Two-time NBA Champion Head Coach… MVP of the top league in Germany… Triple-doubles… Averaging 30 points per game in China… multiple EuroCup and EuroChallenge qualifiers… These are some of the many highlights from the 15 former University of Portland men's basketball players still active in professional organizations around the world. With international leagues ending their respective seasons, here is a 2017-18 update on the various Portland alums still active in the professional ranks.

Name (Years at UP), Team (League)

Erik Spoelstra (1988-92), Head Coach, Miami HEAT (NBA): Spoelstra guided Miami to its eighth NBA Playoff appearance in his 10 seasons as head coach… Miami won the Southeast Division with a 44-38 regular season record and was the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, falling in five games to the Philadelphia 76ers… Spoelstra's decorated head coaching career at Miami includes four straight NBA Finals appearances from 2011-14 with the franchise winning back-to-back NBA titles in 2012 and 2013.   

Pooh Jeter (2002-06), Tianjin Gold Lions, Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)/Ukraine National Team: Jeter, who played the 2010-11 season in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings, recently finished his sixth season in China… he started all 38 games for Tianjin and averaged 30.0 points per game, which ranked eighth among all players in the CBA, while his 6.2 assists per game ranked seventh in the league… also averaged a team-high 1.8 steals per game and grabbed 4.3 rebounds per game… shot 57 percent from the field, 39 percent from three-point range and 92 percent at the free throw line… Jeter, who began his professional career in the Ukraine, was granted Ukrainian citizenship and has played for the country's national team… he helped Ukraine qualify for the 2013 FIBA World Cup and returned to the team in February for a pair 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifying wins.


Ben Sullivan (2004-07), Assistant Coach, Atlanta Hawks (NBA): Sullivan worked in video operations for the San Antonio Spurs from 2012-14 and then was hired as an Assistant Coach with the Atlanta Hawks in August of 2014… Sullivan helped the Hawks to three consecutive playoff appearances in his first three years on staff; including a 60-win 2014-15 season and trip to the Eastern Conference Finals… the franchise went through a rebuilding process last year and finished with a 24-58 record… Head coach Mike Budenholzer and the Hawks mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the season.
 

Nik Raivio (2007-10), Legnano (Italy Serie A2): Raivio filled the stat sheet with another monster season for Legnano in Italy's second division… he averaged 18.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game… Raivio shot 51 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 81 percent at the foul line… Raivio's pro career began in the NBA G-League out of college playing one year with the New Mexico Thunderbirds before heading to Europe… he spent four years in Hungary's top league with a pair of teams before settling the last three years with Legnano.

Jasonn Hannibal (2007-11), Eastern Long Lions (Hong Kong Basketball Association): Hannibal has spent 2018 affiliated with the Eastern Long Lions of the HKBA… be sure to check out the story on how his professional journey earned him a spot on last year's Washington Wizards NBA Summer League team… be sure to check out the carnage he took out on this hoop a few years back (nice shirt!).


 

Taishi Ito (2007-11), Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo (Japan): Ito recently completed his seventh professional season in Japan's top professional league… he appeared in 52 games and averaged 14 minutes per game for Hokkaido… Ito averaged 3.2 points and 1.7 assists per game and played alongside former Santa Clara big-man, Marc Trasolini… Ito played his first six pro seasons with Toyota Alvark and has started 192 career games… he was a key contributor when Toyota Alvark won the 2012 Japanese Superleague title.

Luke Sikma (2007-11), ALBA Berlin (German BBL): Sikma continues to play at the highest level in Europe and earned Most Valuable Player honors in the top German league… Sikma is averaging team-highs of 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game in leading ALBA Berlin to a 29-5 record, second place regular season finish and had a solid debut for ALBA during EuroCup competition… he dished out 4.2 assists per game, shot 62 percent from the field, 45 percent from three-point range and 75 percent at the free throw line… ALBA is ahead 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the league's postseason against EWE Baskets with game four scheduled tonight… Sikma's pro career has blossomed in Europe as he helped lead Valencia (Spain) to the team's first-ever Spanish league title in 2017 and qualify for the EuroCup… prior to signing with ALBA Berlin, Sikma spent his entire professional career in Spain and played for La Palma, Autocid Burgos and Iberostar Tenerife before joining Valencia in 2015.


