Former Red Raiders Shining Abroad
March 18, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Andre Emmett was the MVP of the 2015 NBA Developmental League All-Star Game and the January D-League Player of the Month.
March 18, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas - While the game of basketball has been stamping its brand internationally, Texas Tech is currently placing its own mark on the professional game.
There are currently 22 former Red Raiders playing professionally in 14 countries -- United States, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden.
Some highlights of the season include Jaye Crockett, Alan Voskuil and Mike Singletary playing on the same all-star squad in the Italian LNP All-Star Game earlier this year. Crockett was a finalist in the dunk contest, while Voskuil won the 3-point shootout.
The 23 former student-athletes played under James Dickey, Bob Knight, Pat Knight, Billy Gillispie, Chris Walker and Tubby Smith.
The Dean of former Red Raiders is one of the all-time great players in Cory Carr, who is in his 17th season of professional basketball. The native of Kingland, Ark., is currently starting for Ramt Hasharon of the Israeli National League.
Andre Emmett, who was picked second in the 2014 NBDL Draft by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, is currently third in the D-League in scoring at 22.6 points per game. He started in the 2015 D-League All-Star Game and was named the game's MVP, as well as the D-League Player of the Month for January. He left the team on March 5, after signing with the Meralco Bolts of the Philippines Basketball Association.
THE LIST
Charlie Burgess | 06,07 | HARLEM, NEW YORK - After starting the season with Randers in Denmark, Charlie Burgess switched to Körmend in Hungary in December. Burgess is averaging 9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals for Körmend. His contract with Körmend expired in February and he is currently a free agent. Burgess came to Texas Tech after spending two seasons at Howard College. He is in his seventh season of professional basketball and has played for seven different teams.
Cory Carr | 95,96,97,98 | KINGLAND, ARKANSAS - In his 17th season of professional basketball, Cory Carr starts for Ramt Hasharon of the Israeli National League. He is currently averaging 9.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 25.5 minutes per game. His career started with the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1998-99, where he was named the league's Sixth Man of the Year. He has spent time in the NBA, CBA, IBL, France, Cypress, Italy and Israel. Carr has spent the better part of 14 seasons in Israel and became an Israeli citizen in 2009. Carr may be best known for leading Texas Tech to the NIT in 1995 and the NCAA Tournament in 1996.
Paul Cooper | 11 | AUBURNDALE, FLORIDA - Another Red Raider in his first season of professional basketball, Paul Cooper is averaging 7.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks per game for Mississauga Power of the Canadian NBL. After one season at Texas Tech, Cooper closed out his career at Arkansas Tech.
Darko Cohadarevic | 09,10| BELGRADE, SERBIA - Playing closer to home, Darko started the year with Al Nasr Riyadh in the Saudi Premier League, but switched leagues in January. It has been a good move for the 6-9 power forward. He is now playing with Zalakeramia-ZTE KK in Hungary's A Division. Darko is averaging 17.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He is in his fifth season of professional basketball, having played in Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Georgia, Cypress, New Zealand, Japan, Saudi Arabia and now Hungary.
Jaye Crockett | 11,12,13,14| CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO -- After a standout career that concluded a year ago, Jaye Crockett has embarked on his professional career in Italy. Crockett plays for Tortona, where he is averaging 13.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. He is averaging 22 points and 9.9 rebounds over the last three games. He is 28th in the league in scoring and eighth in rebounding. Tortona is seventh in the league with the top eight heading to the postseason. Crockett appeared in the Italy Silver 2015 All-Star Game with former Red Raiders Alan Voskuil and Mike Singletary.
Ricardo De Bem | 08 | SAO PAULO, BRAZIL -- Ricardo De Bem is in his seventh season of professional basketball, having played in Brazil, Chile, Portugal, Morocco and Uruguay. He played just one season on the South Plains for then head coach Bob Knight before transferring to Oklahoma City University. De Bem has signed to play for Macae in his native Brazil this season after playing for Liga Sorocabana last year. He has appeared in 19 games this season.
