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 could not help the
Brooklyn Nets (44-37) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Claxton's good performance the Brooklyn Nets (44-37) were edged
115-114 on the road by the Boston Celtics.
He recorded 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks.
Claxton has relatively good stats this season: 8.8ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 68.1%(188-276) and FT: 51.9%.
He played for the U.S. Virgin Islands senior national team year ago.
#2. Second place goes to former international point guard
Georgio Milligan (188-1990, college:
F&M, currently plays in Brazil). Milligan was not able to help
Corinthians (0-3) in their last game. Despite his very good performance Corinthians was edged
80-78 in a derby game by the lower-ranked (#8) Pinheiros.
Milligan was the second best scorer with 17 points. He also added 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 21 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Milligan's first season in pro basketball. So far Corinthians lost all three games in the 1/8 Finals.
This year Milligan averages: 7.8ppg, 3.7rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 42.2%, 3FGP: 48.4%(15-31) and FT: 56.3% in 15 games he played so far.
He has a dual citizenship: U.S. Virgin Islands and American.
Milligan 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 power forward
Rakeem Christmas (206-1991, college:
Syracuse, currently plays in Puerto Rico). He was the major contributor in
Cangrejeros' victory against the fourth-ranked Brujos (1-2)
73-63 in the Puerto Rican BSN in Wednesday night's game.
Christmas recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting 12 rebounds. He also added 2 blocks.
Cangrejeros de Santurce (13-5) is placed second in Group B.
But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen.
Christmas' overall stats this year are: 5.7ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.3bpg, 2FGP: 53.3%.
He played for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team year ago.
#4. Forward
Justin Gray (198-1995, college:
Texas Tech, currently plays in Poland) was not able to secure a victory for
Spojnia (0-3) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite his good performance Spojnia was crushed
104-81 at home by the leading Czarni.
Gray was the second best scorer with 13 points. He also added 5 rebounds and made 2 blocks.
The Regular Season already ended.
This season Gray has relatively solid stats: 11.6ppg, 4.6rpg and 1.3apg.
He used to play for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team
back in 22.
#5. Former international forward
Ivan Aska (201-1990, agency:
011 Sports, college:
Murray St., currently plays in Hungary) couldn't help
DEAC (8-10) in their game against Kaposvari (2-2) in the Hungarian A Division, despite his very good performance in Wednesday night's game.
Aska was the top scorer with 19 points. He also added 4 rebounds in 28 minutes.
But the third-placed DEAC (8-10) was crushed
93-65 on their home court in Debrecen by the lower-ranked (#3) Kaposvari in the Places 6-10 group.
There are only four games left until the end of the Second Stage. So now every game will be critical.
Aska has reliable stats this year: 12.6ppg and 4.8rpg in 30 games.
He is another player who holds two passports: U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rican.
Aska used to play for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team
years ago.
#6. An experienced point guard
Walter Hodge (183-1986, college:
Florida, currently plays in Puerto Rico) led
Capitanes to a victory against the sixth-ranked Mets (1-3)
79-71 in the Puerto Rican BSN last Saturday.
He scored 11 points and added 5 assists. It was his first game for Capitanes this season.
His team is placed third in Group A.
But the season just started, so everything may happen.
Hodge is a former international player as he played for the U.S. Virgin Islands senior team year ago.
#7. Former international power forward
Jordan Murphy (200-1997, college:
Minnesota, currently plays in Puerto Rico) led
Leones to a victory over the fourth-ranked Brujos (1-2)
84-79 in the Puerto Rican BSN on Monday night.
He was MVP of the game. Murphy had a double-double by scoring 19 points and getting 11 rebounds in 39 minutes.
Leones de Ponce (4-1) is placed first in Group A.
It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
This year Murphy's overall stats are: 9.6ppg, 8.2rpg, 1.6apg and 1.4spg in five games.
He used to play for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team
years ago.
#8. Guard
Deon Edwin (190-1992, college:
Kent St., currently plays in North Macedonia) contributed to
Rabotnicki's victory against the ninth-ranked Kozuv (8-16)
81-70 in the North Macedonian Prva Liga in Thursday night's game.
Edwin recorded a double-double by scoring 12 points and making 10 passes. He also added 5 rebounds.
KK Rabotnicki AD Skopjeis placed third in the Prva Liga.
Edwin has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 23.2ppg, 6.5rpg, 8.2apg and 1.2spg.
Edwin used to play for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team
back in 22.
#9. Former international forward
Romani Hansen (203-1997, college:
Albany, currently plays in Switzerland) couldn't help
Starwings (9-18) in their game against Fribourg (26-1) in the Swiss SBL, despite his good performance last Saturday.
He recorded 10 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 39 minutes.
But Starwings was crushed
88-64 on their home court in Basel by the leading Fribourg.
They ended the series of three consecutive victories.
Hansen's team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And now that game is very crucial.
Hansen averaged so far 10.7ppg and 6.0rpg in 11 games.
He used to play for the U.S. Virgin Islands national team
years 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. John Collins (208-PF-1997, college:
Wake Forest, currently plays in NBA) could not help the
Atlanta Hawks (42-39) in their last game. Despite his good performance the Atlanta Hawks (42-39) lost
105-115 on the road to the Miami Heat.
Collins had a double-double by scoring 13 points and getting 10 rebounds in 29 minutes.
Collins has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 16.1ppg, 7.8rpg and 1.8apg in 56 games he played so far.
Collins has a dual citizenship: U.S. Virgin Islands and American.
#2. Desi Rodriguez (198-F-1996, college:
Seton Hall, currently plays in Germany) was the major contributor in a
s Oliver Baskets' victory against the tenth-ranked 46ers
110-97 in the German BBL last Saturday.
Rodriguez recorded 16 points and added 3 assists in 20 minutes; not bad, considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. s.Oliver Wuerzburgis placed in the BBL.
This year Rodriguez has relatively solid stats: 13.6ppg and 5.4rpg in 30 games.
#3. De'Quon Lake (208-F-1997, college:
Arizona St., currently plays in Puerto Rico) was not able to help
Grises in their game against Gigantes (1-2) in the Puerto Rican BSN. Despite his very good performance on Tuesday night Lake was the top scorer with 21 points. He also added 8 rebounds and 2 blocks.
But the season is still in its first stage and everything can happen.
Lake's stats this season are: 14.8ppg, 6.8rpg and 1.5apg.
