Georgia Tech #ProJackets Basketball Report

THE FLATS — Iman Shumpert and the Houston Rockets advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs,  Derrick Favors leads the Jazz to a victory, and Thaddeus Young finishes the playoffs averaging 10.5 points … That and more in this edition of the Georgia Tech #ProJackets Basketball Report.

Favors and the Utah Jazz were able to avoid elimination, winning game four in their first-round battle with the Rockets. Favors finished the night with 12 points, and he grabbed four offensive boards and scored six points to help ensure a 107-91 Jazz win.  The Jazz were eliminated in game five after losing 100-93.

Shumpert has been a veteran presence for the Rockets, averaging 8.5 minutes per contest in round one of the playoffs. The Rockets defeated the Jazz in five games and now await the winner of the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers matchup. Shumpert averaged 7.5 points per game during the regular season and will look to be a factor in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Young finished his postseason run averaging 10.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Young and the Pacers and fell at the hands of the Boston Celtics in four games. For his career, he has averaged 11.1 points per game in the playoffs.

Josh Okogie and the Minnesota Timberwolves finished the regular season in 11th with a record of 36-46. Okogie ended his rookie campaign, averaging 7.7 points, 2.9 rebounds per game. He also ranks 3rd among rookies in steals (88), 43rd in all of the NBA.

CBSSports.com reported before Christmas that Marcus Georges-Hunt underwent knee surgery and would miss extended playing time for the Maine Red Claws in the G League, though there has been very little reported about it. Georges-Hunt had averaged 13.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 steals over 36 minutes per game in nine games for the Red Claws.

Jarrett Jack and the Sioux Falls Skyforce finished the regular season with a 24-26 record and in 8^th in the Western Conference in the G-League. The Skyforce missed the playoffs and lost their final game to the Rio Grande Valley, 105-99.

#1. Trae Golden (6’3”-G-91, graduated ’14, plays pro in Russia) could not help Avtodor (9-16) in their last game. Despite his very good performance, Avtodor was badly defeated 111-95 at home by the second-ranked Unics Kazan. Golden was the top scorer with 26 points. He also added 9 assists (made all of his ten free throws !!!) in 35 minutes. It was Avtodor’s third consecutive loss in a row. Golden’s team will play only one more game in the VTB United League Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Golden has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages 18.6ppg, 2.9rpg, and 8.3apg in 25 games he played so far.

#2. Charles Mitchell (6’8”-F/C-93, graduated ’16, plays in Argentina) led Ferro to a victory over the 11th-ranked San Martin Corrientes (15-16) 82-66 in the Argentinian La Liga last Thursday. He was MVP of the game. Mitchell scored 17 points and grabbed 9 rebounds; quite an impressive performance considering it’s only his third season in pro basketball. Ferrocarril Oeste (21-12) is placed second in the La Liga. It was his team’s third consecutive victory in a row. It’s Mitchell’s first year with the team. This season Mitchell has very high stats. He averages 16.5ppg, 8.9rpg, and 1.7apg.

#3. Zachery Peacock (6’8”-C-87, graduated ’10, currently in France) was the main contributor in a JL Bourg Basket‘s victory against the sixth-ranked SIG Strasbourg (17-11) 83-73 in the French Jeep ELITE ProA on Monday night. He was MVP of the game. Peacock scored 19 points (went 6 for 6 at the free throw line) in 24 minutes. JL Bourg Basket (24-4) is placed second in the Jeep ELITE ProA. It was his team’s eighth consecutive victory in a row. It’s Peacock’s fourth season with the team. He has very impressive stats this year 17.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.9apg and 1.2spg in 26 games.

#4. Derrick Favors (6’10”-F-91, graduated ’10, plays pro in the NBA) was not able to help the Utah Jazz (50-32) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite his good performance, the Utah Jazz (50-32) was badly defeated 118-98 on their home court in Salt Lake City by the Houston Rockets. Favors recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 12 rebounds. He also added 3 blocks. It’s Favors’ eighth season with the team. This year Favors has very high stats. He averages 11.9ppg, 7.4rpg, 1.2apg, and 1.4bpg.

