How 22 Former Ohio State Men's Basketball Players Performed in International Leagues Last Season

By Griffin Strom on July 13, 2023 at 10:10 am
Jared Sullinger
Twitter/@CGTNSportsScene
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With three NBA draft picks in the past two years, Ohio State is steadily sending an increased number of prospects to the top professional basketball league in the world.

But not every former Buckeye is destined for a career in the NBA, and even fewer are able to stay at that level for their entire pro tenure. After all, the basketball world is much bigger than just the NBA alone. Of those that once donned the scarlet and gray that are still playing professionally, most are hooping in international countries all across the globe, where fans aren’t likely to have easy access to their latest exploits.

The Basketball Tournament has provided an outlet for Buckeye fans to watch their favorite Ohio State players of yesteryear in competitive contests and catch up on their careers, but Carmen’s Crew took last summer off to refurbish the team and come back stronger in 2023. The Buckeye alumni team returns to action on July 26 in Dayton for a first-round TBT matchup against Team Overtime, but even the new Carmen’s Crew roster only includes a small portion of the whole picture when it comes to who is still lacing up sneakers at a professional capacity around the world.

For those interested in where a certain Thad Matta-era Buckeye may be now, how recent alums from Chris Holtmann’s programs transitioned to the next level or what former NBA Buckeye might still be making money on the hardwood overseas, we’ve compiled a list below. 

From Jared Sullinger’s dominant play in China and Amedeo Della Valle’s consistent run in Italy to Joey Brunk’s first year of pro ball and everything in between, here’s a look at 22 former Buckeyes’ 2022-23 season in international league play.

Joey Brunk

  • Team: Twarde Pierniki Torun
  • Country: Poland
  • League: Polish EBL
  • 2022-23 Stats: 30 GP, 10.1 PPG, 61.6 FG%, 6.5 RPG

After six years of college basketball across three different programs, Brunk turned pro and landed in Poland with Twarde Pierniki Torun of the Polish EBL in 2022-23, and the low-post specialist was more productive than he ever was in the NCAA. Brunk put up more than 10 points per game in 30 contests, although his team finished 15th in the league with a record of 9-21.

Amedeo Della Valle

  • Team: Gemani Basket Brescia
  • Country: Italy
  • League: Italian Lega Basket Serie A/Eurocup/Italian Cup
  • 2022-23 Stats: 50 GP, 15.7 PPG, 40.5 FG%, 34.1 3FG%, 2 RPG, 4.4 APG

A fan favorite at Ohio State in 2012-13 and 2013-14, the Alba, Italy, native wrapped up his ninth season of professional basketball in 2022-23. In his second year with Gemani Basket Brescia, Della Valle averaged nearly 16 points a game in 50 appearances, including Italian Lega Basket Serie A, Eurocup and Italian Cup action. Della Valle has averaged at least 10 points per game in five of his nine pro seasons.

CJ Jackson

  • Team: Jamtland Basket/Leicester Riders
  • Country: Sweden/England
  • League: Basketligan/Basketball Champions League
  • 2022-23 Stats: 31 GP, 10.3 PPG, 40.9 FG%, 30.6 3FG%, 4.4 RPG, 4.7 APG

Kosta Koufos

  • Team: London Lions
  • Country: England
  • League: British BBL/Eurocup
  • 2022-23 Stats: 27 GP, 11.8 PPG, 55.9 FG%, 8.7 RPG, 1.5 APG

Having last played for the NBA during the 2018-19 season with the Sacramento Kings, the former Buckeye big man has since played in Russia’s VTB United League and for Olympiacos in Greece – and even appeared in a game for G League Ignite in 2021-22 – before landing in the British BBL this past season. Koufos averaged a near-double-double in 27 appearances for the London Lions across league play and Eurocup competition in 2022-23.

David Lighty

  • Team: ASVEL Basket
  • Country: France
  • League: French Jeep Elite/Euroleague/French Leaders Cup LNB A
  • 2022-23 Stats: 69 GP, 7.1 PPG, 44.3 FG%, 35 3FG%, 2.6 RPG, 1.9 APG

For eight of the past nine seasons, the longtime Buckeye guard has played for ASVEL Basket in Villeurbanne, France. Lighty appeared in a whopping 69 contests for the organization in 2022-23, although he had the least productive scoring season of his international career with an average of 7.1 points per game. Lighty was even tasked with matching up against No. 1 NBA draft pick Victor Wembanyama this past postseason. A fixture of the Carmen’s Crew roster for several years, Lighty will not be back with the team this summer.

