University of Georgia Athletics
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Bulldogs Excelling On The Home Front & Abroad
October 24, 2023 | Men's Basketball
Nearly 20 former UGA standouts playing professionally
ATHENS, Ga. — A number of former Georgia Bulldogs are playing abroad professionally in Europe, Asia and Central America. Several of the former players are adapting into key players for their respective squads, and a trio of Georgia basketball alumni are fulfilling star roles in their NBA squads.
The NBA opens regular-season play on Tuesday, with a trio of former Bulldogs coming off stellar campaigns.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope won his second and helped the Denver Nuggets to its first NBA Championship during the 2022-23 season. After finishing the regular season with a 53-29 record, the Nuggets secured the number one overall seed for the playoffs. Denver defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-1), the Phoenix Suns (4-2) and the Los Angeles Lakers (4-0) in route to the NBA Finals against the eight seed Miami Heat. The Nuggets beat the Heat in five games to cap off a 16-4 playoff run. Caldwell-Pope, in his first season with Denver, started all 76 games he played in and averaged 31.3 minutes per game. The former first-round pick scored 822 points (11.5 ppg) during the regular season, along with 208 rebounds (2.7 rpg), 183 assists (2.5 apg) and 112 steals (1.5 spg). In the postseason, Caldwell-Pope played 670 minutes and scored 212 points (10.6 ppg). Further, he tallied 65 rebounds (3.3 rpg), 31 assists (1.6 apg), 26 steals (1.3 spg) and 13 blocked shots.
In the Eastern conference, Nic Claxton enjoyed another successful season with the Brooklyn Nets. The Greenville, S.C., native led the league in field goal percentage, connecting on 70.5 percent of his shots from the floor. The Nets earned the six overall seed in the playoffs after a 45-37 regular season record. Claxton played and started in 76 games and scored 961 points (12.6 ppg). On top of his scoring contributions, the former second-round pick added 702 rebounds (9.2 rpg), 144 assists (1.9 apg) and 65 blocked shots (2.5 bpg). Claxton tallied a season high of 27 points in a January loss against the Detroit Pistons while also posting 13 boards and 2 blocked shots. The Nets bowed out of the 2023 playoffs after the Philadelphia 76ers produced a 4-0 sweep in the first round. In the series, Claxton played 117 minutes while scoring 42 points (10.5 ppg), 25 rebounds (6.3 rpg), 12 assists (3.0 apg), 3 steals and 4 blocks.
Also in the Western conference, former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards helped the Minnesota Timberwolves reach the NBA playoffs during this past season. Edwards started all 79 games he played in and averaged 36.0 minutes. The first-time All-Star scored 1,946 points (24.6 ppg) and added 458 rebounds (5.8 rpg) and 350 assists (4.4 apg). After a 42-40 regular season record, the Timberwolves finished in eighth place in the West, and would have to reach the playoff bracket via the play-in tournament. Minnesota lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first game, and eventually made the bracket as the eight seed after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second game. Minnesota suffered a first-round exit against the Nuggets in the playoffs, but Edwards posted 186 points (26.6 ppg), with a playoff high of 41 in the series. This past summer, Edwards represented Team U.S.A. at the FIBA World Cup in Manilia. Edwards helped the Team U.S.A. to a fourth place finish, while also averaging a team-best 18.9 points per game.
In addition, 15 former Bulldogs are playing professionally overseas. A review of each player's season to date has been compiled below.
First-year professional Braelen Bridges has moved across the pond to play in the British Basketball League in the United Kingdom for the Jelson Holmes DMU Leicester Riders. Bridges has played and started in seven games for the Leicester outfit scoring 62 points (8.9 ppg). On top of his scoring contributions, Bridges has dished out four assists (0.6 apg), 26 rebounds (3.7 rpg) and three steals. The Riders are currently fifth in the NBL standings after a 4-3 start to the 2023-24 season.
Aaron Cook has tallied 96 minutes for Peja in the Kosovo Superliga across five games. The guard has scored 20 points (4.0 ppg), with a season high of eight points. Cook has also connected on all six of his free throw attempts while amassing 20 assists, with a season high of 9. Outside of his contributions in the Superliga, Cook played 24 minutes in Peja's lone FIBA Europe Cup outing, scoring six points, with 2 assists and one steal. Peja sit in first place in the league with a 5-0 record.
Tyree Crump finished the 2023 season with Caneros del Este of the Dominican Republic after helping the side to a 12-9 record. The Bainbridge native played 590 minutes this season (32.8 mpg) while also posting a 40.4 field goal percentage. Across his 18 games played, Crump scored 291 points (16.2 ppg) with 103 assists (5.7 apg) and 67 rebounds (3.7 rpg). Further, the guard is looking for his next contract after a successful season in La Romana.
