THE FLATS – Thaddeus Young has a big performance in relief for the Suns … Moses Wright lifts Olympiacos into EuroLeague playoffs … Marcus Georges-Hunt lifts Kuwait Club to cusp of Gulf League Final … more in this week’s #ProJackets Report.
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THADDEUS YOUNG HAS BIG PERFORMANCE IN RELIEF FOR SUNS
With Jusuf Nurkić out due to injury, Thaddeus Young played his best game by far with the Phoenix Suns, helping the Suns knock off the defending-champion Denver Nuggets 104-97 on the road last night.
Young finished with six points on 3-of-4 shooting, nine rebounds (four offensive) and was a team-high +15 in his 18 minutes off the bench for Phoenix (43-30). With Young on the floor, the Suns had an incredible defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 72.7 and an offensive rating (points per 100 possessions) of 111.4. This makes for a net rating (point differential per 100 possessions) of 38.7.
Young also had one of the most textbook rebounds you will see and a floater to beat the buzzer going into halftime.
Thad Young snatches the rebound away from Aaron Gordon from the top. WOW! pic.twitter.com/mowCeFDnAh
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) March 28, 2024
🚨🚨🚨 https://t.co/ukHjrWA2KH pic.twitter.com/wKIf4mWqxv
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 28, 2024
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WRIGHT DOMINATES AS OLYMPIACOS QUALIFIES FOR PLAYOFFS
Moses Wright scored 16 out of his season-high 20 points in the fourth quarter while draining the go-ahead 3-pointer as Olympiacos Piraeus beat Crvena Zvezda 89 – 86 on the road to clinch a spot in the EuroLeague playoffs and continue the push for a Top-4 finish.
“Pap [Kostas Papanikolaou] was just talking about how bad I did rebounding… and then I was thinking of how [Giannoulis Larentzakis] called me soft,” Wright said. “Going into the second half I was thinking about those comments from the veterans of the team.”
Moses Wright says Giannoulis Larentzakis called him “soft” at halftime and was thinking of it entering the second half.
He ended up having 16 out of his game-high 20 points in the fourth period, including the go-ahead triple. pic.twitter.com/UDH3r1DJG8
— Antonis Stroggylakis (@AStroggylakis) April 4, 2024
What a sequence from Moses Wright to hand #OlympiacosBC a big victory against Crvena Zvezda in #EuroLeague ! pic.twitter.com/uaJjYbwMF8
— Manolo77 (@ManoloAthan77) April 4, 2024
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GEORGES-HUNT’S KUWAIT CLUB NEARING GULF LEAGUE FINAL
Marcus George-Hunt’s Kuwait Club moved a win away from booking a return trip to the FIBA WASL-Gulf League Final following a 101-87 conquest of Kazma in their Semi-Finals opener, Tuesday night at the Shaikh Saad Alabdullah Sport Hall Complex.
The reigning sub-zone champions overcame a sluggish start before pulling away in the fourth quarter as the squad continued their winning ways since losing back-to-back outings during the Group Phase, which nearly cost them an outright trip to the Semis.
Veteran winger Marcus Georges-Hunt produced 15 points and 7 assists, while floor general Turki Alshemmari chipped in 11 points for the repeat-seeking Kuwait Club.
Now they have a chance to formalize their entry to the Gulf League Final in Game 2 next Tuesday, April 2, 22:00 local time, in the same battleground.
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ALVARADO HAS MISSED LAST FIVE GAMES
Jose Alvarado (oblique) is out for Friday’s game versus the Spurs.
Alvarado’s absence streak will extend to five games Friday due to a right oblique strain. His next chance to suit up is Sunday’s matchup with Phoenix.
From CBSSports.com
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#ProJackets on Social Media
— Mark Price (@Mark25Price) April 2, 2024
5 years later and we’re watching Jose Alvarado again…this time the Pelicans vs the Phoenix Suns pic.twitter.com/foRTVRzwBi
— Daniel Bowles (@CoachDBowles) April 1, 2024
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Georgia Tech Eurobasket Report
Yellow Jackets currently playing pro basketball
Moses Wright (6’9”-C-1998, played in 2017-21, plays pro in Greece) led his Greek team Olympiacos to a 3-point victory over the 16th-ranked Crvena Zvezda (11-22) 89-86 in the Euroleague on Thursday night. He was MVP of the game. Wright scored 20 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in a mere 17 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only his third season in pro basketball. Olympiacos S.F.P. Piraeus (21-12) is placed fifth in the Euroleague. It was his team’s third consecutive victory in a row. They will play only one more game in the Euroleague Regular Season. And that game will be critical. This season Wright averages 10.0ppg, 2.5rpg and 1.4spg.
