#NextLevelGriz basketball update
6/18/2019 2:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
In addition to a handful of recent graduates who look to begin their professional careers, Montana had nine players active in professional leagues across the globe in 2019. Below is a look at some of their recent performances, with statistics courtesy of Sports I.T. Solutions/Eurobasket.
Fabijan Krslovic (2018) / Cairns Marlins / Australia
In his first full professional season, Krslovic is tearing up the QBL in the Australia State League, posting seven double-doubles in 11 games. The Marlins have won five consecutive games and are 7-4 overall in a season that runs through July. Krslovic leads the Marlins for rebounding, with 9.6 boards per game, while also adding 15.8 points per game on .634 shooting. Even bigger, Krslovic last week signed a professional contract with the Cairns Taipans – of the higher NBL – for the 2019-20 season. 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.
The Giessen 46ers went 13-21 on the season, finishing 13th in the BBL standings. David Bell logged the fourth-most minutes on the team (22.4 per game) and averaged 11.8 points on .523 shooting, including a .443 clip from deep and .854 mark from the free-throw line. He also added 1.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game. The two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection has been playing professionally since 2004 (16th season), playing in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the 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.
Martin Breunig (2016) / Telekom Baskets Bonn / Germany
As one of Telekom Baskets Bonn's top players, Martin Breunig averaged 10.3 points per game on .555 shooting, in addition to 3.9 rebounds. His team went 18-16 on the season and played in the quarterfinals of the BBL postseason tournament. It was 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.
Will Cherry (2013) / Santa Cruz Warriors / NBA G League /// Olympiacos / Greece
Will Cherry concluded his first season back in the NBA G League, helping the Santa Cruz Warriors to the conference finals in April. He finished the season with strong numbers, averaging 9.0 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds across 48 games. Cherry didn't get much of an offseason, jumping back into the professional realm with Olympiacos in Greece. In three games in Greece, Cherry made 8-of-14 shots and averaged 11.0 points per game, in addition to 3.3 assists and 6.0 rebounds. It was the sixth professional season for Cherry, who 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.
Jordan Gregory (2015) / Marin / Spain
Jordan Gregory was Marin's top player, averaging a team-best 16.4 points per game, in addition to 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest. Marin advanced to the semifinals of the Spanish LEB Silver standings. Gregory finished 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.
Kareem Jamar (2014) / Elitzur Yavne / Israel
Kareem Jamar helped Elitzur Yavne to the Israeli National League playoffs, including an upset win over top-seeded Maccabi Raanana in the first game of a best-of-three series. Raanana bounced back to win the next two games to end Jamar's season, despite a team-high 24 points in Game 3. On the season, Jamar was his team's top player, averaging 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Jamar completed 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.
Jack Lopez / Bankstown / Australia
Playing for the Bankstown Bruins in the Australian State League, Lopez averaged team bests for scoring (16.5 per game) and rebounding (6.6 per game). He shot .508 from the floor and helped his team to a 9-5 record in the WARATAH group. Lopez played in 112 games from 2014-17, helping the Grizzlies to a 2015 Big Sky title. A year later, he earned the Dennis T. Murphy Coaches Award. This was his second professional season in Australia.
Virgil Matthews (2006) / Chemnitz / Germany
Virgil Matthews led Chemnitz with 6.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game, in addition to 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds. Chemnitz had a league-best 24-6 record during the regular season before advancing to the semifinals of the German ProA League tournament. It was 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.
Brian Qvale (2011) / Virtus Bologna / Italy
Brian Qvale completed his first season with Virtus Bologna, going 15-15 overall and winning Group D of the Basketball Champions League standings. He averaged 8.7 points and 4.8 rebounds in 15 Champions League games, in addition to 7.8 points and 4.2 boards – on .618 shooting – in the Italian League. It was his eighth professional season, having also 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.
Fabijan Krslovic (2018) / Cairns Marlins / Australia
In his first full professional season, Krslovic is tearing up the QBL in the Australia State League, posting seven double-doubles in 11 games. The Marlins have won five consecutive games and are 7-4 overall in a season that runs through July. Krslovic leads the Marlins for rebounding, with 9.6 boards per game, while also adding 15.8 points per game on .634 shooting. Even bigger, Krslovic last week signed a professional contract with the Cairns Taipans – of the higher NBL – for the 2019-20 season. 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.
David Bell (2003) / Giessen 46ers / GermanyELEVATED! ⤴️ The Taipans have signed development player FABIJAN KRSLOVIC to the roster. #OrangeArmyhttps://t.co/INsbzAEoGq
— Cairns Taipans (@CairnsTaipans) June 13, 2019
The Giessen 46ers went 13-21 on the season, finishing 13th in the BBL standings. David Bell logged the fourth-most minutes on the team (22.4 per game) and averaged 11.8 points on .523 shooting, including a .443 clip from deep and .854 mark from the free-throw line. He also added 1.7 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game. The two-time All-Big Sky Conference selection has been playing professionally since 2004 (16th season), playing in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the 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.
Martin Breunig (2016) / Telekom Baskets Bonn / Germany
As one of Telekom Baskets Bonn's top players, Martin Breunig averaged 10.3 points per game on .555 shooting, in addition to 3.9 rebounds. His team went 18-16 on the season and played in the quarterfinals of the BBL postseason tournament. It was 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.
Will Cherry (2013) / Santa Cruz Warriors / NBA G League /// Olympiacos / Greece
Will Cherry concluded his first season back in the NBA G League, helping the Santa Cruz Warriors to the conference finals in April. He finished the season with strong numbers, averaging 9.0 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds across 48 games. Cherry didn't get much of an offseason, jumping back into the professional realm with Olympiacos in Greece. In three games in Greece, Cherry made 8-of-14 shots and averaged 11.0 points per game, in addition to 3.3 assists and 6.0 rebounds. It was the sixth professional season for Cherry, who 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.
Jordan Gregory (2015) / Marin / Spain
Jordan Gregory was Marin's top player, averaging a team-best 16.4 points per game, in addition to 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest. Marin advanced to the semifinals of the Spanish LEB Silver standings. Gregory finished 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.
Kareem Jamar (2014) / Elitzur Yavne / Israel
Kareem Jamar helped Elitzur Yavne to the Israeli National League playoffs, including an upset win over top-seeded Maccabi Raanana in the first game of a best-of-three series. Raanana bounced back to win the next two games to end Jamar's season, despite a team-high 24 points in Game 3. On the season, Jamar was his team's top player, averaging 16.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Jamar completed 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.
Jack Lopez / Bankstown / Australia
Playing for the Bankstown Bruins in the Australian State League, Lopez averaged team bests for scoring (16.5 per game) and rebounding (6.6 per game). He shot .508 from the floor and helped his team to a 9-5 record in the WARATAH group. Lopez played in 112 games from 2014-17, helping the Grizzlies to a 2015 Big Sky title. A year later, he earned the Dennis T. Murphy Coaches Award. This was his second professional season in Australia.
Virgil Matthews (2006) / Chemnitz / Germany
Virgil Matthews led Chemnitz with 6.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game, in addition to 7.9 points and 3.9 rebounds. Chemnitz had a league-best 24-6 record during the regular season before advancing to the semifinals of the German ProA League tournament. It was 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.
Brian Qvale (2011) / Virtus Bologna / Italy
Brian Qvale completed his first season with Virtus Bologna, going 15-15 overall and winning Group D of the Basketball Champions League standings. He averaged 8.7 points and 4.8 rebounds in 15 Champions League games, in addition to 7.8 points and 4.2 boards – on .618 shooting – in the Italian League. It was his eighth professional season, having also 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.
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