club to a 7-11 record so far this season. On the year, Hammonds has accounted for 304 points (16.9 ppg), 123 rebounds (6.8 rpg) 24 assists (1.3 apg) and 18 steals (1.0 spg). In the December 10 contest against Uralmash, the center matched his season-high in assists with three. 

Jailyn Ingram has impressed in his first professional season abroad in North Macedonia with Gostivar in the North Macedonia Prva Liga. Through 12 games played, Ingram has posted 198 points (16.5 ppg), 74 rebounds (6.2 rpg), 32 assists (2.7 apg) and 13 steals (1.1 spg). In his his two contests, the forward has been steady with 13 and 16 points, respectively, but the Turkish side sits in eighth place with a 4-8 record.

After a two-week break, Travis Leslie, playing for Kuwait side Kazma in the East Asia Super League, was back in action. In the last two contests, Leslie has dazzled with 32 points (26.0 ppg), 12 rebounds (6.0 rpg), three assists (1.5 apg) and six steals (3.0 spg). Leslie’s 73 points (24.3 ppg), 23 rebounds (7.7 rpg), six assists (2.0 apg) and eight steals (2.7 spg) have helped Kazma to a 12-2 record and second place in the league standings.

A pair of former Bulldogs are continuing to compete with their respective squads in Japan. For San-en NP, Yante Maten is on a strong run of form posting double-digit scoring outings in nine out of his last 10 contests. The former SEC Player of the Year has helped his side to four wins out of their last five games, contributing 57 points (11.4 ppg), 31 rebounds (6.2 rpg) and 6 assists (1.2 apg) during the stretch. On the season, Maten has scored 273 points (13.0 ppg), with 152 rebounds (7.2 rpg), 37 assists (1.8 apg), 22 blocked shots (1.0 bpg) and 11 steals, and San-en NP is currently first in the Japanese B-1 League central division with an 18-3 record. In the Japanese B-2 League, Terrance Woodbury has the Kumamoto Volters to a 16-7 record and third place in the Western division. In his last four games, Woodbury has posted 92 points (23.0 ppg) and 22 rebounds (5.5 rpg). In the December 16 contest against the Koshigaya Alphas, the guard impressively knocked down all 15 of his free-throw attempts in route to a 31-point outing. On the season, Woodbury has amassed 457 points (19.9 ppg), 99 rebounds (4.3 rpg), 66 assists (2.9 apg) and 25 steals (1.1 spg).  

In the Italian Serie A, another pair of former Bulldogs are competing. Derek Ogbeide has tallied 133 points (11.1 ppg), 101 rebounds (8.4 rpg), 15 assists (1.3 apg) and nine blocked shots (0.8 bpg) so far this season, and his side, Pistoia, are currently in ninth place with a 6-6 record. Ogbeide matched his season-high in blocked shots with two in his December 9 contest against Tortona. Gerald Robinson has scored six points in each of his last two matchups for Scafati in the league as the Italian side sits in 11th place in the league standings with a 5-7 record. This season, Robinson has contributed 117 points (9.8 ppg), 28 rebounds (2.3 rpg), 65 assists (5.4 apg) and 16 steals (1.3 spg). 

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