Marc Loving

  • Team: Leicester Riders
  • Country: England
  • League: British Basketball League
  • 2022-23 Stats: 40 GP, 15.1 PPG, 44.5 FG%, 34.8 3FG%, 6.5 RPG, 2.5 APG

Evan Ravenel

  • Team: Altiri Chiba
  • Country: Japan
  • League: B2 League
  • 2022-23 Stats: 52 GP, 15.6 PPG, 56 FG%, 6.9 RPG, 3 APG

LaQuinton Ross

  • Team: Pallacanestro Generale Mantovana
  • Country: Italy
  • League: Italian Serie A2 Basket
  • 2022-23 Stats: 37 GP, 12.6 PPG, 43.1 FG%, 27.7 3FG%, 8.4 RPG, 1.5 APG

Cedric Russell

  • Team: KK Tamis
  • Country: Serbia
  • League: Serbian KLS
  • 2022-23 Stats: 16 GP, 16.7 PPG, 42.6 FG%, 32.5 3FG%, 2.4 RPG, 2.2 APG

Shannon Scott

  • Team: Cairns Taipans
  • Country: Australia
  • League: Australian NBL/NBL Blitz
  • 2022-23 Stats: 34 GP, 10 PPG, 41.6 FG%, 34.2 3FG%, 4.4 RPG, 5.4 APG

Jordan Sibert

  • Team: PAOK BC
  • Country: Greece
  • League: Greek HEBA A1/Basketball Champions League Europe
  • 2022-23 Stats: 26 GP, 5.4 PPG, 43 FG%, 31.6 3FG%, 1.5 RPG, 0.8 APG

Jimmy Sotos

  • Team: Omonia Nicosia
  • Country: Cyprus
  • League: Cypriot Division A
  • 2022-23 Stats: 4 GP, 14 PPG, 42.9 FG%, 40 3FG%, 6 RPG, 3.5 APG

Jared Sullinger

  • Team: Shenzhen Aviators
  • Country: China
  • League: Chinese CBA
  • 2022-23 Stats: 47 GP, 22 PPG, 49.9 FG%, 38.8 3FG%, 13.8 RPG, 4.7 APG

Following a five-year NBA career, Sullinger spent two seasons in China before taking a year off in 2019-20. Sully returned to action with Anyang KGC in 2020-21, where he went on to be named the South Korean KBL Finals MVP, before heading back to play with the Shenzhen Aviators in the Chinese CBA. Sullinger continues to put up monster numbers overseas, averaging 22 points and nearly 14 boards a game in 47 appearances in 2022-23. Sullinger will also coach Carmen’s Crew in TBT once again this summer.

Deshaun Thomas

  • Team: AX Armani Exchange Milan
  • Country: Italy
  • League: Euroleague/Italian Lega Basket Serie A
  • 2022-23 Stats: 32 GP, 5.4 PPG, 43.5 FG%, 27.3 3FG%, 2 RPG

Sam Thompson

  • Team: Gargzdu Gargzdai
  • Country: Lithuania
  • League: Lithuanian LKL
  • 2022-23 Stats: 8 GP, 7.5 PPG, 30.6 FG%, 20 3FG%, 3.6 RPG, 1.7 APG

Trevor Thompson

  • Team: Givova Scafati
  • Country: Italy
  • League: Italian Lega Basket Serie A
  • 2022-23 Stats: 30 GP, 9.5 PPG, 47.9 FG%, 8 RPG, 1.2 BPG

J.D. Weatherspoon

  • Team: Earthfriends Tokyo Z
  • Country: Japan
  • League: B2 League
  • 2022-23 Stats: 3 GP, 8 PPG, 46.2 FG%, 7.7 RPG, 2.7 APG

Andre Wesson

  • Team: KFUM Nassjo Basket/Anorthosis Ammohostou
  • Country: Sweden/Cyprus
  • League: Basketligan/Cypriot Division A
  • 2022-23 Stats: 21 GP, 11.9 PPG, 43.3 FG%, 31.6 3FG%, 5.5 RPG, 2.1 APG

Kaleb Wesson

  • Team: Phoenix Fuel Masters/Indios de Mayaguez
  • Country: Philippines/Puerto Rico
  • League: PBA Commissioner's Cup/Puerto Rican BSN
  • 2022-23 Stats: 26 GP, 15.4 PPG, 46.6 FG%, 33.3 3FG%, 12.4 RPG, 4.3 APG

Despite appearing in 11 games with the G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors in 2020-21, Kaleb Wesson still has yet to receive an opportunity in the NBA. Since then, Wesson’s played in Belgium, Israel, the Philippines and Puerto Rico. Wesson played in 13 games apiece for the Phoenix Fuel Masters (Philippines) and Indios de Mayaguez (Puerto Rico) in 2022-23, and is set to make his Carmen’s Crew debut in TBT later this month.

Jamari Wheeler

  • Team: BC Prievidza
  • Country: Slovakia
  • League: Slovakian Extraliga
  • 2022-23 Stats: 20 GP, 10.9 PPG, 36.2 FG%, 26.6 3FG%, 4.4 RPG, 4.6 APG

Amir Williams

  • Team: London Lightning/Halcones UV Xalapa
  • Country: Canada/Mexico
  • League: Canadian NBL/Mexican LNBP
  • 2022-23 Stats: 6 GP, 13.7 PPG, 55 FG%, 5.2 RPG, 2 APG

Keyshawn Woods

  • Team: Tindastoll
  • Country: Iceland
  • League: Express League
  • 2022-23 Stats: 21 GP, 20.3 PPG, 49.7 FG%, 33 3FG%, 4.2 RPG, 4 APG

Woods, who will return for Carmen’s Crew after debuting with the OSU alumni TBT team in 2021, is fresh off an impressive season in Iceland’s Express League. Playing for Tindastoll, Woods racked up an average of 20.3 points per game on nearly 50% shooting in 2022-23. Woods had previously spent time playing professionally in Greece, Poland, the Netherlands and Turkey.

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