Photo by: SCW Photos
#NextLevelGriz basketball update
1/29/2019 8:34:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Montana has eight former players active in professional leagues across the globe. Below is a look at some of their performances over the past month, courtesy of Sports I.T. Solutions/Eurobasket.
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Will Cherry (2013) / Santa Cruz Warriors / NBA G League
Santa Cruz sits atop the Western Conference standings with a record of 23-8. Cherry is averaging 8.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game (10th in G League), starting 22 games. On Sunday vs. Pacific Division rival South Bay Lakers, Cherry scored a career-high 24 points, including four three-pointers, plus seven rebounds and four assists. In a recent win over another top team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Cherry had 14 points, eight assists and three steals. He is in his sixth professional season and has signed professional contracts with four NBA teams. He also has playing time in Croatia, Germany, Lithuania and Turkey. Cherry finished his Montana career ranked first for career steals, fourth for assists and seventh for scoring. He was a three-time All-Big Sky first-team selection.
David Bell (2003) / Giessen 46ers / Germany
Bell was the Giessen 46ers' top scorer in each of the past two weeks, scoring 18 points vs. second-ranked ALBA Berlin and 29 last week in a matchup against Martin Breunig's Telekom Baskets Bonn. Bell is averaging 12.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season. The two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection has been playing professionally since 2004 (16th season), playing in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Switzerland, in addition to stints in the U.S., including three years in the NBA G League. Bell still holds Montana's single-season record for three-pointers (98), doing so in both 2002 and 2003. The two-time All-Big Sky first-team selection also ranks among Montana's all-time leaders for career free-throw percentage.
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Jordan Gregory (2015) / Marin / Spain
Gregory is one of Marin's top scorers, tallying a game-high 20 points in a recent matchup against Avila. A week later, his team secured a win over 12th-ranked Tormes (Spanish LEB Silver division), with Gregory pouring in 14 points. On the season, he is averaging 17.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Gregory is in his third professional season, also playing in Queensland and the Netherlands. He was the Dutch Basketball League scoring champion in 2016-17. As a senior at Montana in 2014-15, Gregory scored 562 points, the ninth-most in a season in school history. He was a first-team all-conference selection and was named an All-American by Capital One.
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Kareem Jamar (2014) / Elitzur Yavne / Israel
Jamar was Elitzur Yavne's top contributor in its victory over Hapoel Kfar Saba last week. He scored 21 points, recorded seven rebounds and dished out three assists. He has led his team in scoring in three of the past four games. On the season, he is averaging 17.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Jamar is in his fifth professional season, also playing in Cyprus, Greece and Austria – where he won back-to-back Austrian League and Austrian Cup championships. Jamar ranks in the top five in Montana history for both scoring and assists, being named to the All-Big Sky first team three times.
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Martin Breunig (2016) / Telekom Baskets Bonn / Germany
Breunig has increased his scoring and rebounding averages significantly over the past month, trying to give Telekom Baskets Bonn a playoff push, with two games remaining in the regular season. He scored 20 points in a recent game against Vechta, and one week later was named MVP of the game with 18 points and 12 rebounds, in addition to five assists. Breunig is averaging 10.3 points and 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game this season. He is in his third professional season in Germany – his native land – in addition to playing for the German under-16 and under-18 national teams prior to college. Despite playing just two seasons at Montana, the two-time All-Big Sky selection recorded more than 1,100 points, including 624 as a senior, the fifth-most in school history.
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Brian Qvale (2011) / Virtus Bologna / Italy
Virtus Bologna has won nine of its past 10 games and sits in first place of the Basketball Champions League Group D standings. Most recently, he scored 13 points, had six rebounds and blocked two shots vs. Besiktas. On the season, he is averaging 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Now in his eighth professional season, Qvale has played in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Russia and Turkey, in addition to the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. Qvale holds Montana records for blocking, both for his career and in a season, recording a Big Sky record 95 in 2010-11. The 2011 All-Big Sky first-team selection also ranks eighth in school history for career rebounds.
Virgil Matthews (2006) / Chemnitz / Germany
Matthews totaled six points, six rebounds and six assists in last week's win over Baunach. Chemnitz is 15-3 on the year and in first place in the German ProA standings. On the season, Matthews is averaging 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He is in his fifth season with Chemnitz and 13th professional season overall, playing for four other German teams, in addition to several IBL and NABL teams in America. Matthews was twice named Montana's defensive MVP, also leading the team in assists in 2005-06.
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Fabijan Krslovic (2018) / Cairns Taipans / Australia
Now in his first full season in his native country, Krslovic moved from the Cairns Taipans after finishing the 2018 professional season with the Cairns Marlins. He has played in five games, scoring two points. Krslovic finished his Griz career ranked in the top 10 for career steals and as the all-time leader for games played. He earned numerous team accolades, including the most inspirational player, best represents Griz basketball and coaches' award.