Ben Lammers (6’10”-C-1995, played in 2014-18, plays in Spain) led Draemland Gran Canaria to a victory against the seventh-ranked Valencia (16-11) 79-71 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Sunday night’s game. Lammers scored 11 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Draemland Gran Canaria (1-2) is placed third in the Liga Endesa. It’s Lammers’ first season with the team. This year he averages 8.2ppg, 3.5rpg and 1.3bpg in 27 games he played so far.
Khalid Moore (6’7”-F-2000, played in 2018-22, currently in Greece), who plays in the Greek GBL could not help Lavrio (9-15) in their game last Sunday. Despite his very good performance the second-placed Lavrio (9-15) was defeated 95-88 at home by the lower-ranked Karditsas (#4) in the Losers Stage group. Moore recorded 16 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 26 minutes. The Second Stage already ended. It’s Moore’s first season with the team. This year he averages 9.8ppg, 6.4rpg, 1.3apg and 1.1spg.
Adam Smith (6’1”-PG-1992, played in 2015-16, plays pro in Spain) contributed to a Surne Bilbao Basket’s victory against the league leader Chemnitz (5-1) 82-73 in the FIBA Europe Cup on Wednesday night. He scored 9 points and had 3 steals. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Surne Bilbao Basket (5-1) is placed first in the FIBA Europe Cup. Smith has relatively good stats this year 11.0ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.7apg and 1.1spg in 16 games.
Josh Heath (6’1”-PG-1994, played in 2014-17, plays in Belgium) was the major contributor in a Spirou Basket Charleroi’s victory against the closely-ranked Zwolle (1-3) 78-72 in the BNXT League in Sunday night’s game. Heath scored 14 points and added 5 passes in 31 minutes. Spirou Basket Charleroi (3-2) is placed fifth in the BNXT League. This season Heath averages 8.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 4.3apg and 1.2spg.
Brandon Alston (6’5”-G-1995, played in 2017-19, currently in Estonia) was not able to help Parnu in their game against Kalev/Cramo in the Lat-Est BL. Alston recorded 5 points and added 4 assists. His team lost 77-83. This year Alston averages 6.8ppg, 1.6rpg and 2.8apg in five games.
Josh Okogie (6’4”-G-1998, played in 2016-18, plays pro in the NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Phoenix Suns in their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA. Okogie scored 5 points in 14 minutes. His team were crushed by 25 points 128-103 in the NBA. This season Okogie averages 4.8ppg, 2.6rpg and 1.1apg. He is a naturalized Nigerian.
Ja’von Franklin (6’7”-F-1998, played in 2023-23, plays in Serbia) couldn’t help Borac CA in their game against Mornar in the ABA League. He recorded 7 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. His team was edged 80-78. Franklin has relatively good stats this year 10.2ppg and 6.2rpg in 25 games.
Marcus Georges-Hunt (6’5”-F-1994, played in 2012-16, currently in Kuwait) helped his Kuwaiti team Kuwait win their game against the closely-ranked Kazma crushing them 122-79 in a derby game in the West Asia Super League last Tuesday. Georges-Hunt scored 17 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished 6 assists in 27 minutes. Georges-Hunt has relatively good stats this season 14.3ppg, 4.7rpg and 3.9apg. He is a naturalized Virgin Islander.
Avi Schafer (6’9”-C-1998, played in 2017-19, plays pro in Japan) couldn’t help SeaHorses Mikawa in their game against Tochigi Brex in the Japanese B1 League. He cannot count Saturday’s game as one of the best ones. Schafer scored only 2 points. His team lost 78-88. This year Schafer averages 1.9ppg and 2.9rpg in 14 games. He is a naturalized Japanese.