In Poland, Nemanja Djurisic has helped ARGED BM Stal Ostrow Wielkopolki to a 3-2 start in league play. In two games played Djurisic has tallied 44 minutes and posted a season high nine points against Legia Warszawa. The Montenegro international is enjoying a 50 percent field goal percentage and has notched 15 points (7.5 ppg), 10 assists (5.0 apg), nine rebounds (4.5 rpg) and three steals.
Mike Edwards played in 19 games for Sabah in the Azerbaijan ABL during the 2022-2023 season. Throughout his season, Edwards logged 471 minutes and scored 222 points (11.7 ppg). Impressively, the center connected on 95 of 191 shots field goals (40.7%), while also contributing 20 assists (1.1 apg) and 141 rebounds (7.4 rpg). The center took residence in the paint for the Azerbaijan outfit blocking 19 shots during the regular season (1.0 bpg). Before his time in Azerbaijan, Edwards spent time in Canada with the London Lightning and in Russia with CSKA Moscow and Dinamo Vladivostok.
In the Bulgarian National Basketball League, John Florveus is enjoying a flashy start after three games played for Levski. Florveus has played 81 minutes in the league and posted 49 points (16.3 ppg), thus far. His best outing for the club came in the season opener against Cherno More when the center tallied 18 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. The center has also tallied 26 boards (8.7 rpg), five assists, six blocked shots (2.0 bpg) and one steal. Levski is tied for first place in the Bulgarian NBL with a 3-0 record.
Like Florveus, J.J. Frazier has started the season fast for Bornova in the Turkish TBL. In just two games played, Frazier has amassed 68 minutes played while posting 38 points (19.0 ppg), 12 rebounds (6.0 rpg), 13 assists (6.5 apg) and three steals. The guard posted a season high for points in the league play opener against Yalovaspor with 23 points. The Glennville native has helped the Turkish outfit to a 1-1 start to the season.
Also spending time in Russia is center Rayshaun Hammonds. Hammonds is playing for Avtodor in the Russian VTB United League for the 2023-24 season. In five games played so far, the center has tallied 142 minutes for the Russian basketball club, scoring 79 points (15.8 ppg). Connecting on 28 of 35 shots, Hammonds is boasting an imposing 80.0 field goal percentage, while also tallying 33 boards (6.6 rpg), two blocked shots and four steals. Avtodor has experienced a rough start to the United League season with a 1-4 record, and the Saratov-based team sits 13th place in the standings.
Jordan Harris is playing for Circus Brussels Belgium in the BNXT League that features competition between some of the top clubs in both Belgium and the Netherlands. Harris has logged 96 minutes in five games so far the season and posted 54 points (10.8 ppg). He scored a season high in points in two of his games in the young season with 16-point efforts coming against Liege and Antwerp. The guard has been steady at the free throw line connecting on 19 of 23 attempts (82.6%), along with 19 rebounds (3.8 rpg), six assists and nine steals (1.9 spg). Brussels is currently occupying the top spot in BNXT Leagues standings on nine points with a 4-1 record.
Another first-year professional, Jailyn Ingram, is enjoying his time with Gostivar in the North Macedonian Prva Liga. Four games into his season for the basketball club, Ingram has scored double digits in every game with a season high of 18 points. In total, the forward has scored 58 points (14.5 ppg) for Gostivar on top of 107 minutes played. Ingram has stayed polished at the free throw line missing just one of his attempts while also collecting 16 boards (4.9 rpg), six assists (1.5 apg), three blocked shots and two steals. The North Macedonian club is currently in a multi-way tie for second place in the league after a 2-2 start to the season.
In Poland, Travis Leslie enjoyed another impressive season for Legia Warsaw in the Polish EBL. Across 35 games, Leslie played 919 minutes for the club while also connecting on 202 of his 418 field goal attempts (48.3 percent). The forward posted a season high in points on three occasions during the 2022-23 season with 23 points against Trefl, Sokol and Arka. Also during the season, Leslie notched 213 boards (6.1 rpg), 78 assists (2.2 apg), 18 blocked shots (0.5 bpg) and 42 steals (1.2 spg). Further, during four outings in the European Basketball Champions League, Leslie played four games (96 minutes) and amassed 48 points (12.0 ppg). The 2011 NBA draft pick has moved to Kuwait for the 2023-24 season to play for Kazma in the Kuwait-D1 league.
