LOGAN, Utah — There are currently 15 former Utah State men’s basketball players on professional rosters worldwide, including two in the NBA. See how each of them performed last week.
 
Sam Merrill, G, Cleveland Cavaliers — Merrill is in his sixth season in the NBA and fourth with the Cavaliers. Merrill returned from injury and averaged 12.0 points and 3.3 assists in Cleveland’s three games last week, where the Cavaliers went 2-1. He is shooting 45.9 percent from beyond the arc, good for fourth in the NBA.
 
Neemias Queta, C, Boston Celtics — Queta is in his fifth season in the NBA and third with the Celtics. Queta averaged 10.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in Boston’s last three games, including a 10-point, 15-rebound performance against Sacramento. He ranks fifth in the league with a .636 field goal percentage, 13th in offensive rebounds with 137 and 15th in blocks with 60 while also ranking ninth in win shares per 48 minutes with .203.
 
Darius Brown II, G, Cleveland Charge — Brown is in his second professional season, both with the Charge. Brown averaged 13.0 points, 10.1 assists and 2.0 steals, pitching in a 14-point, 16-assist double-double against the Memphis Hustle as Cleveland went 2-1 last week. Brown ranks third in the G-League in assists (133) and sixth in steals (36).
 
Taylor Funk, F, San Diego Clippers — Funk is in his third professional season and first with the Clippers. Funk returned to the Clipper lineup and averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in San Diego’s last two games, both wins. He scored 20 points and grabbed six rebounds in just 19 minutes of action in his Jan. 31 return against College Park.
 
Dexter Akanno, SF, VET-CONCEPT Gladiators Trier — Akanno is in his first professional season with the Gladiators of the German BBL. Akanno scored four points and grabbed two rebounds in Trier’s 99-92 loss to Alba Berlin.
 
Dan Akin, PF/C, Kolossos BC — Akin is in his third professional season and first with the Greek Basketball League’s Kolossos. Akin scored six points and added nine rebounds in a 96-83 loss to AEK Athens.
 
Justin Bean, F, Alba Berlin — Bean is in his fourth professional season and third with Alba Berlin of the German BBL. Bean scored 16 points and pitched in five rebounds and three steals in Alba’s 99-92 road win over Trier.
 
Diogo Brito, G, Monbus Obradoiro — Brito is in his fifth professional season and first with Monbus Obradoiro of Spain’s LEB Gold. Brito scored nine points in Obradoiro’s 86-68 win over Oviedo.
 
Kris Clark, G, Nakhchivan — Clark, who has been playing professional basketball since 2008, is in his first season with Nakhchivan in the Azerbaijani Basketball League. Clark did not play in Nakhchivan’s 82-70 win over Guba.
 
RJ Eytle-Rock, G, EJ Sligo All-Stars — Eytle-Rock is in his third professional season and first as a player-coach with the Irish Men’s Super League’s EJ Sligo All-Stars. The All-Stars split their games last week, beating St. Vincents 87-82 and falling to Eanna, 88-78.
 
Aubin Gateretse, C, Limburg United — Gateretse is in his first professional season with Limburg United of Belgium’s BNXT League. Gateretse scored six points and added two rebounds in a 95-79 loss to Den Bosch.
 
Brandon Horvath, C, BC Gargzdai-SC — Horvath is in his fourth professional season and first with BC Gargzdai-SC of the Lithuanian Basketball League. Horvath did not play in Gargzdu’s 82-75 win over Jonava.
 
Ian Martinez, G, Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart — Martinez is in his first professional season overseas, having debuted with Elitzur Yavne of the Israeli National League before signing with Unger Steel Gunners Oberwart of the Austrian Basketball Super League. Martinez scored 15 points and dished out four assists in Oberwart’s 81-77 loss to UBSC Graz.
 
Shane Rector, G, Al Shamal Doha — Rector is in his ninth professional season and his first with Al Shamal Doha of the Qatari QBL. Rector did not play in Al Shamal’s 86-72 loss to Al Wakrah.
 
Chris Smith, G, Hiroshima Dragonflies — Smith is in his 10th professional season and his first with Hiroshima of the Japanese B1 League. Smith averaged 16.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists as Hiroshima went 1-2 last week.
 
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