THE FLATS – Ben Lammers has agreed to a deal with new team in Spain … Derrick Favors rumored to be heading overseas … Jose Alvarado sitting out FIBA World Cup … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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BEN LAMMERS TO COMPETE FOR EUROCUP CHAMPS
After three years in the EuroLeague with ALBA Berlin, American big man Ben Lammers will play in the EuroCup for the first time.
Ben Lammers will replace Aleksander Balcerowski at Dreamland Gran Canaria. The American big man, who played with ALBA Berlin the last three seasons, has signed a one-year contract with the EuroCup champions.
The 28-year-old center started his career with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, where he played a total of four seasons. He began his college days as a backup, but he managed to earn a place in the rotation. The Texan reached his pinnacle in the 2016-17 season, when he averaged 11.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.4 blocks and 2.1 assists per game.
Lammers made the leap to professional basketball with Bilbao Basket in LEB Oro, Spain’s second division. With the Basques, he averaged 10.2 points and 6.6 rebounds and was promoted to the ACB in 2019. The following year, he tallied 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest.
Reigning Champions @GranCanariaCB have added Ben Lammers to their arsenal for the coming season 📝 #RoadToGreatness pic.twitter.com/txBswkNknP
— BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) August 2, 2023
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DERRICK FAVORS RUMORED TO BE HEADING OVERSEAS
From TheJNotes.com – There’s a rumor from Emiliano Carchia, that Derrick Favors is negotiating to join the Shenghai Sharks in China. While the Sharks are now a meme on Twitter whenever a player starts strugglign, they are in fact a real pro team, and have had some notable names on their roster. Namely Yao Ming and now Eric Bledsoe.
It’s still a rumor right now, and he hasn’t officially signed yet, but if he does then Favors may try and use this as a springboard back to the NBA. Fans of a certain age will remember that Favors came over in the Deron Williams deal in 2011.
Derrick Favors is in talks with Chinese team Shanghai, I am told
— Emiliano Carchia (@Carchia) July 21, 2023
Derrick Favors best games with the Jazz
25 pts- 12 reb- 7 blk
28 pts- 11 reb- 6 blk
16 pts- 11 reb- 6 blk
17 pts- 15 reb- 5 blk
21 pts- 13 reb- 5 blk
23 pts- 18 reb
20 pts- 18 reb
28 pts- 14 reb
35 pts- 13 reb
32 pts- 9 rebJAZZ LEGEND pic.twitter.com/JWG5rc9mvR
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) July 31, 2023
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JOSE ALVARADO SITTING OUT FIBA WORLD CUP
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado will not participate for Puerto Rico in the upcoming FIBA World Cup next month, it was announced Thursday.
Puerto Rico released its roster for the World Cup and Alvarado wasn’t listed. The national team said the Pelicans didn’t allow Alvarado to participate because of the stress reaction he had in his tibia that cost him the end of the 2022-23 regular season.
Former NBA guard Carlos Arroyo, who serves as the general manager for the Puerto Rican national team, said an MRI performed last week revealed that the injury hasn’t fully healed.
Alvarado sustained the injury Feb. 27 and missed the last 1½ months of the season for New Orleans. In 61 games, he averaged 9 points, 3 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
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#ProJackets on Social Media
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— Dennis 3D Scott (@Dennis3DScott) July 12, 2023
Eurobasket #ProJackets Report
Courtesy of Eurobasket LLC
Charles Mitchell (6’8”-F/C-1993, played in 2014-16, plays pro in Uruguay) could not help Urunday (8-2) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the league leader Urunday was edged71-68 in a derby game by the much lower-ranked (#11) O.Mundial. Mitchell was the top scorer with 19 points. He also added 4 rebounds and 2 blocks in 33 minutes. It was Urunday’s first loss after six consecutive victories. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Mitchell has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages 17.2ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.6apg and 1.9bpg in 10 games he played so far.
Robert Sampson (6’8”-F-1992, played in 2013-13, plays in Vietnam) led Nhatrang Dolphins to a victory against the league outsider Dragons (0-8) 86-76 in the Vietnamese VBA on Friday night. Sampson recorded a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 22 rebounds. He also added 3 blocks. Nhatrang Dolphins (6-3) is placed third in the VBA. It was his team’s fourth consecutive victory in a row. This season Sampson has very high stats. He averages 21.2ppg, 16.6rpg, 1.8apg, 1.8bpg and 2.0spg. He is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market.
