POSTED BY: Eurobasket News
We bring you last week's top performances from Central Africans 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 an experienced former international power forward
Johndre Jefferson (207-1988, agency:
Inception Sports, college:
S.Carolina, currently plays in Uruguay). He was the major contributor in
Nacional's victory against the fifth-ranked Aguada (16-10)
85-80 in a derby game in the Uruguayan LUB in Thursday night's game.
Jefferson scored 23 points, had 6 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 35 minutes on the court; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his first season in pro basketball. Nacional De Futbol Montevideo (11-15) is placed ninth in the LUB.
Jefferson has relatively good stats this year: 14.8ppg, 9.2rpg, 1.3apg, 1.4bpg, 2FGP: 63.7%(149-234), 3FGP: 21.4% and FT: 73.6% in 27 games he played so far.
He is a naturalized American.
Jefferson played for the Central African senior national team year ago.
Strangely he has never played in Central Africa.
#2. Second place goes to former international center
Kevarrius Hayes (206-1997, college:
Florida, currently plays in Turkey). Hayes could not help
Bursaspor (15-12) in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance Bursaspor was edged
88-85 on the road by the second-ranked Efes.
Hayes scored 12 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.
This season Hayes averages: 9.6ppg, 5.7rpg, 1.3bpg, 2FGP: 57.1%(84-147) and FT: 74.2%.
He is a naturalized American.
Hayes played for the Central African national team in 21.
Apparently he has never played in Central Africa.
#3. The Central African player who performed third best last week abroad was former international small forward
Max Kouguere (198-1987, currently plays in BNXT-League). Kouguere contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Amsterdam (2-6)
81-66 in the BNXT League on Saturday night.
He recorded 7 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 32 minutes.
Phoenix Brussels Basketball (6-1) is placed seventh in the BNXT League.
It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row.
There are only three games left until the end of the BNXT League Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial.
This year Kouguere has relatively solid stats: 12.5ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.9apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 52.9%, 3FGP: 34.9% and FT: 72.2% in 22 games.
He has a dual citizenship: Congolese and Central African.
Kouguere played for the Central African national team year ago.
#4. Power forward
James Mays (205-1986, college:
Clemson, currently plays in South Korea) managed to help Goyang Orions to win against the closely-ranked Mobis Phoebus (30-24)
78-70 in the South Korean KBL in Monday night's game.
He scored 5 points and grabbed 4 rebounds.
Goyang Orions (27-27) are placed sixth in the KBL.
Mays' overall stats this season are: 7.6ppg, 5.4rpg and 1.6apg.
He is a naturalized American.
Mays used to play for the Central African national team
back in 13. Interesting that he has never played in Central Africa.
#5. Former international power forward
Jimmy Djimrabaye (203-1992, currently plays in France) was not able to help
JA Vichy in their game against Sluc Nancy (22-9) in the French ProB (second division), despite his very good performance last Tuesday.
Djimrabaye was the second best scorer with 14 points in 21 minutes.
But JA Vichy was edged
74-73 in Nancy by the second-ranked Sluc.
This year Djimrabaye's overall stats are: 5.6ppg and 3.0rpg in 28 games.
He used to play for the Central African national team
years ago.
#6. Power forward
Johan Grebongo (203-1994, currently plays in France) was not able to secure a victory for
Mulhouse (7-11) in their game against La Rochelle (10-8) in the French NM1 (third division). Despite his very good performance on Friday night Grebongo recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 11 rebounds.
The Second Stage already ended.
Grebongo's total stats this season are: 8.6ppg, 5.0rpg and 1.5apg.
He is a former international player as he played for the Central African senior team year ago.
Other top Central African players, who play abroad:Allan Dokossi (203-SF-1999) plays for
Provence Basket in French Betclic ELITE ProA
Evans Ganapamo (201-F-1994) plays for
Tigers in South African D2
