By: Jay Yeomans

Published: November 15, 2022

While it’s been more than two years since I did an update on the former Cougars playing hoops around the world, I have still kept track of where they all are and how they have been playing. Now that my work duties have slowed down I have a few minutes to share that information with you.

Even though there are no Cougars currently playing in the NBA, several are making a very nice living playing in some of the top leagues around the globe.

Here is a look at where the former Cougars are suiting up around the world and how they have performed so far this season.

Charles Abouo, Le Portel, France

Abouo has found a home in France where he is playing with Le Portel in the country’s top league. It is his third season with the club who has tallied two consecutive wins after starting out the season losing six straight. His best game so far came in an 85-82 setback to Asvel when he totaled 11 points on the strength of 4-for-5 shooting from inside the arc and a perfect 3 of 3 from the foul line. He added four rebounds, three steals, two assists,, and a block in 28 minutes.

Through seven games, Abouo is averaging 7.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 25.3 minutes.

Brandon Averette, AEL Limassol, Cyprus

Averette is off to a solid start during his return to Cyprus, helping to run a potent offense that is averaging 90 points while winning every game this season by double figures. His best showing so far came in a 92-76 win over Omonia when he totaled 28 points on 11-for-21 shooting from the field and 4 of 5 from the line. He added six rebounds, four assists, and a steal in 37 minutes.

On the season, Averette is putting up 18.3 points to go along with 6.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.7 steals in 30.3 minutes.

Alex Barcello, Filou Oostende, Belgium

It hasn’t been a smooth start to his pro career for Barcello. After just four games he and his Greek League team mutually agreed to part ways. On the bright side, he was picked up right away by a top team in Belgium. His best game on the season came while still in Greece, in an 89-84 loss, when the sharpshooter totaled nine points on 3 of 5 shooting from the field, including 1 of 2 from 3-point land and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. He added two boards and an assist in 16 minutes.

In four games in Greece, Barcello averaged 4.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.3 minutes. He has yet to play a game with his new team.

Frank Bartley IV, Trieste, Italy

Bartley has proven to be a dynamic scorer ever since he started his pro career, and this season had been no different in Italy’s top league. He has registered at least 20 points in four of his first six games. In his last outing, he totaled 20 points on 50 percent from the floor while adding nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 35 minutes.

Bartley is averaging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in 33.2 minutes a night in six games.

Elijah Bryant, Anadolu Efes, Turkey

After winning championships in each of the last two seasons, Bryant has returned to Anadolu Efes to try to help the Turkish power defend the EuroLeague title. He has continued to produce at a nice level in both EuroLeague and Turkish League play. His best game of the early season came in a 77-68 win over Galatasaray when he managed 12 points on 4 of 7 shooting from the field, including 2-for-4 from distance. He also chipped in with eight rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 33 minutes.

In seven EuroLeague games, Bryant is putting up 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 21.7 minutes. In three games in Turkey, he is averaging 12.3 points, 4.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds in 28 minutes.

Yoeli Childs, Hamburg, Germany

After putting up awe-inspiring numbers a year ago with the Salt Lake City Stars, Childs went back to Germany (like many other former Cougars) with the opportunity to play in the BBL as well as Eurocup. He has been a monster on the glass in recent Eurocup games with back-to-back double-doubles, including a 17-point, 16-rebound performance in a tough 81-77 loss to Promitheas.

In four Eurocup games, Childs is averaging 12 points on 63.9 percent shooting from the floor to go along with 8.8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 28.5 minutes. In six BBL games, he is putting up 12.2 points on 56.4 percent shooting with 6.5 rebounds in 24.2 minutes.

Kyle Collinsworth, Sanen Neophoenix, Japan

Collinsworth is in his third season in Japan, but this season is with a new club as he joined the Neophoenix after two campaigns with the Seahorses. He has been playing really well recently for the top team in the central division. His best game of the year came in a 78-70 win over Osaka Evessa when he recorded 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. The do-it-all lead guard added six rebounds, five assists, and five steals in 32:37 on the court.

In nine games, Collinsworth is averaging 7.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7steals in 22.1 minutes.

Brandon Davies, Milano, Italy

Following two seasons playing with EuroLeague and Spanish power, Barcelona, Davies found a new home in Italy with another European giant. Milano is off to a good start in Italian League play with the former BYU force playing an important role. One of his best performances with Milano to this point came in an 80-75 win over Partizan. In the five-point win, Davies totaled 15 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor and 5-for-6 from the foul line. He added four rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 29 minutes.

In six Italian League games, Davies is averaging 11.8 points on 54.5 percent shooting from the floor and 79.3 percent at the stripe. He also contributes 4.7 boards, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 assists in 19.5 minutes. In seven EuroLeague games, he is putting up 10.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 18.1 minutes.

Matt Haarms, Frankfurt, Germany

Haarms is just starting to see some floor time after missing the team’s first games of the season in his second year with Frankfurt. His most productive outing so far came in a seven-point loss to Oldenburg when the Cougar defensive stalwart recorded one basket, five rebounds, four blocks, and an assist in 25 minutes.

Connor Harding, Muenster, Germany

Harding has started his rookie season of pro ball in Germany where he has produced some very nice performances. He had a double-double in his first game and followed it up two games later with a massive offensive outing in an 83-82 win over Bochum. In the one-point victory, he recorded a team-high 24 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the floor, including a blistering 6 of 9 from beyond the arc. He added three boards and two helpers in 30 minutes.

Through seven games, Harding is averaging 11.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 27.3 minutes.

Eric Mika, G League Ignite

Mika returned to the Ignite lineup in the last week and instantly provided the team with help on the backboards. He played a big role in the team’s first win of the season, 125-115 over the Santa Cruz Warriors. In the 10-point victory, The former BYU star registered 10 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor to go along with a team-high nine rebounds (six on the offensive end) and two assists in 20:50 on the floor.

In two games, Mika is averaging 9.0 points on 52.9 percent shooting from the field while adding 7.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 21.7 minutes.

Zac Seljaas, Tuebingen, Germany

Seljaas has been a potent offensive weapon since joining Tuebingen to start the season. In fact, he has been the leading scorer for a team that has started out 6-1 and sits in second place in the standings in Germany’s Pro A. His best game so far came in a 32-point win over Leverkusen when he torched the nets for 27 points on 12 of 22 shooting from the floor. He added six rebounds, three steals, two assists, and a block in 27 minutes.

In seven games, Seljaas is averaging 15.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.6 steals in 27 minutes.