Former All-SEC first team player and the 2017-18 Associated Press SEC Player of the year Yante Maten is playing for San-en NP in the Japanese B-1 League. Before spending time overseas, the forward spent time with the Miami Heat and its G-League affiliate, the Boston Celtics squad, and the Maine Red Claws. Before joining San-En NP, Maten spent time in the Korean Basketball League with Wonju DB Promy and in the Israeli Premier League with Hapoel Tel Aviv. Maten has played 114 minutes in six games for the Japanese side this season and scored 60 points (10.0 ppg), with his season-high coming recently against Gunma CT with 17 points. On top of his scoring offerings, Maten has commanded the backboard against his opponents putting up 49 rebounds (8.2 rpg), three blocked shots and four steals. San-en NP are currently second in the Japanese B-1 Central division standings with a 5-1 record.
Derek Ogbeide is playing in the Italian Serie A for Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia. Despite a difficult 0-4 start to the season for Pistoia, Ogbeide's consistent output has helped pace the offense with 55 points (13.8 ppg) and 32 rebounds (8.0 rpg) in his 112 minutes played. The center tallied his season-high in points recently against league leaders Brescia with a 19-point outing. Ogbeide has also contributed five assists and five blocked shots. Pistoia will look to improve on the winless start to the young season as they sit tied for last place in the Serie A league standings.
Also in the Italian Serie A is Gerald Robinson who is playing for Givova Scafati Basket. The 2012 University of Georgia basketball alumnus has contributed 42 points (10.5 ppg) and 28 assists (7.0 apg) through four games played and 117 minutes. His season high of 16 points came in two contests against Reggio Emilia and Pesaro. Robinson is 100-percent from the foul line and has added on 12 rebounds (3.0 rpg) and six steals to his early stat line. The Italian club has started the season 2-2 and sits eight in the Serie A.
Terrance Woodbury is playing for Kumavoto Volters in the Japanese B-2 League. Woodbury has played in all six league contests for the Kumamoto outfit this season tallying 168 minutes and 132 points (22.0 ppg). The guard has stached 22 rebounds (3.7 rpg), 19 assists (3.2 apg) and 11 steals (1.8 spg) so far this season with a season high of 36 points coming recently against Ehime Orange Vikings. In the Volters' win over Fukushima Firebonds, Woodbury took over the defensive side of the game with three defensive rebounds, one blocked shot and four steals. Kumamoto is currently in fourth place in the Japanese B-2 West division after a 3-3 start.
The NBA opens regular-season play on Tuesday, with a trio of former Bulldogs coming off stellar campaigns.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope won his second and helped the Denver Nuggets to its first NBA Championship during the 2022-23 season. After finishing the regular season with a 53-29 record, the Nuggets secured the number one overall seed for the playoffs. Denver defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-1), the Phoenix Suns (4-2) and the Los Angeles Lakers (4-0) in route to the NBA Finals against the eight seed Miami Heat. The Nuggets beat the Heat in five games to cap off a 16-4 playoff run. Caldwell-Pope, in his first season with Denver, started all 76 games he played in and averaged 31.3 minutes per game. The former first-round pick scored 822 points (11.5 ppg) during the regular season, along with 208 rebounds (2.7 rpg), 183 assists (2.5 apg) and 112 steals (1.5 spg). In the postseason, Caldwell-Pope played 670 minutes and scored 212 points (10.6 ppg). Further, he tallied 65 rebounds (3.3 rpg), 31 assists (1.6 apg), 26 steals (1.3 spg) and 13 blocked shots.
In the Eastern conference, Nic Claxton enjoyed another successful season with the Brooklyn Nets. The Greenville, S.C., native led the league in field goal percentage, connecting on 70.5 percent of his shots from the floor. The Nets earned the six overall seed in the playoffs after a 45-37 regular season record. Claxton played and started in 76 games and scored 961 points (12.6 ppg). On top of his scoring contributions, the former second-round pick added 702 rebounds (9.2 rpg), 144 assists (1.9 apg) and 65 blocked shots (2.5 bpg). Claxton tallied a season high of 27 points in a January loss against the Detroit Pistons while also posting 13 boards and 2 blocked shots. The Nets bowed out of the 2023 playoffs after the Philadelphia 76ers produced a 4-0 sweep in the first round. In the series, Claxton played 117 minutes while scoring 42 points (10.5 ppg), 25 rebounds (6.3 rpg), 12 assists (3.0 apg), 3 steals and 4 blocks.
