Maurice Harkless 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.

Maurice Harkless

   #1. This week's number one is former international forward Maurice Harkless (203-93, college: St.John's, currently plays in NBA). He could not help the Sacramento Kings (19-35) in their last game. Despite Harkless' very good performance the Sacramento Kings (19-35) lost 114-126 on the road to the Golden State Warriors. He recorded 18 points and had 6 steals in 31 minutes on the court. It's Harkless' first season with the team. This year Harkless averages: 4.5ppg, 2.3rpg, 2FGP: 63.5%(40-63), 3FGP: 28.0% and FT: 68.4% in 36 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Puerto Rican and American. Harkless played for the Puerto Rican senior national team six years ago. Strangely he has never played in Puerto Rico.

Isaiah Pineiro

   #2. Second place goes to an international small forward Isaiah Pineiro (200-95, college: San Diego, currently plays in Basketball Champions League). Pineiro contributed to Dacka's victory against the fourth-ranked Treviso (0-1) 88-76 in the Basketball Champions League last Tuesday. He scored 9 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Darussafaka Tekfen Istanbul (1-1) is placed second in group J. There are only four games left until the end of the Basketball Champions League Top 16. So now every game will be critical. Pineiro has relatively good stats this season: 10.1ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 45.8%, 3FGP: 54.2%(13-24) and FT: 93.3%(28-30). He is in the roster of the Puerto Rican senior national team.

Christopher Ortiz

   #3. The Puerto Rican player who performed third best last week abroad was an international power forward Christopher Ortiz (203-93, college: Kent St., currently plays in Israel). Ortiz was the major contributor in M.Ashdod's victory against the closely-ranked H.Ramat Gan (5-9) 96-79 in the Israeli National League (second division) on Tuesday night. He had a double-double by scoring 27 points and getting 14 rebounds. Ortiz also added 3 assists and 3 blocks (made all of his six free throws) in 34 minutes. Maccabi Ashdod/Be'er Tuvia (4-10) is placed second from the bottom (#14) in the National League. Ortiz has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 19.4ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.3apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 47.4%, 3FGP: 32.8% and FT: 81.4% in 12 games. Ortiz is another player who holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American. He is also a member of the Puerto Rican senior national team. Ortiz used to play for Santurce in Puerto Rican league.

Justin Reyes

   #4. Swingman Justin Reyes (193-95, college: STAC, currently plays in Italy) led Varese to a victory against the closely-ranked Trento (0-4) 90-84 in the Italian Serie A on Friday night. He scored 17 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Openjobmetis Vareseis placed in the Serie A. This season Reyes has relatively solid stats: 11.0ppg and 5.5rpg. He has both Dominican Republic and Puerto Rican nationalities. Reyes used to play for the Puerto Rican national team back in 2020.

Gary Browne

   #5. International point guard Gary Browne (185-93, college: WVU, currently plays in Turkey) was not able to help Socar Petkim (3-16) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the bottom-ranked Socar Petkim was crushed 94-73 in Istanbul by the much higher-ranked (#9) Besiktas. Browne was the top scorer with 17 points. He also added 7 assists (made all of his seven free throws) in 35 minutes. It was Socar Petkim's third consecutive loss in a row. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Browne has very impressive stats this year: 15.3ppg, 3.0rpg, 6.3apg and 1.6spg in 14 games. He also holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American. Browne plays currently for the Puerto Rican national team. He used to play for Coamo in Puerto Rican league.

Arnaldo Toro

   #6. Power forward Arnaldo Toro (203-97, college: St.John's, currently plays in Finland) contributed to Nokia's victory against the closely-ranked Kobrat (7-14) 95-91 in the Finnish Korisliiga on Wednesday night. Toro had a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting the same number of rebounds. He also added 3 assists in 38 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Toro's third season in pro basketball. BC Nokia (9-9) is placed eighth in the Korisliiga. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is quite important. Toro has reliable stats this year: 13.1ppg, 15.8rpg and 1.6apg in 18 games. He is an international player who is currently on the senior Puerto Rican National Team roster.

