Alabama Men's Basketball Pro Spotlight: Edition II

Alabama Men's Basketball Pro Spotlight: Edition II

11/5/2021 12:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Herbert Jones earns first start; Retin Obasohan, Donta Hall, and Levi Randolph making waves with new team's

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The NBA regular season kicked off on Oct. 20, while European leagues have also tipped off the 2021-22 season and former Alabama players are thriving in both leagues.

In addition to the UA players currently playing in the NBA, former standouts have also found success overseas, including the likes of Retin Obasohan, Levi Randolph, Donta Hall, Jordan Bruner, and Jimmie Taylor – each of which are featured below.

Below is a look at a few former Crimson Tide players highlights from both the NBA and overseas:

Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans

Jones is making an impact early, earning his first career NBA start against the Chicago Bulls in the Pelicans first road game and remains the only second round 2021 NBA Draft pick who has worked his way into the starting lineup
He secured a team-best +17 plus-minus throughout his 29 minutes of his first career NBA start, proving the value of his presence on the court
He leads the team with a plus-minus of +33, 30 points better than his next closest teammate
Jones' energy, defensive prowess and team-first attitude has drawn rave reviews by his teammates
He has started in every game since his debut earning double-digits twice and averaging 6.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 steals

Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers

Sexton is showing off his 'Young Bull' mentality early averaging 17.7 points per game, along with 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals early in the season
He recorded a season high 37 minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers scoring 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals, including a highlight reel dunk that sent a message to the rest of the NBA

Kira Lewis Jr., New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans recently exercised Lewis' third-year option, putting him officially under contract for the 2022-23 season
After shining in NBA Summer League, Lewis gained valuable experience and continues to make strides in his second season
Lewis scored a season-high 14 points(2-3 3PT) on Wednesday and is averaging 5.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists off the bench through nine games

Joshua Primo, San Antonio Spurs

In preseason debut, the 12^th overall pick in the NBA Draft impressed immediately hitting 7/8 shots (3/4 3FG) in 18 minutes
Primo is perfect from the floor in his six minutes of regular season NBA action and has already heard his name chanted by the San Antonio faithful.
Despite showing flashes of his potential during NBA Summer League, the Spurs assigned Primo to play with the Austin Toros of the G-League which, despite the outcries of some, he views as an opportunity and not a setback

John Petty Jr., New Orleans Pelicans

Petty joined Herbert Jones and Kira Lewis Jr. in New Orleans, but did so signing an Exhibit 10 clause, allowing the Pelicans to sign him directly to their G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, following training camp
Petty will be in action when the Squadron begin their inaugural season on November 5^th at the Greensboro Swarm

European Crimson Tide Pros

In Donta Hall's first season with AS Monaco, he has averaged 10.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 18.5 minutes off the bench
- Hall led the team to their fourth victory with his first double-double of the year, scoring a season high 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks
- He is currently tied for first in the EuroLeague with 10 total blocks and has put the league on notice with his high flying dunks
Retin Obasohan is currently leading the Israeli Basketball Super League with an impressive 22.3 points per game, also earning 4.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and shooting at a 58% clip from three.
- He is making quite the introduction to the I-BSL scoring 20+ points in three of their four league-play games, leading the team to a 3-1 record
- In their most recent victory Obasohan went 9-10 from the field scoring 30 points (4-4 3PT) to go along with 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal
Through 10 games with Filou Oostende, Levi Randolph has led his team to a 7-0 league record with 13.7 points, 2.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.5 steals in 24.9 minutes. He is shooting an impressive 61.9% from deep in league-play, good for second in 3P% the Belgium-BNXT
- Back in the Champions League for the first time since 2017-18, he reminded the league of his shooting prowess hitting a clutch three in their most recent victory sending the game to OT where they would go on to win a huge game to vault up the CL standings
After playing a key role in the Tide's run to the Sweet 16, Jordan Bruner signed with Portuguese basketball club Imortal Luzigas Albufeira
- Already earning significant minutes (26.0), Bruner is averaging 7.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists through six games in the Portuguese Basketball Federation.
Former Alabama Center Jimmie Taylor is making himself a staple in the Polish Basketball League in his third year with Pszczolka Start Lubin
- After stints in the G League, France, Philippines, and Greece, the 2017 graduate has made his way back to the P-EBL and through 9 games is now averaging 10.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 27.5 minutes per game

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