Also in the Western conference, former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards helped the Minnesota Timberwolves reach the NBA playoffs during this past season. Edwards started all 79 games he played in and averaged 36.0 minutes. The first-time All-Star scored 1,946 points (24.6 ppg) and added 458 rebounds (5.8 rpg) and 350 assists (4.4 apg). After a 42-40 regular season record, the Timberwolves finished in eighth place in the West, and would have to reach the playoff bracket via the play-in tournament. Minnesota lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first game, and eventually made the bracket as the eight seed after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second game. Minnesota suffered a first-round exit against the Nuggets in the playoffs, but Edwards posted 186 points (26.6 ppg), with a playoff high of 41 in the series. This past summer, Edwards represented Team U.S.A. at the FIBA World Cup in Manilia. Edwards helped the Team U.S.A. to a fourth place finish, while also averaging a team-best 18.9 points per game.
In addition, 15 former Bulldogs are playing professionally overseas. A review of each player's season to date has been compiled below.
First-year professional Braelen Bridges has moved across the pond to play in the British Basketball League in the United Kingdom for the Jelson Holmes DMU Leicester Riders. Bridges has played and started in seven games for the Leicester outfit scoring 62 points (8.9 ppg). On top of his scoring contributions, Bridges has dished out four assists (0.6 apg), 26 rebounds (3.7 rpg) and three steals. The Riders are currently fifth in the NBL standings after a 4-3 start to the 2023-24 season.
Aaron Cook has tallied 96 minutes for Peja in the Kosovo Superliga across five games. The guard has scored 20 points (4.0 ppg), with a season high of eight points. Cook has also connected on all six of his free throw attempts while amassing 20 assists, with a season high of 9. Outside of his contributions in the Superliga, Cook played 24 minutes in Peja's lone FIBA Europe Cup outing, scoring six points, with 2 assists and one steal. Peja sit in first place in the league with a 5-0 record.
Tyree Crump finished the 2023 season with Caneros del Este of the Dominican Republic after helping the side to a 12-9 record. The Bainbridge native played 590 minutes this season (32.8 mpg) while also posting a 40.4 field goal percentage. Across his 18 games played, Crump scored 291 points (16.2 ppg) with 103 assists (5.7 apg) and 67 rebounds (3.7 rpg). Further, the guard is looking for his next contract after a successful season in La Romana.
In Poland, Nemanja Djurisic has helped ARGED BM Stal Ostrow Wielkopolki to a 3-2 start in league play. In two games played Djurisic has tallied 44 minutes and posted a season high nine points against Legia Warszawa. The Montenegro international is enjoying a 50 percent field goal percentage and has notched 15 points (7.5 ppg), 10 assists (5.0 apg), nine rebounds (4.5 rpg) and three steals.
Mike Edwards played in 19 games for Sabah in the Azerbaijan ABL during the 2022-2023 season. Throughout his season, Edwards logged 471 minutes and scored 222 points (11.7 ppg). Impressively, the center connected on 95 of 191 shots field goals (40.7%), while also contributing 20 assists (1.1 apg) and 141 rebounds (7.4 rpg). The center took residence in the paint for the Azerbaijan outfit blocking 19 shots during the regular season (1.0 bpg). Before his time in Azerbaijan, Edwards spent time in Canada with the London Lightning and in Russia with CSKA Moscow and Dinamo Vladivostok.
In the Bulgarian National Basketball League, John Florveus is enjoying a flashy start after three games played for Levski. Florveus has played 81 minutes in the league and posted 49 points (16.3 ppg), thus far. His best outing for the club came in the season opener against Cherno More when the center tallied 18 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots. The center has also tallied 26 boards (8.7 rpg), five assists, six blocked shots (2.0 bpg) and one steal. Levski is tied for first place in the Bulgarian NBL with a 3-0 record.
Like Florveus, J.J. Frazier has started the season fast for Bornova in the Turkish TBL. In just two games played, Frazier has amassed 68 minutes played while posting 38 points (19.0 ppg), 12 rebounds (6.0 rpg), 13 assists (6.5 apg) and three steals. The guard posted a season high for points in the league play opener against Yalovaspor with 23 points. The Glennville native has helped the Turkish outfit to a 1-1 start to the season.
Also spending time in Russia is center Rayshaun Hammonds. Hammonds is playing for Avtodor in the Russian VTB United League for the 2023-24 season. In five games played so far, the center has tallied 142 minutes for the Russian basketball club, scoring 79 points (15.8 ppg). Connecting on 28 of 35 shots, Hammonds is boasting an imposing 80.0 field goal percentage, while also tallying 33 boards (6.6 rpg), two blocked shots and four steals. Avtodor has experienced a rough start to the United League season with a 1-4 record, and the Saratov-based team sits 13th place in the standings.