Andre Emmett | 01,02,03,04 | DALLAS, TEXAS - Have bag. Will travel. During the 2014 calendar year, Emmet played in Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States. Texas Tech's only consensus first team All-American, Andre Emmett was drafted by Fort Wayne of the D-League and is currently the third leading scorer in the D-League. He represented the Mad Ants in the D-League All-Star Game, where he was named the game's MVP. Emmett was averaging 22.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He left the team on March 5, after signing with the Meralco Bolts of the Philippines Basketball Association. He is well-traveled after 10 seasons of professional basketball. He has spent time with several NBA organizations, including Seattle, Memphis, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Chicago. He also saw time with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Austin Toros, Reno Bighorns and Los Angeles D-Fenders of the D-League. Internationally, Emmett has played in Lithuania, Belgium, France, Venezuela, China, Puerto Rico, Lebanon and Mexico. In 2009, Emmett scored a China Basketball Association record 71 points in a game, while playing for the Shandong Lions.
Devonne Giles | 04,05 | NEWARK, NEW JERSEY -- Devonne Giles has played for 12 teams since leaving Texas Tech in the spring of 2005. In the United States, he has played in the CBA and the USBL, while also lending his services in China, Holland, France, Hungary Finland and Japan. Currently, Giles starts for Karhu Kauhajoki, who is in second place in Finland's top league. He is averaging 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists through 27 games. He is averaging 21.0 points and 8.3 rebounds over the last four games.
Jarrius Jackson | 04,05,06,07 | MONROE, LOUISIANA -- After not being able to advance in the Rocky Mountain Revue NBA summer league for Atlanta, Jarrius Jackson pursued a professional career overseas in 2007. The six-foot guard has played for teams in Spain, Ukraine and Italy. Jackson started the season in Givova Napoli in Italy's Gold League, where he averaged 28.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists. In January, Jackson signed with Umana Reyer Venezia in Italy's top division - Serie A. Since joining Umana, he is averaging 10.0 points 2.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Dejan Kravic | 12,13,14 | LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA -- After regaining health and concluding two solid seasons with Texas Tech in 2014, Dejan Kravic currently plays for the A.G.O Rethymno Aegean in Greece. The 7-footer, who was invited to camp with the Serbian National Team last summer, is averaging 7.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game for AGOR.
Robert Lewandowski | 08,09,10,11 | OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS -- After playing four seasons with Texas Tech, Robert Lewandowski continued playing basketball in Poland. He has played for teams in the Czech Republic and Germany since then, but has returned to Poland in the 2014-2015 season. Starting for Wikana-Start, Lewandowski averages 7.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.
Ty Nurse | 12,13 | VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA -- Ty Nurse concluded two seasons with Texas Tech in 2013. Currently he plays overseas in Germany for Finke Baskets Paderborn. Nurse starts and averages 10.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 steals through 28 games this season. Over the last five games, Nurse is averaging 12.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists.
Nick Okorie | 09,10 | HOUSTON, TEXAS -- After two seasons as a Red Raider, where he averaged in double figures and recorded 44 starts, Okorie signed with Salon Vilpas of the Finnish League. He followed that first season with stops in Germany and Canada. He was a two-time all-league performer for Mississauga Power and Island Storm in the National Basketball League of Canada. Okorie returned to Finland to start the season, where he averaged 23.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals for the Aalborg Vikings. After 12 games, he has returned to Canada to play for the Island Storm. He is averaging 17.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals. The Island Storm are 19-13 and in second in the Atlantic Division of the Canadian NBL.
Brad Reese | 09,10,11 | LAUREL HILL, FLORIDA -- After standing out in the Eurobasket summer league following his final season with Texas Tech, Brad Reese played eight games with Lobe Huesca in Spain before moving to Sluneta and starting for a team in Czech Republic. Reese averaged 19.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals through eight games last season with a team in Finland. He currently starts for Hiefenech Heffingen in Luxembourg. He is averaging a league-best 30.0 points per game and is fourth with 13.3 rebounds per game. He also chips in 2.5 assists, 3.5 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
Esmir Rizvic | 07,08,09 | ZENICA, BOSNIA -- Esmir Rizvic, another 7-footer, played three seasons with Texas Tech prior to pursuing professional basketball in the European leagues. He has played on teams in Germany, Austria, and began the season playing for Helios Suns Domzale in Slovenia in the Telemach League. He was averaging 9.6 points and 5.0 rebounds before being injured in January. He has since caught on with UBSC Raiffeisen Graz of Austria, where he has played in seven games and is averaging 5.9 points and 3.4 rebounds off the bench. Last year an injury sidelined him for three months and restricted his season to 14 games.