Jose Placer

   #7. Former U19 international guard Jose Placer (185, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to UNF's victory against the Jacksonville State University (2-0) 88-76 in a derby game in the NCAA last Thursday. He scored 25 points and added 5 assists in 34 minutes. The University of North Florida has not so impressive 0-6 conference record this season. Placer's stats this year are: 14.9ppg, 3.0rpg and 3.0apg in 20 games. He used to play for the Puerto Rican U19 national team three years ago.

Nicholas Guadarrama

   #8. Forward Nicholas Guadarrama (196-99, currently studies in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to secure a victory for the UNH (4-4) in their last game on Friday. Despite Guadarrama's very good performance the UNH was defeated 76-69 in Stony Brook by the University. He scored 22 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Guadarrama is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fourth year in UNH's roster. Guadarrama's stats this season are: 13.6ppg, 4.9rpg and 2.7apg. He used to play for the Puerto Rican U19 national team back in 2017.

Eric Ayala

   #9. Former U16 international guard Eric Ayala (196-99, is currently at the American university), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the Maryland (3-8) in their last game. Despite Ayala's very good performance the Maryland was edged 65-63 in East Lansing by the Michigan State University. He scored 15 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 39 minutes. Ayala has been at the team for four years. Ayala has very impressive stats this season: 15.7ppg, 4.7rpg and 2.0apg in 22 games. He holds both American and Puerto Rican passports. Ayala used to play for the Puerto Rican U16 national team seven years ago. Apparently he has never played in Puerto Rico.

Jorge Pacheco-Ortiz

   #10. Guard Jorge Pacheco-Ortiz (186-98, college: Liberty, currently plays in Argentina) couldn't help Atenas (4-3) in their last game on Monday. Despite Pacheco-Ortiz's good performance Atenas was defeated 77-66 in Corrientes by the leading San Martin. He scored 11 points. Pacheco-Ortiz averaged so far 11.1ppg, 2.0rpg and 2.3apg. He is a former international player as two years ago he still played for the Puerto Rican senior national team.

   #11. Former U19 international guard Julian Strawther (201-2, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the University of Portland crushing them 104-72 in the NCAA last Saturday. He scored 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 24 minutes. Strawther averaged so far 12.5ppg, 6.0rpg and 1.1apg in 20 games. He holds both American and Puerto Rican passports. Strawther used to play for the Puerto Rican U19 national team three years ago. Interesting that he has never played in Puerto Rico.

   #12. Former U19 international guard Jesus Cruz (196-98, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the Fairfield (4-6) in their last game. Despite his good performance the Fairfield was edged 59-56 at home by the Monmouth University. Cruz scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 30 minutes. This year Cruz's overall stats are: 8.1ppg, 3.9rpg and 1.4apg in 21 games. He used to play for the Puerto Rican U19 national team back in 2017.

   #13. 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 Louisiana at Lafayette in the NCAA, despite his good performance on Thursday night. He scored 11 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 38 minutes. But his team was crushed by 24 points 75-51. Palermo averaged so far 12.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 1.8apg and 1.4spg in 18 games. He used to play for the Puerto Rican U18 national team four years ago.

   #14. International center George Conditt IV (208-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an Iowa St.'s surprising victory against the University of Missouri 67-50 in the NCAA in Saturday night's game. Conditt IV scored 8 points and added 3 passes. Conditt IV's total stats this season are: 5.0ppg, 3.9rpg and 1.7apg. He plays currently for the Puerto Rican national team.

   #15. Former U19 international guard Giovanni Santiago (185-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to a Kent St.'s victory against the Miami University 78-65 in the NCAA on Tuesday night. He scored 9 points, had 4 rebounds and dished 4 assists. Santiago's total stats this season are: 7.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.2apg and 1.3spg. He used to play for the Puerto Rican U19 national team three years ago.


