As the 2014-15 basketball season winds down so too does the professional careers of several former BYU basketball players, at least with their current teams. Most notably Jimmer Fredette—the only former cougar currently signed to an NBA team, just concluded his season with the New Orleans Pelicans and becomes a free agent. In addition to The Jimmer, nine other former cougs spent the last season playing professionally overseas (Agustin Ambrosino, Brandon Davies, Charles Abuou, Lamont Morgan, Jonathan Tavernari, Lee Cummard, Rashaun Broadus, Trent Plaisted, Rafael Araujo).
Since 2000 BYU has had 4 players drafted in the NBA (Hansen, Araujo, Plaisted, Fredette) with another signing as a free agent (Davies). There have also been at least ten others (14 total) make it as professional basketball players in foreign leagues (see below). The most successful class in BYU school history for placing players in professional leagues was the 2008-09 team. That team NINE players who would go on to play in professional leagues. The table below provides summaries of all former BYU basketball players who are currently playing professionally.
| Player/Years at BYU/Current Team | Summary of Professional Playing Experience |
| Agustin Ambrosino (BYU 2012-13), Tomas De Rocamora (Argentina) | Bahia Basket (Argentina), Quimsa (Argentina), Real Madrid II (Spain), Tomas De Rocamora (Argentina, 2014-15) |
| Brandon Davies (2009-13), ES Chalon-Sur-Saone (France) | NBA (undrafted), Philadelphia 76ers (2013-2015), Elan Chalon (France, 2015-15) |
| Charles Abuou (2008-12), Al Gezira (Egypt) | CB Penas Huesca (Aragon, 2012-13), Quesos Cerrato Palencia (Spain, 2013-14), Al Gezira (Egypt, 2014-15) |
| Jimmer Fredette (2007-11), New Orleans Pelicans (USA) | 2011 NBA Draft (10, Milwaukee); Sacramento Kings (2011-14), Chicago Bulls (2014), New Orleans Pelicans (2014-15) |
| Jonathan Tavernari (2006-10), Orsi Derthona Basket Tortona (Italy) | Pinheiros (Brazil, 2010-11; 2013-14), Pallacanestro Biella (Italy, 2011-12), Pistoia Basket (Italy, 2012), Scafati Basket (Italy, 2012-13), Derthona Basket (Italy, 2014-present) |
| Lamont Morgan (2008-10), Plasencia Extremadura (Spain) | Idaho Stampede (USA, Developmental League, 2013-13), Plasencia Extremadura (Spain, 2014-15) |
| Lee Cummard (2005-09), Okapi Aalstar (Belgium) | NBA D-League (USA, 2009-10), Fos Ouest (France, 2010-11), Kyoto Hannaryz (Japan, 2011-12), ALBA (Germany, 2012-13), Aalstar (Belgium, 2013-15) |
| Trent Plaisted (2004-08), Limoges CSP Elite (France) | 2008 NBA draft (46, Detroit), Angelico Biella (Italy, 2008-09), Zadar (Croatia, 2009-10), Cedevita Zagreb (Croatia, 2010-11), Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania, 2011), Cherkaski Mavpy (Ukraine, 2011-12), Aliaga Petkim (Turkey, 2012), Limoges CSP (2012-13), Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany, 2013-14), Limoges CSP (France, 2014-15) |
| Rashaun Broadus (2004-06), Juventas-LKSK Utenos (Lithuania) | Neptunas (Lithuania), Siauliai (Lithuania), Edmonton Energy (USA, IBL, 2008-11), Halychyna (Ukraine), Suduva (Lithuania), Juventas-LKSK Utenos (Lithuania, 2014-15) |
| Rafael Araujo (2002-04), Pinheiros (Brazil) | 2004 NBA Draft (8, Toronto): Toronto Raptors (2004-06), Utah Jazz (2006-07); Spartak St. Petersburg (Russia, 2007-08), Flamengo (Brazil, 2009), Paulistano (Brazil, 2009-10), Flamengo (Brazil, 2010-11), Franca (Brazil, 2011-12), Mogi das Cruzes (Brazil, 2012-14), Pinheiros (Brazil, 2014-present) |
This list is likely to grow by one or two next year as Tyler Haws is projected by some as a late second round pick (NBAdraftcentral.com, PanicButton, BasslineSpin.com). If he isn’t drafted he has shown interest in playing overseas and would assuredly be picked up by someone. There’s also a decent chance that Anson Winder (and remote chance for Josh Sharp or Skyler Halford) ink an overseas contract. Early projections for 2016 have Kyle Collinsworth getting drafted and several other cougars show NBA potential (Mika, Kaufusi, Emery). Expect this list to keep growing… and growing… and growing.
To see the BYU Basketball “Where are they now?” profiles click here. To see the BYU Basketball Pro Tracker click here. And if I’m missing anyone from this list and/or information needs to be updated or modified please let me know in the comments below.