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Will Cherry (2013) / Santa Cruz Warriors / NBA G League
Santa Cruz sits atop the Western Conference standings with a record of 23-8. Cherry is averaging 8.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game (10th in G League), starting 22 games. On Sunday vs. Pacific Division rival South Bay Lakers, Cherry scored a career-high 24 points, including four three-pointers, plus seven rebounds and four assists. In a recent win over another top team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Cherry had 14 points, eight assists and three steals. He is in his sixth professional season and has signed professional contracts with four NBA teams. He also has playing time in Croatia, Germany, Lithuania and Turkey. Cherry finished his Montana career ranked first for career steals, fourth for assists and seventh for scoring. He was a three-time All-Big Sky first-team selection.
Career high for @willcherry5 in tonight's @GLeagueWarriors W!
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 28, 2019
He dropped 24 PTS with 7 REB & 4 AST 👀 pic.twitter.com/osXAJ6uosD
David Bell (2003) / Giessen 46ers / Germany
Bell was the Giessen 46ers' top scorer in each of the past two weeks, scoring 18 points vs. second-ranked ALBA Berlin and 29 last week in a matchup against Martin Breunig's Telekom Baskets Bonn. Bell is averaging 12.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season. The two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection has been playing professionally since 2004 (16th season), playing in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Switzerland, in addition to stints in the U.S., including three years in the NBA G League. Bell still holds Montana's single-season record for three-pointers (98), doing so in both 2002 and 2003. The two-time All-Big Sky first-team selection also ranks among Montana's all-time leaders for career free-throw percentage.
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Jordan Gregory (2015) / Marin / Spain
Gregory is one of Marin's top scorers, tallying a game-high 20 points in a recent matchup against Avila. A week later, his team secured a win over 12th-ranked Tormes (Spanish LEB Silver division), with Gregory pouring in 14 points. On the season, he is averaging 17.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Gregory is in his third professional season, also playing in Queensland and the Netherlands. He was the Dutch Basketball League scoring champion in 2016-17. As a senior at Montana in 2014-15, Gregory scored 562 points, the ninth-most in a season in school history. He was a first-team all-conference selection and was named an All-American by Capital One.
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Kareem Jamar (2014) / Elitzur Yavne / Israel
Jamar was Elitzur Yavne's top contributor in its victory over Hapoel Kfar Saba last week. He scored 21 points, recorded seven rebounds and dished out three assists. He has led his team in scoring in three of the past four games. On the season, he is averaging 17.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Jamar is in his fifth professional season, also playing in Cyprus, Greece and Austria – where he won back-to-back Austrian League and Austrian Cup championships. Jamar ranks in the top five in Montana history for both scoring and assists, being named to the All-Big Sky first team three times.
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Martin Breunig (2016) / Telekom Baskets Bonn / Germany
Breunig has increased his scoring and rebounding averages significantly over the past month, trying to give Telekom Baskets Bonn a playoff push, with two games remaining in the regular season. He scored 20 points in a recent game against Vechta, and one week later was named MVP of the game with 18 points and 12 rebounds, in addition to five assists. Breunig is averaging 10.3 points and 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game this season. He is in his third professional season in Germany – his native land – in addition to playing for the German under-16 and under-18 national teams prior to college. Despite playing just two seasons at Montana, the two-time All-Big Sky selection recorded more than 1,100 points, including 624 as a senior, the fifth-most in school history.
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Brian Qvale (2011) / Virtus Bologna / Italy
Virtus Bologna has won nine of its past 10 games and sits in first place of the Basketball Champions League Group D standings. Most recently, he scored 13 points, had six rebounds and blocked two shots vs. Besiktas. On the season, he is averaging 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Now in his eighth professional season, Qvale has played in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Russia and Turkey, in addition to the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. Qvale holds Montana records for blocking, both for his career and in a season, recording a Big Sky record 95 in 2010-11. The 2011 All-Big Sky first-team selection also ranks eighth in school history for career rebounds.
Virgil Matthews (2006) / Chemnitz / Germany
Matthews totaled six points, six rebounds and six assists in last week's win over Baunach. Chemnitz is 15-3 on the year and in first place in the German ProA standings. On the season, Matthews is averaging 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He is in his fifth season with Chemnitz and 13th professional season overall, playing for four other German teams, in addition to several IBL and NABL teams in America. Matthews was twice named Montana's defensive MVP, also leading the team in assists in 2005-06.
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Fabijan Krslovic (2018) / Cairns Taipans / Australia
Now in his first full season in his native country, Krslovic moved from the Cairns Taipans after finishing the 2018 professional season with the Cairns Marlins. He has played in five games, scoring two points. Krslovic finished his Griz career ranked in the top 10 for career steals and as the all-time leader for games played. He earned numerous team accolades, including the most inspirational player, best represents Griz basketball and coaches' award.
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Players Mentioned
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