Former Kats making international mark
2/7/2017 10:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Sam Houston State Bearkats have had their fare share of success with former players landing on professional level all over the world. Currently there are nine former 'Kats playing worldwide.
Here's a quick look and update on where they now:
Marcus James - Boca Juniors (Argentina)
Bearkat Years: 2010-12
James is in his second season playing in one of the top leagues in the world after stops in both Canada and the American Basketball Association. He has played in 26 games for Boca Juniors in 2016-17, averaging 17.1 minutes a game to go with 4.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while shooting 43.0 percent from the floor.
Gilberto Clavell – Hanoel Galil Gilboa (Israel Winners League)
Bearkat Years: 2009-11
Clavell was a member of the Bearkats' 2010 NCAA Tournament team and is currently playing in Israel after signing into his native Puerto Rico's top league after his time at Sam Houston. He moved on to play in Finland in 2012, but has been playing in Israel since 2013. While in Puerto Rico he averaged 8.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game at Aguanda, helping his team to the league semifinals, and excelled last season for Hanoel Afula in the Israeli National League where in 16 games he was the league's fifth-leading scorer, averaging 20.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Those numbers helped him earn All-Israeli National League Forward of the Year in addition to being selected to the All-Imports first team. He also took part in the PanAm games two years ago in Toronto, representing Puerto Rico.
Kaheem Ransom – Mgzavrebi (Georgia)
Bearkat Years: 2013-15
Ransom is in his second season with Mgzavrebi and had a solid year in his first year, getting into 23 Superleague games and averaging 14.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game, ranking in the top four in the league in both rebounds and steals. He put up a season high of 29 points against Olimpi in April and had a career-high 12 rebounds twice. Those numbers helped him earn a spot on the Eurobasket.com Georgian League All-Imports second team.
Demarcus Gatlin – Geelong Supercats (Australia)
Bearkat Years: 2011-15
Gatlin is in his second season with the Geelong Supercats of the SEABL a year after being named the team's MVP in 2015-16 as a rookie. He averaged 14.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Supercats a year ago, leading the team to a 13-9 record and a third-place finish in the South Conference.
Ashton Mitchell - Valmiera (Latvian 1st League)
Bearkat Years: 2006-10
Mitchell originally signed with BK Liepajas Lauvas in Latvia following his Bearkat career and returned to Latvia for this season after spending time each of the past five years in the NBDL along with Czech Republic, Serbia and Hungary. He averaged 15.1 points 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 2014-15 in the Hungarian A Division, but had his top year in 2013-14 when he split time with Metalac in the Serbian KLS before moving on to play 30 games with BK Kolin in the Czech Republic NBL where he averaged 17.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
Corey Allmond - Rochester Razor Sharks
Bearkat Years: 2008-10
Allmond currently suits up in his third year for the Rochester Razor Sharks of the Premier Basketball League, and has seen time playing in multiple leagues since leaving Sam Houston following the 2009-10 season. He was the 10th overall pick in the third round of the 2010 NBDL Draft by the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, where he averaged 7.7 points and hit 35.4 percent of his three-pointers in 47 games. He then moved on to the NBL in China in 2011, joining ShanYang Dongjin where he averaged 21.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and hit 39.7 percent of his threes in 17 games. He has also spent Morocco and Turkey prior to returning to the US to join the Razor Sharks.
Michael Holyfield - Ilwarra Hawks (Australian 1st League)
Bearkat Years: 2011-15
The 2015 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Holyfield is in his first season with the Iwarra Hawks of the Australian NBL, where he made a splash in his debut with 14 points, six rebounds and a pair of blocks. He joined the Hawks after spending two seasons in the NBDL, starting off with the Iowa Energy where he played in 22 games before being traded to the Los Angeles D-Fenders, helping LA to the league finals in 2016.
Terrance Motley – FSU Selfoss (Iceland)
Bearkat Years: 2012-14
Motley currently suits up for FSU Selfoss in Iceland after spending last season with the Laredo Swarm of the ABA. The previous (2015) summer Motley played at Cerveceros (Chihuahua Vive) in Mexican league where in 27 games he recorded very impressive stats: 21.6ppg and 11.1rpg in 2015 season and was voted to Mexican Chihuahua Vive All-Star Game.
John Gardiner - Quezaltepeque (El Salvador)
Bearkat Years: 2005-08
Gardner was named to the El Salvador Liga Mayor Eastern Division All-Star team in October. The former Bearkat has also spent time playing in Albania and Mexico.