Other former Georgia Tech alumni who play in pro basketball:
- Trae Golden (6’3”-PG-1991, played in 2013-14) plays for Beirut Club in Lebanese LBL
- James Banks III (6’10”-F/C-1998, played in 2018-20) plays for Maine Celtics in the NBA
- Derrick Favors (6’10”-F-1991, played in 2009-23) plays for Windy City Bulls in the NBA
- Thaddeus Young (6’8”-F-1988, played in 2006-07) plays for Phoenix Suns in the NBA
- Jose Alvarado (6’0”-PG-1998, played in 2017-16) plays for New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA
- Michael Devoe (6’5”-G-1999, played in 2018-22) plays for Memphis Hustle in the NBA
- Jordan Usher (6’7”-SF-1998, played in 2019-22) plays for Perth Wildcats in Australian NBL
- Evan Jester (6’7”-F-1999, played in 2017-19) plays for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA
- Tadric Jackson (6’2”-G-1994, played in 2014-18) played for Atlanta Aliens in the ABA last year
- Charles Mitchell (6’8”-F/C-1993, played in 2014-16) plays for Chihuahua Dorados in Mexican LBE
- Abdoulaye Gueye (6’9”-C-1994, played in 2014-15) plays for Sigortam.net in Turkish TBL
- Gani Lawal (6’9”-F/C-1988, played in 2007-10) plays for Plateros de Fresnillo in Mexican LNBP
- Robert Sampson (6’8”-F-1992, played in 2013-13) played for Nhatrang Dolphins in Vietnamese VBA last year
The list above includes only some of alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check complete list of Georgia Tech basketball alumni.
#PROJACKETS IN THE NBA/G LEAGUE IN 2023-24
| PLAYER | DATA | NUMBERS | TEAM |
|---|---|---|---|
 | JOSE ALVARADO Team: New Orleans Pelicans Number: 15 NBA Experience: 3rd year Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21 Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y. Status: Active | 6-0, 179 lbs 2023-24 Stats 7.1 ppg 2.3 rpg 2.1 apg 41.2% FG | Record: 49-33 Standing: 7th place, -8.0 GB Streak: L1 Last 10: 5-5 |
 | JAMES BANKS III Team: Maine Celtics Number: 5 G League Experience: 3rd year Years at Georgia Tech: 2018-20 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Status: Active | 6-10, 250 lbs 2023-24 Stats 5.3 ppg 4.7 rpg 1.5 bpg 54.2% FG | Record: 21-13 Standing: 2nd place, -1.0 GB Streak: W1 Last 10: 8-2 |
 | MICHAEL DEVOE Team: Memphis Hustle Number: 10 G League Experience: 2nd year Years at Georgia Tech: 2017-21 Hometown: Orlando, Fla. Status: Active | 6-4, 183 lbs 2023-24 Stats 13.9 ppg 3.9 rpg 3.1 apg 47.4% FG | Record: 15-19 Standing: 12th, -9.0 GB Streak: W1 Last 10: 3-7 |
 | DERRICK FAVORS Team: Windy City Bulls (G League) Number: 14 NBA Experience: 12 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2009-10 Hometown: Atlanta, Ga. Status: Active | 6-9, 265 lbs 2023-24 Stats 6.2 ppg 4.7 rpg 0.7 bpg 66.7% FG | Record: 15-19 Standing: 13th place, -7.0 GB Streak: L1 Last 10: 4-6 |
 | JOSH OKOGIE Team: Phoenix Suns Number: 2 NBA Experience: 5 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2016-18 Hometown: Snellville, Ga. Status: Active | 6-4, 213 lbs 2023-24 Stats 4.6 ppg 2.6 rpg 1.1 apg 41.7% FG | Record: 49-33 Standing: 6th place, -8.0 GB Streak: W3 Last 10: 7-3 |
 | THADDEUS YOUNG Team: free agent Number: 30 NBA Experience: 16 seasons Years at Georgia Tech: 2006-07 Hometown: Memphis, Tenn. Status: Active | 6-8, 235 lbs 2023-24 Stats 4.2 ppg 3.0 rpg 1.7 apg 60.2% FG | Record: 49-33 Standing: 6th place, -8.0 GB Streak: W3 Last 10: 7-3 |