John Roberson | 08,09,10,11 | PLANO, TEXAS - After spending last summer in the NBA Summer League with the Brooklyn Nets, Roberson began the fall with Atomeromu SE Paks in the Hungarian A League. He averaged 13.0 points3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals. In late December, he switched to back to Sweden and the Sodertalje Kings, where he was the 2014 Swedish finals MVP, Player of the Year, Import of the Year and Guard of the Year. Roberson has led the Kings to straight league titles and is currently averaging 19.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.7 steals, while leading the league at the line, hitting 91.5 percent from the charity stripe. The Kings are currently in first place for a third straight year.
Ronald Ross | 01,02,03,04,05 | HOBBS, NEW MEXICO -- Following four seasons with Texas Tech, the former walk-on went on to play professionally overseas on teams in Italy, Germany, Israel, Croatia and Greece. He also played on teams in the United States including the Albuquerque Thunderbirds and Albany Patroons. Last season, Ross led his team in Croatia to the semifinals and received A1 League All-Second Team honors, as well as being selected to the A1 League All-Imports Team and A1 League All-Defensive team. Currently, Ross plays for BCM U Pitesti in Romania in the Liga Nationala. Ross is averaging 20.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals Pitesti is currently seventh in the league in search of one of the eight postseason tournament spots.
Mike Singletary | 08,09,10,11 | HUMBLE, TEXAS - A 2015 Italian LNP All-Star, Singletary may have found a home in Italy, where he is averaging 15.5 points, 8.8 rebound, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game for Acmar Revenna. He has recorded 10 double-doubles and a second place showing in the Italian A2 Silver League. If the season ended today, Singletary would face former Red Raider Jaye Crockett in the first round on the playoffs. Singletary, Crockett and Alan Voskuil all participated in the 2015 All-Star game.
David Tairu | 10,11 | TEMPLE HILLS, MARYLAND -- David Tairu started and averaged 10 points per game his final season at Texas Tech. After graduating, Tairu pursued a professional career overseas in Iceland, before moving to teams in Qatar, Canada, Greece and Israel. In the States he played for the Cleveland Havok in the UBA and was named to the UBA All-Star Game. Last season in Israel, he averaged 18.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and one assists in five games. He signed with Grand Aignon-Sorgues in France earlier this year, but left the team in September. Tairu currently plays for Glojcaja Quintanar in Spain's EBA. He leads the team in points (16.8), while adding 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals.
Robert Tomaszek | 03,04 | BYDGOSZCZ, POLAND - A 2015 Polish Supercup finalist, Tomaszek is currently a reserve for Slask Wroclaw in the top league in his native Poland. He is averaging 3.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 11.8 minutes per game. He has played in Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Czaech Republic, Ukraine and Poland since turning professional in 2004.
Alan Voskuil | 06,07,08,09| BEDFORD, TEXAS - Playing for Angelico Biella in Italy, Voskuil has averaged 17.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists from his shooting guard position. He has been deadly from deep, hitting five or more 3-pointers in a game 11 times in 30 games. He had a season-high 33 earlier this year and has scored in double figures in 27 games. The two-time Italian All-Star has played in Spance, France, Italy, Denmark, Canada and Turkey. He was selected to the Italian LNP All-Star game earlier this year, where he won the 3-point contest and played with former Red Raiders Jaye Crocket and Mike Singletary.
Martin Zeno | 05,06,07,08 | SULPHUR, LOUISIANA -- After serving as a catalyst for two NCAA Tournaments during his stay on the South Plains, Martin Zeno pursued pre-draft workouts with the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers and participated in the NBA Summer League with the Lakers. Zeno competed in the EuroChallenge that year and in 2009 was drafted by the D-League Erie Bay Hawks. In Europe, Zeno played on teams in Finland and France. After playing for Denain ASC Voltaire in France last season, where Zeno averaged 12.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, he has moved back to Finland. He is back with the Nilan Bisons Loimaa, where is averaging 11.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 steals per game. He was the league player of the year for Nilan in 2012 and 2013 after leading the Bisons to back-to-back league titles.