 

TJ Campbell (2008-10), Turk Telekom (Turkey-TBL): Campbell was the starting point guard and led Turk Telekom to a league-best 29-5 record and promotion to the Turkish Basketball Super League… he averaged team-highs of 14.9 points, 5.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game… Campbell was remarkably efficient, shooting 55 percent from the field, 45 percent from three-point range and 83 percent at the foul line… Campbell has had a strong pro career that began with one year in the G-League (Canton) during the 2011-12 season… He went overseas and played four years in France, helping Dijon and Nanterre qualify for the EuroChallenge before playing the last two years in Turkey with Socar Petkimspor in 2016-17 and now Turk Telekom… his professional highlight was helping Nanterre win the 2015 EuroChallenge Final with a remarkable last second shot!



Nemanja Mitrovic (2008-12), Araberri (Spain-LEB Gold): A teammate of fellow Pilot Alec Wintering, Mitrovic was a sharpshooter off the bench for Araberri and had a very good season… he averaged 10.2 points over 31 total games… Mitrovic shot 43 percent from the field, 34 percent from three-point range and 94 percent at the free throw line… his 56 three-pointers made were second most on the roster… Mitrovic has averaged double figures in each of his last three professional seasons… his pro career has included two stops in Greece's top league, a year each in Italy and France, and the last two seasons in the Spain LEB-Gold (second division).

Bryce Pressley (2011-15), Palencia (Spain-LEB Gold): Pressley averaged the third most minutes on the team in 34 games played for Palencia… he contributed 8.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game… Pressley shot 41 percent from the field, 28 percent from three-point range and 78 percent at the foul line… Pressley spent the 2016-17 season with fellow Pilot Volodymyr Gerun on CB Clavijo in the LEB Gold before signing prior to the 2017-18 season with Palencia.
 

Thomas van der Mars (2011-15), BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn (Estonia Alexela KML/Russia VTB United): Van der Mars helped lead BC Kalev to the finals of the top league in Estonia (scheduled for May 15-21)… Kalev also competed in the VTB United league, which is the top Russian professional league… van der Mars averaged 11.3 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds per game thus far in helping Kalev to a 27-1 record in the Estonian League… he shot 60 percent from the field and 72 percent at the foul line in those games… van der Mars averaged 7.8 points and 5.0 rebounds against the top competition in 24 VTB United games… he shot 56 percent from the floor and 74 percent at the free throw line in those contests… van der Mars began his career in Greece before signing with Rapla in Estonia and earning league MVP honors in 2017… he signed with Kalev this year and also has competed with the Dutch Senior National Team.  

Volodymyr Gerun (2013-15), FC Barcelona Lassa II (Spain-LEB Gold): Gerun was one of four Pilots competing in the LEB Gold Division in Spain… he averaged team-highs of 14.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game... Gerun shot 52 percent from the field and 70 percent at the free throw line… he also led Barcelona in blocked shots and dished out 1.6 assists per game… Gerun has competed with four different teams in Spain throughout his post-collegiate career.
 

Alec Wintering (2013-17), Araberri (Spain-LEB Gold): After an injury-shortened senior season on The Bluff, Wintering had a phenomenal first professional year for Araberri in the second division Spanish league… playing alongside fellow Pilot Nemanja Mitrovic and former San Diego guard Johnny Dee, Wintering was the starting point guard and averaged 15.0 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game… played in all 34 games and shot 46 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 70 percent at the free throw line… finished the regular season by posting a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against Sammic ISB to earn league Player of the Week honors.

Ray Barreno (2015-17), Soles de Mexicali (Mexico NLBP): Barreno appeared in 21 games for Soles de Mexicali, champions of the top professional league in Mexico… he averaged 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per game.  

Jarrel Marshall (2015-17), BFG Neptune Cork (Ireland-Division I): Marshall led Neptune to a 16-3 record and second place finish in Ireland's Division I league in his first professional season… he averaged 21 points and 11 rebounds per game, including 20 points in a promotion-relegation match victory that secured Neptune's promotion to the Irish Super League.