Michigan basketball’s pipeline doesn’t stop at the NBA. A long list of former Wolverines is still out there grinding in pro leagues across Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas, with some veterans extending long careers overseas and others just getting started.
Trey Burke is still doing what made him a star at Michigan: putting the ball in the basket. The 2013 National Player of the Year helped lead one of Mexico’s top clubs and, according to the source, showed there is still plenty left in the tank.
A number of recent Wolverines are carving out steady roles in Europe. Ignas Brazdeikis, whose most recent club was Žalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania, posted 6.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
Eli Brooks, most recently with BAXI Manresa in Spain, put up 12.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists, continuing the same steady style that defined his Michigan career. Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman, who was a leader on Michigan’s 2018 national runner-up team, has built one of the most consistent overseas resumes among former Wolverines, and his most recent stop was Treviso Basket in Italy, where he averaged 12.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
The international footprint gets even wider from there. Chaundee Brown Jr., most recently with the London Lions in the United Kingdom, averaged 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 assist after getting chances with the Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks organizations.
Zak Irvin’s path has taken him to Manchester Basketball in the United Kingdom, where he most recently averaged 6.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist. Brandon Johns Jr. has found a home with Sporting CP in Portugal and is producing 13.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists.
DeVante’ Jones has been one of the bigger success stories abroad. His most recent club was Dolomiti Energia Trento in Italy, where he averaged 13.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists while helping Trento compete near the top of Serie A.
Jaelin Llewellyn, whose time at Michigan was limited by injuries, has gotten a fresh start with the Newcastle Eagles in England. Jordan Morgan has put together one of the longest international careers of any former Wolverine, and his most recent club was Suwon KT Sonicboom in South Korea after more than a decade playing across Europe and Asia.
Olivier Nkamhoua’s game has translated cleanly overseas. His most recent stop was Pallacanestro Varese in Italy, where he averaged 16.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Glenn Robinson III, after nearly a decade in the NBA, has continued his career with Al Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and posted 27.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Zavier Simpson, still remembered for his trademark hook shot, most recently played for the Ningbo Rockets in China and averaged 18.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists.
Mike Smith has also established himself in Europe. The former Elite Eight point guard now plays in Turkey’s top league, where his quickness and creativity have helped him stick professionally.
Derrick Walton Jr., most recently with Capitanes de Arecibo in Puerto Rico, has kept his career rolling after previous stops in Australia, China and Israel, and he averaged 12.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists. D.J.
Wilson, whose most recent club was Cangrejeros de Santurce in Puerto Rico, remained productive with 15.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Joey Baker’s pro journey has already taken him to Lithuania, the G League, Australia and most recently KK Borac Zemun in Serbia, where he averaged 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists. The source also notes that Jones wasted little time making an impact in his first professional season, becoming one of Slavia Praha’s top all-around players while showing the defensive toughness and versatility Michigan fans remember from his lone season in Ann Arbor.
In Other News...
Michigan Freshman Drawing Unexpected Buzz Along The Wolverines Defensive Front
Michigans 2026 class is already carrying some real intrigue, and Titan Davis is one of the names drawing the most attention along the defensive front. The freshman defensive lineman arrives with a reputation for disruptive play in high school, and with highly rated teammates like Savion Hiter and Carter Meadows also in the mix, theres a sense that this group could help Michigan sooner than a typical freshman class.
CBS Sports singled out Davis and Hiter as freshmen to watch, with Davis standing out as a player who could force his way into the conversation for meaningful snaps early. Michigan has every reason to be patient with a young lineman, but Davis is the kind of prospect who makes that harder, especially if his transition keeps matching the buzz he brought with him into Ann Arbor. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Have Finally Found The Instant Impact Receiver It Needed
Michigan spent the spring looking for a receiver who could change the feel of the offense, and Salesi Moa has quickly become the name to watch. The five-star prospect arrived after initially signing with Utah, then finding a new path to Ann Arbor when his situation changed, and the Wolverines are treating him like a player who can help sooner rather than later. Coaches have been upbeat about what he brings, and the expectation is that he will line up at wide receiver and factor into the offense this season.
The intriguing part for Michigan is where Moa fits in a room that already has established options ahead of him. Depth chart projections have him behind two starters, but still in position to be a meaningful target and push for a bigger role as the season unfolds. For a team that has been searching for more instant impact at receiver, Moa is the kind of addition that can make the rest of the offense look a little more dangerous, even before the full picture of his role comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Former Michigan Forward Will Tschetter Just Got A Huge NBA Chance
Will Tschetters next step comes with a real NBA opening attached, as the former Michigan forward has landed a Summer League contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. The move gives him a chance to get on the floor in Las Vegas and show why his shooting and steady approach made him such a useful piece in Ann Arbor, where he grew from a redshirt prospect into a dependable rotation player.
For Tschetter, this is the kind of opportunity that can change the conversation quickly. Portland sees him as a possible stretch-four who can help with spacing and depth, and now he gets his first formal shot to make a case for more than just a summer look, with a roster spot or camp invitation potentially in play if he can translate his game to the pro level. [Read more 🡒]