Jordan Harris is playing for Circus Brussels Belgium in the BNXT League that features competition between some of the top clubs in both Belgium and the Netherlands. Harris has logged 96 minutes in five games so far the season and posted 54 points (10.8 ppg). He scored a season high in points in two of his games in the young season with 16-point efforts coming against Liege and Antwerp. The guard has been steady at the free throw line connecting on 19 of 23 attempts (82.6%), along with 19 rebounds (3.8 rpg), six assists and nine steals (1.9 spg). Brussels is currently occupying the top spot in BNXT Leagues standings on nine points with a 4-1 record.
Another first-year professional, Jailyn Ingram, is enjoying his time with Gostivar in the North Macedonian Prva Liga. Four games into his season for the basketball club, Ingram has scored double digits in every game with a season high of 18 points. In total, the forward has scored 58 points (14.5 ppg) for Gostivar on top of 107 minutes played. Ingram has stayed polished at the free throw line missing just one of his attempts while also collecting 16 boards (4.9 rpg), six assists (1.5 apg), three blocked shots and two steals. The North Macedonian club is currently in a multi-way tie for second place in the league after a 2-2 start to the season.
In Poland, Travis Leslie enjoyed another impressive season for Legia Warsaw in the Polish EBL. Across 35 games, Leslie played 919 minutes for the club while also connecting on 202 of his 418 field goal attempts (48.3 percent). The forward posted a season high in points on three occasions during the 2022-23 season with 23 points against Trefl, Sokol and Arka. Also during the season, Leslie notched 213 boards (6.1 rpg), 78 assists (2.2 apg), 18 blocked shots (0.5 bpg) and 42 steals (1.2 spg). Further, during four outings in the European Basketball Champions League, Leslie played four games (96 minutes) and amassed 48 points (12.0 ppg). The 2011 NBA draft pick has moved to Kuwait for the 2023-24 season to play for Kazma in the Kuwait-D1 league.
Former All-SEC first team player and the 2017-18 Associated Press SEC Player of the year Yante Maten is playing for San-en NP in the Japanese B-1 League. Before spending time overseas, the forward spent time with the Miami Heat and its G-League affiliate, the Boston Celtics squad, and the Maine Red Claws. Before joining San-En NP, Maten spent time in the Korean Basketball League with Wonju DB Promy and in the Israeli Premier League with Hapoel Tel Aviv. Maten has played 114 minutes in six games for the Japanese side this season and scored 60 points (10.0 ppg), with his season-high coming recently against Gunma CT with 17 points. On top of his scoring offerings, Maten has commanded the backboard against his opponents putting up 49 rebounds (8.2 rpg), three blocked shots and four steals. San-en NP are currently second in the Japanese B-1 Central division standings with a 5-1 record.
Derek Ogbeide is playing in the Italian Serie A for Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia. Despite a difficult 0-4 start to the season for Pistoia, Ogbeide's consistent output has helped pace the offense with 55 points (13.8 ppg) and 32 rebounds (8.0 rpg) in his 112 minutes played. The center tallied his season-high in points recently against league leaders Brescia with a 19-point outing. Ogbeide has also contributed five assists and five blocked shots. Pistoia will look to improve on the winless start to the young season as they sit tied for last place in the Serie A league standings.
Also in the Italian Serie A is Gerald Robinson who is playing for Givova Scafati Basket. The 2012 University of Georgia basketball alumnus has contributed 42 points (10.5 ppg) and 28 assists (7.0 apg) through four games played and 117 minutes. His season high of 16 points came in two contests against Reggio Emilia and Pesaro. Robinson is 100-percent from the foul line and has added on 12 rebounds (3.0 rpg) and six steals to his early stat line. The Italian club has started the season 2-2 and sits eight in the Serie A.
Terrance Woodbury is playing for Kumavoto Volters in the Japanese B-2 League. Woodbury has played in all six league contests for the Kumamoto outfit this season tallying 168 minutes and 132 points (22.0 ppg). The guard has stached 22 rebounds (3.7 rpg), 19 assists (3.2 apg) and 11 steals (1.8 spg) so far this season with a season high of 36 points coming recently against Ehime Orange Vikings. In the Volters' win over Fukushima Firebonds, Woodbury took over the defensive side of the game with three defensive rebounds, one blocked shot and four steals. Kumamoto is currently in fourth place in the Japanese B-2 West division after a 3-3 start.
Players Mentioned
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