Here is the weekly review of the top performing Puerto Rican players, who play currently abroad.
#1. This week's number one is former U18 international guard
Ethan Thompson (196-99, currently plays college basketball in the States). He led
Oregon St. to an easy victory against the Northwest University crushing them
114-42 in the NCAA in Friday night's game.
Thompson scored 17 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
The Oregon State University has 1-1 conference record this season.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
It's Thompson's fourth year with the team.
He has relatively good stats this season: 13.7ppg, 6.0rpg, 5.0apg, 2FGP: 44.0%, 3FGP: 41.7%.
Thompson has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American.
He played for the Puerto Rican U18 national team four years ago.
Strangely Thompson has never played in Puerto Rico.
#2. Second place goes to former U16 international guard
Eric Ayala (196-99, currently studies in the States). He led
Maryland to an easy victory against the U.S. Naval Academy crushing them
82-52 in the NCAA last Friday.
Ayala scored 15 points and added 6 assists in 29 minutes.
The University of Maryland has 3-1 overall record this season.
Ayala has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 3.0apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 86.7%, 3FGP: 42.1% and FT: 91.7% in four games he played so far.
Ayala is another player who holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American.
He played for the Puerto Rican U16 national team in 2015.
Apparently Ayala has never played in Puerto Rico.
#3. The Puerto Rican player who performed third best last week abroad was former U19 international forward
Nicholas Guadarrama (196-99, is currently at the American university), who plays in the NCAA. Guadarrama could not help the one of league's weakest teams
UNH in their last game. Despite his very good performance the UNH lost
85-93 on the road to the Bryant University.
Guadarrama had a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 15 rebounds. He also added 3 assists (made all of his five free throws) in 36 minutes.
Guadarrama has very impressive stats this year: 17.0ppg, 12.5rpg, 2.5apg, 2FGP: 55.0%, 3FGP: 16.7% in two games.
He played for the Puerto Rican U19 national team three years ago.
#4. Guard
Jesus Cruz (196-98, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to help the
Fairfield in their last game on Friday. Despite Cruz's very good performance the Fairfield was edged
72-69 at home by the Stony Brook University.
He recorded 18 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
Cruz is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in Fairfield's roster.
This season Cruz has relatively solid stats: 12.0ppg, 5.7rpg and 1.3apg.
He used to play for the Puerto Rican U19 national team
back in 2017.
#5. U19 international guard
Andre Curbelo (185-1, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to secure a victory for the
Illinois in their last game. Despite Curbelo's good performance the Illinois lost
69-82 on their home court in Champaign to the Baylor University.
He scored 11 points and added 4 passes in a mere 16 minutes.
It's Curbelo's first season with the team.
This year Curbelo's overall stats are: 10.0ppg, 3.3rpg and 2.8apg in four games.
He used to play for the Puerto Rican U19 national team
last year.
#6. Guard
Jose Placer (185, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the
N.Florida in their last game on Friday. Despite Placer's good performance the N.Florida was crushed
86-51 on their home court in Jacksonville by the North Carolina State University.
He scored 11 points and added 3 assists.
Placer's total stats this season are: 9.3ppg, 1.8rpg, 3.8apg and 1.3spg.
He is U19 international player as he played for the Puerto Rican team one years ago.
#7. U19 international guard
Giovanni Santiago (185-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the
Kent St. in their game against the The University of Virginia in the NCAA.
Santiago recorded 8 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 38 minutes.
The Kent St. (#4) lost
64-71 on their home court in Kent to the The University of Virginia.
This year Santiago's total stats are: 7.0ppg and 2.5rpg in two games.
He used to play for the Puerto Rican U19 national team
last year.
#8. Center
George Conditt IV (208-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) managed to help Iowa State University in a victory against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
80-63 in the NCAA in Sunday night's game.
He scored only 2 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 13 minutes.
The Iowa State University has 1-1 overall record this season.
Conditt IV has averaged so far 1.5ppg and 2.0rpg in two games.
He used to play for the Puerto Rican U18 national team
back in 2018.
#9. Former U18 international guard
Isaiah Palermo (196-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the
UALR in their game against the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the NCAA.
He scored 5 points in 19 minutes.
The UALR lost
70-77 in Greensboro to the University of North Carolina at.
This year Palermo averages only 3.3ppg in four games.
He used to play for the Puerto Rican U18 national team
two years ago.
#10. Guard
Jose Nazario (188-2, currently plays in NAIA) couldn't help the
Bethel University, Tennessee (0-2) in their game against the Campbellsville University (1-0) in the NAIA. He cannot count Thursday's game as one of the best ones.
Nazario scored only one point in 10 minutes.
His team was badly defeated
92-72 in Campbellsville by the University.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Nazario has averaged so far 0.5ppg and 2.5rpg in two games.
He is U17 international player as one years ago he still played for the Puerto Rican national team.
The list of other players, who all have Puerto Rican passport but never been selected to any of Puerto Rican national teams: #1. Alfonso Plummer (185-G, currently plays college basketball in the States) led
Utah to a victory against the The University of Washington (0-1)
76-62 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game.
He scored 21 points and had 4 steals in 30 minutes. It was his first game for Utah this season.
His team has 1-0 conference record this season.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
#2. Experienced
TreVon Hughes (185-PG-87, college:
Wisconsin, currently plays in Israel) was the major contributor in
H.Afula's victory against the ninth-ranked Hasharon (1-2)
91-83 in the Israeli National League (second division) last Tuesday.
Hughes scored 23 points, made 8 passes and 6 steals.
Hapoel Afula (2-1) is placed fourth in the National League.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Hughes has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 15.5ppg, 4.0rpg, 5.0apg and 4.0spg.
Hughes has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American.
Strangely he has never played in Puerto Rico.
#3. Jhivvan Jackson (183-PG, currently studies in the States), who plays in the NCAA could not help the
UTSA in their last game. Despite Jackson's very good performance the UTSA was crushed
105-66 at home by the The University of Oklahoma.
He scored 28 points (!!!) and grabbed 5 rebounds in 32 minutes.
It's Jackson's fourth season with the team.
Jackson has very impressive stats this year: 18.7ppg, 3.7rpg, 2.3apg and 1.3spg in three games he played so far.
#4. Neftali Alvarez (188-G, is currently at the American university) contributed to
Mercer's victory against the Georgia Institute of Technology
83-73 in the NCAA on Friday night.
He scored 17 points, had 8 rebounds and dished 9 assists.
The Mercer University has 1-2 overall record this season.
This year Alvarez has very high stats. He averages: 16.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 6.0apg and 1.3spg.
#5. Matthew Lee (183-PG, currently plays college basketball in the States) managed to help Saint Peter's University to win against the La Salle University
62-51 in the NCAA on Friday night.
Lee scored only 2 points and added 10 assists.
The Saint Peter's University has 1-1 overall record this season.
Lee has averaged so far 4.0ppg, 1.8rpg, 4.3apg and 1.3spg.
#6. Ahmed Gustave (185-G, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to help the
St. Andrews University in their game against the Campbell University in the AAC.
Gustave scored 6 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
His team was crushed by 34 points
85-51 in the AAC.
Gustave has averaged so far 3.0ppg, 5.0rpg and 2.0apg.
#7. Alejandro Ralat (180-PG, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Florida National University crushing them
128-64 in the NCAA in Thursday night's game.
Ralat scored only 3 points.
This season Ralat averages just 1.5ppg.
