John Holland selected the top Puerto Rican playing abroad in last week's games

We bring you last week's top performances from Puerto Ricans who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.

John Holland

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former international guard John Holland (196-1988, college: Boston U., currently plays in Turkey). He led Bursaspor to a victory over the closely-ranked Turk Telekom (12-17) crushing them 101-65 in the Turkish BSL in Saturday night's game. Holland was MVP of the game. He scored 20 points and added 3 passes in 23 minutes on the court; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Holland's first season in pro basketball. Frutti Extra Bursaspor (17-12) is placed eighth in the BSL. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Holland has relatively good stats this year: 11.0ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.8apg, 2FGP: 25.0%, 3FGP: 54.5%(12-22) in four games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American. Holland played for the Puerto Rican senior national team year ago. He used to play for Caciques de Humacao in Puerto Rican league.

Justin Reyes

   #2. Second place goes to former international swingman Justin Reyes (193-1995, college: STAC, currently plays in Italy). Reyes could not help Varese in their last game on Sunday. Despite his very good performance his team was crushed 102-71 on the road by the lower-ranked Brescia (#3). Reyes was the top scorer with 17 points. He also added 7 rebounds. This season Reyes averages: 8.2ppg, 4.0rpg, 2FGP: 64.2%(43-67), 3FGP: 41.2% and FT: 69.6%. He is another player who holds two passports: Dominican Republic and Puerto Rican. Former Indios de Mayaguez starter played for the Puerto Rican national team in 20.

Jordan Howard

   #3. The Puerto Rican player who performed third best last week abroad was former international point guard Jordan Howard (180-1996, college: Cent Arkansas, currently plays in France). Howard was not able to help SIG Strasbourg in their game against JL Bourg (15-17) in the French Betclic ELITE ProA. He recorded 8 points in 20 minutes. SIG Strasbourg lost 88-92 in Bourg to the much lower-ranked (#11) JL Bourg. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. This year Howard has relatively solid stats: 12.4ppg, 1.6apg, 2FGP: 45.9%, 3FGP: 43.8% and FT: 86.4% in 12 games. He has both American and Puerto Rican nationalities. Howard played for the Puerto Rican national team year ago. He used to play for Brujos de Guayama in Puerto Rican league.

Stephen Thompson Jr.

   #4. Guard Stephen Thompson Jr. (194-1997, college: Oregon St., currently plays in Italy) contributed to an Reggio Emilia's victory against the closely-ranked Trento (0-4) 77-69 in the Italian Serie A in Sunday night's game. Thompson Jr. scored 7 points. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Unahotels Reggio Emiliais placed in the Serie A. Thompson Jr.'s overall stats this season are: 7.3ppg, 1.5rpg, 1.3apg and 1.2spg. He also holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American. Thompson Jr. used to play for the Puerto Rican national team back in 22. Strangely he has never played in Puerto Rico.


The list of other players, who all have Puerto Rican passport but never been selected to any of Puerto Rican national teams:

   #1. Experienced Johwen Villegas (194-F-1985, college: FIU, currently plays in Uruguay) could not help Goes (18-10) in their last game. Despite Villegas' good performance his team lost 80-85 in a derby game to the lower-ranked (#5) Aguada. He scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 32 minutes. Villegas has reliable stats this year: 12.7ppg, 4.4rpg and 1.2apg in 18 games he played so far.

   #2. Bobby Harris (185-G-1991, agency: Duran International, college: AIC, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Zamora (15-11) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his very good performance the fifth-placed Zamora (15-11) was defeated 91-76 on the road by the lower-ranked Valencia Basket 2nd team (#6) in the West group. Harris was the top scorer with 18 points. He also added 4 assists and 5 steals. Harris has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.0ppg, 5.0rpg, 3.7apg and 1.6spg. Harris has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American. He used to play for San German in Puerto Rican league.


Other top Puerto Rican players, who play abroad:

Isaiah Pineiro (200-SF-1995) plays for Dacka in Turkish BSL
Shabazz Napier (185-PG-1991) plays for Zenit in Russian VTB
Maurice Harkless (203-F-1993) plays for Sacramento Kings in the NBA
Gary Browne (185-PG-1993) plays for Socar Petkim in Turkish BSL
Jhivvan Jackson (183-PG) plays for Menorca in Spanish LEB Silver
Ivan Aska (201-F-1990) plays for DEAC in Hungarian A Division
Arnaldo Toro (203-F/C-1997) plays for Nokia in Finnish Korisliiga
Emanuel Ubilla (187-PG-1986) plays for NH Ostrava in Czech Republic NBL
Denilson Fonseca (190-F/G-1998) plays for Esch in Luxembourg LBBL
Jordan Glover (201-F-1996) plays for CSCETB in Moroccan D1

Notice: The list above includes only some of the Puerto Rican playing currently abroad. Go to Puerto Rican Abroad Page to see completed list.