Michael Devoe (6’5”-G-1999, played in 2018-22, currently in the NBA) led Portland Trail Blazers to a victory over the Orlando Magic (0-4) 88-71 in the NBA Summer League in Thursday night’s game. He was MVP of the game. Devoe scored 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 21 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only his first season in pro basketball. The Portland Trail Blazers have 33-49 record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA Summer League. Devoe has very impressive stats this year 19.7ppg, 3.0rpg, 4.3apg and 1.7spg in three games.
Jordan Usher (6’7”-SF-1999, played in 2019-22, plays pro in the NBA) was not able to help the Phoenix Suns in their game against the New Orleans Pelicans (3-1) in the NBA Summer League. He recorded 9 points, 3 assists and 3 steals. But the Phoenix Suns (#4) were defeated 82-73 on the road by the Pelicans. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA Summer League. This season Usher averages 9.0ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.7apg and 2.0spg.
Ja’Von Franklin (6’7”-F, graduated ‘2023, plays in the NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Miami Heat (44-38) in their game against the Denver Nuggets (1-3) in the NBA Summer League. He did not have that impressive stats last Friday. Franklin recorded only 3 points and added 3 passes in 16 minutes. The Miami Heat (#7) was crushed112-81 at home by the Nuggets. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA Summer League. This year Franklin averages 1.5ppg, 2.0rpg and 1.5apg in two games.
Khalid Moore (6’7”-F-2000, played in 2018-22, currently in the NBA) managed to help New York Knicks to win against the Boston Celtics 97-89 in the NBA Summer League in Friday night’s game. He recorded only 2 points. This season Moore averages 0.7ppg and 1.7rpg.
Moses Wright (6’9”-F-1998, played in 2017-21, plays pro in the NBA) couldn’t help the Toronto Raptors in their game against the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Summer League. He cannot count it as his best performance. Wright scored only 3 points in 7 minutes on the court. His team lost 94-99 in the NBA Summer League. This year Wright averages 3.7ppg and 2.0rpg in three games.
Other former Georgia Institute of Technology players, who play in pro basketball:
- Jose Alvarado (6’0”-PG-1998, played in 2017-16) plays for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
- Derrick Favors (6’10”-F-1991, played in 2009-23) played for Atlanta Hawks in the NBA
- Thaddeus Young (6’8”-F-1988, played in 2006-07) plays for Toronto Raptors in the NBA
- Josh Okogie (6’4”-G-1998, plays in 2016-18) played for Phoenix Suns in the NBA
- Adam Smith (6’1”-PG-1992, played in 2015-16) plays for Bilbao in Spanish Liga Endesa
- Ben Lammers (6’10”-C-1995, played in 2014-18) played for ALBA Berlin in German BBL
- Avi Schafer (6’8”-C-1998, played in 2017-19) played for SeaHorses Mikawa in Japanese B1 League
- Josh Heath (6’1”-PG-1994, played in 2014-17) played for Stella Artois Leuven Bears in Belgian Pro Basketball League
- James Banks III (6’10”-F/C-1998, played in 2018-20) plays for Texas Legends in the NBA G League
- Trae Golden (6’3”-PG-1991, played in 2013-14) played for Beijing Royal Fighters in Chinese CBA
- Brandon Alston (6’5”-G-1995, played in 2017-19) played for Batumi in Georgian Superleague
- Anthony McHenry (6’8”-SF-1983, played in 2001-05) played for Shinshu BW in Japanese B1 League
- Marcus Georges-Hunt (6’5”-F-1994, played in 2012-16) played for Kuwait in Kuwaiti D1
- Tadric Jackson (6’2”-G-1994, played in 2014-18) plays for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA
- Evan Jester (6’7”-F-1999, played in 2017-19) plays for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA
- Abdoulaye Gueye (6’9”-C-1994, played in 2014-15) signed for Sigortam.net in Turkish TBL
- Glen Rice Jr. (6’6”-F-1991, played in 2009-12) plays for Power in the Big3
- Gani Lawal (6’9”-F/C-1988, played in 2007-10) played for Runa Basket in Russian Superleague 1
The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Georgia Tech basketball alumni.