#5. Thaddeus Young (6’8”-F-88, graduated ’07, plays in the NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Indiana Pacers (48-34) in their game against the Boston Celtics (49-33) in the NBA, despite his very good performance on Wednesday night. Young was the second best scorer with 15 points. He also added 6 boards, dished 3 assists and stole 3 balls in 33 minutes. But the Indiana Pacers (48-34) lost 91-99 on the road to the Celtics. Young has very impressive stats this year 12.5ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.6apg and 1.6spg in 85 games.

#6. Daniel Miller (6’11”-C-91, graduated ’14, currently in Japan) was the major contributor in a Sendai 89ers‘ victory against the sixth-ranked Aomori Watts crushing them 108-67 in the Japanese B2 League on Sunday night. He recorded a double-double by scoring 18 points and getting 10 rebounds. Miller also added 4 assists, 5 blocks, and 4 steals. Miller has relatively good stats this season 14.9ppg, 11.8rpg, 3.8apg, 1.8bpg, and 1.5spg.

#7. Ben Lammers (6’10”-C-95, graduated ’18, plays pro in Spain) couldn’t help RETAbet BB in their game against CB Granada in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division). Lammers scored 9 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and made 3 blocks in 23 minutes. His team was edged 72-70. Lammers has relatively good stats this year 10.1ppg, 6.7rpg, 2.2bpg and 1.1spg in 32 games.

#8. Adam Smith (6’1”-PG-92, graduated ’16, plays in Italy) contributed to an Orasi RAV‘s victory against the 11th-ranked Bondi Ferrara 84-77 in the Italian Serie A2 (second division) last Saturday. Smith was MVP of the game. He scored 29 points (!!!) and grabbed 6 rebounds. This season Smith has very high stats. He averages 23.9ppg, 4.1rpg and 2.9apg.

#9. Experienced Anthony McHenry (6’8”-SF-83, graduated ’05, currently in Japan) contributed to a Shinshu BW‘s victory against the sixth-ranked Tokyo HT 80-68 in the Japanese B2 League on Sunday night. He was MVP of the game. McHenry had a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 13 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks in 29 minutes. McHenry has very impressive stats this year 18.3ppg, 10.2rpg, 5.4apg, 1.4bpg and 1.9spg in 50 games.

#10. Quinton Stephens (6’9”-F-95, graduated ’17, plays pro in Spain) helped Leyma Basquet Coruna edge the closely-ranked Lleida Basquet 90-88 in the Spanish LEB Gold (second division) in Thursday night’s game. Stephens scored 14 points. Stephens has relatively good stats this season 11.1ppg, 5.2rpg, and 1.4apg.

Other former Georgia Tech players, who play in pro basketball:

James White (6’8”-F-93) plays for Beroe in Bulgarian NBL
Glen Rice Jr. (6’6”-G/F-91) plays for Instituto in Argentinian La Liga
Avi Schafer (6’8”-C-98) plays for Toyota Alvark Tokyo in Japanese B League
Josh Okogie (6’4”-G-98) plays for Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA
Iman Shumpert (6’5”-G-90) plays for Houston Rockets in the NBA
Jeremis Smith (6’8”-F-86) plays for Bigua in Uruguayan LUB
Alade Aminu (6’10”-F/C-87) plays for Hapoel SP Tel-Aviv in Israeli Winner League
Tony Akins (5’11”-G-80) plays for KCC Egis in South Korean KBL
Will Bynum (6’0”-PG-83) played for Yesilgiresun Belediye in Turkish Folded a few months ago
Jarrett Jack (6’3”-PG-83) plays for Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA G League
Marcus Georges-Hunt (6’5”-F-94) played for Maine Red Claws in the NBA G League last year
Kammeon Holsey (6’8”-F-90) plays for Craiova in Romanian Liga Nationala
Gani Lawal (6’9”-F/C-88) plays for Shiga L-Stars in Japanese B League
Tadric Jackson (6’2”-G-94) plays for Contern in Luxembourg Total League
Lewis Clinch (6’3”-G-87) plays for Grindavik in Icelandic Dominos League
Joshua Heath (5’11”-PG-94) plays for Ankara D.S.I. in Turkish TBL
Mario West (6’5”-G-84) played for Ghost Ballers in the Big3 last year

Notice: The list above includes only some of the Georgia Tech alumni playing currently in pro basketball. Check COMPLETE LIST.