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

   #1. Ivan Aska (201-F-90, agency: 011 Sports, college: Murray St., currently plays in Hungary) led DEAC to a 2-point victory over the seventh-ranked Kaposvari (10-9) 82-80 in the Hungarian A Division in Saturday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Aska recorded a double-double by scoring 26 points and getting 11 rebounds. Debreceni Egyetem (8-10) is placed third in the A Division. This season Aska has relatively solid stats: 11.9ppg and 5.0rpg. He has a dual citizenship: U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican.

   #2. Stephen Thompson Jr. (194-G-97, college: Oregon St., currently plays in Italy) led Reggio Emilia to a victory against the league leader Tortona (4-0) 98-93 in the Italian Serie A last Sunday. Thompson Jr. scored 12 points and had 4 steals in 36 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Unahotels Reggio Emiliais placed in the Serie A. This year Thompson Jr.'s overall stats are: 8.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.3apg and 1.1spg in 15 games he played so far. He is another player who holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American. Apparently Thompson Jr. has never played in Puerto Rico.

   #3. Jonathan Ocasio (196-F-92, college: New Haven, currently plays in Chile) could not help Universidad Catolica (7-2) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Ocasio's very good performance Universidad Catolica was crushed 92-69 on the road by the second-ranked Las Animas. He was the top scorer with 25 points. Ocasio also added 6 rebounds. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. Ocasio has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 25.7ppg, 6.7rpg and 4.0apg. Ocasio has both American and Puerto Rican nationalities. He used to play for Santurce in Puerto Rican league.

   #4. Experienced Johwen Villegas (194-F-85, college: FIU, currently plays in Uruguay) led Goes to a victory over one of league's weakest teams Urunday (4-11) 92-81 in a derby game in the Uruguayan LUB in Friday night's game. Villegas was MVP of the game. He recorded 23 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Goes Montevideo (18-10) is placed in the LUB. The Regular Season already ended. Villegas' stats this season are: 13.0ppg and 4.2rpg.

   #5. GianFranco Grafals (195-G/F, currently plays in NCAA2) was not able to help the Eckerd College (1-10) in their last game. Despite Grafals' very good performance his team lost 66-77 in Tampa to the University of. He scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 40 minutes. Grafals has very impressive stats this year: 20.1ppg, 6.6rpg, 1.1apg and 1.5spg in 16 games.

   #6. Matthew Lee (183-PG-99, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to secure a victory for the St.Peter's (8-3) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his very good performance the St.Peter's was defeated 85-77 at home by the Iona College. Lee recorded 20 points and added 3 assists. Lee's overall stats this season are: 6.7ppg, 1.5rpg and 3.1apg.

   #7. Miguel Arnold (178-PG, currently plays in NCAA2) contributed to an Augusta University's victory against the University of North Georgia 73-65 in the NCAA2 on Wednesday night. Arnold recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 10 rebounds. Arnold averaged so far 13.9ppg, 3.7rpg and 1.8apg.

   #8. Melsahn Basabe (201-PF-92, college: Iowa, currently plays in LAT-EST BL) couldn't help one of league's weakest teams Tallinna Kalev in their game against Tarvas in the KML. Basabe scored 9 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. His team was edged 81-80. Basabe's total stats this season are: 8.1ppg, 3.9rpg and 1.4apg. He also holds two passports: Puerto Rican and American. Despite Basabe's Puerto Rican nationality, he previously played for the USA U19 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the Puerto Rican team. Basabe used to play for Humacao Caciques in Puerto Rican league.

   #9. Alfonso Plummer (185-G-98, currently studies in the States) contributed to Illinois' surprising victory against the Northwestern University 59-56 in the NCAA last Saturday. Plummer scored 9 points in 19 minutes. Plummer has very impressive stats this year: 15.3ppg, 2.7rpg and 1.2apg in 21 games.

   #10. Jincho Rivera (196-F, is currently at the American university) couldn't help the Chicago St. in their game against the Abilene Christian University in the NCAA. Rivera recorded 6 points. His team was defeated 77-73. Rivera's total stats this season are: 2.0ppg and 2.5rpg.