We bring you last week's top performances from Virgin Islanders who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.
#1. This week's number one is former international center
Nicolas Claxton (211-1999, college:
Georgia, currently plays in NBA). He led
Brooklyn Nets to an easy victory against the Orlando Magic (18-52) crushing them
150-108 in the NBA in Tuesday night's game.
Claxton had a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 10 rebounds in 24 minutes on the court.
The Brooklyn Nets have 36-33 record this season.
It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row.
Claxton has relatively good stats this year: 8.6ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.1bpg, 2FGP: 63.8%(127-199) and FT: 56.5% in 34 games he played so far.
He played for the U.S. Virgin Islands senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international forward
Ivan Aska (201-1990, agency:
011 Sports, college:
Murray St., currently plays in Hungary). He led
DEAC to a victory against the league outsider Atomeromu (6-18)
90-82 in the Hungarian A Division in Friday night's game.
Aska scored 15 points; not bad, considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Debreceni Egyetem (8-10) is placed third in the A Division.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This season Aska has relatively solid stats: 11.3ppg, 4.6rpg, 2FGP: 57.3%(110-192) and FT: 69.4%.
He has a dual citizenship: U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican.
Aska played for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team in 22.
#3. The U.S. Virgin Islands player who performed third best last week abroad was former international forward
Justin Gray (198-1995, college:
Texas Tech, currently plays in Poland). He could not help one of league's weakest teams
Spojnia (0-3) in their last game. Despite Gray's good performance Spojnia lost
97-108 on the road to the higher-ranked (#3) Anwil.
He recorded 13 points in 34 minutes.
So far Spojnia lost all three games in the Regular Season.
Gray has reliable stats this year: 12.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.2apg, 2FGP: 57.8%(52-90), 3FGP: 38.5% and FT: 66.7% in 22 games.
He played for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team year ago.
#4. Forward
Romani Hansen (203-1997, college:
Albany, currently plays in Switzerland) was the major contributor in
Starwings' victory against the closely-ranked Nyon (9-12)
82-68 in the Swiss SBL in Wednesday night's game.
He had a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 10 rebounds. Hansen also added 2 blocks in 39 minutes.
Starwings Basket Regio Basel (6-14) is placed eighth in the SBL.
They ended the series of six consecutive loses.
Hansen's stats this year are: 13.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.3bpg and 1.3spg in four games.
He used to play for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international guard
Deon Edwin (190-1992, college:
Kent St., currently plays in North Macedonia) was not able to help
Rabotnicki in their last game on Saturday. Despite Edwin's good performance Rabotnicki was defeated
83-70 in a derby game by the lower-ranked Akademija FMP (#3).
He was the second best scorer with 13 points. Edwin also added 9 boards, handed out 7 passes and blocked 2 shots.
Edwin has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 23.0ppg, 8.0rpg and 7.0apg.
Edwin used to play for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team
years ago.
#6. Point guard
Georgio Milligan (188-1990, college:
F&M, currently plays in Brazil) was not able to secure a victory for
Corinthians (0-3) in their game against UNIFACISA (15-9) in the Brazilian NBB.
He scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Corinthians was edged
70-69 at home by the lower-ranked UNIFACISA (#6).
So far Corinthians lost all three games in the Regular Season.
Milligan's overall stats this season are: 7.1ppg, 4.0rpg and 2.6apg.
He is another player who holds two passports: U.S. Virgin Islands and American.
Milligan is a former international player as he played for the U.S. Virgin Islands senior team year ago.
The list of other players, who all have U.S. Virgin Islands passport but never been selected to any of U.S. Virgin Islands national teams: #1. Desi Rodriguez (198-F-1996, college:
Seton Hall, currently plays in Germany) was the major contributor in a
s Oliver Baskets' victory against the closely-ranked Hakro Merlins
91-74 in the German BBL last Saturday.
Rodriguez recorded 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds (made all of his seven free throws); quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. s.Oliver Wuerzburg (7-12) is placed ninth in the BBL.
This season Rodriguez has relatively solid stats: 14.8ppg and 5.4rpg.
#2. John Collins (208-PF-1997, college:
Wake Forest, currently plays in NBA) contributed to an
Atlanta Hawks' victory against the Los Angeles Clippers (35-36)
112-106 in the NBA on Friday night.
He recorded 9 points in 23 minutes.
The Atlanta Hawks have 33-35 record this season.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
Collins has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 16.2ppg, 7.8rpg and 1.8apg in 54 games he played so far.
Collins has a dual citizenship: U.S. Virgin Islands and American.
#3. J'Wan Roberts (201-F, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Tulane University (10-8) crushing them
86-66 in the NCAA on Saturday night.
Roberts recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting 13 rebounds.
The University of Houston has quite an impressive 15-3 conference record this season.
His team will play only one more game in the NCAA Regular Season. And that game will be critical.
Roberts' overall stats this season are: 3.0ppg and 5.0rpg.
#4. Mervin James (201-F-2000, currently studies in the States) led
Rider to a 1-point victory against the Iona College (17-3)
71-70 in the NCAA on Wednesday night.
He scored 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 34 minutes.
The Rider University has 8-12 conference record this season.
The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA.
James averaged so far 11.1ppg and 5.0rpg in 33 games.
#5. Jemel Davis (206-C, is currently at the American university), who plays in the NCAA could not help the one of league's weakest teams
SC State (7-7) in their last game. Despite his good performance the SC State was edged
80-77 at home by the Morgan State University.
Davis recorded 10 points in 36 minutes.
The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA.
This year Davis' overall stats are: 9.1ppg, 4.6rpg and 1.4bpg in 31 games.
