Expat Hoops

Kendrick Perry is a Youngstown State alum who has had a unique career. He started his pro career with experiences in the NBA Summer League and with Australia's Sydney Kings right out of the gate. He's also spent time in Hungary, Macedonia, Russia, France, Serbia, Slovenia, Greece, & Montenegro before signing with the Spanish club Unicaja in 2022. We caught up with him shortly after the FIBA Intercontinental Cup where Unicaja won the Championship and made a little news in the process.

We're happy to welcome Chaundee Brown Jr. to the Expat Hoops Podcast. Chaundee was a high level recruit who starred at Wake Forest for 3 years before transferring to the University of Michigan for his final collegiate season. After college, he played in the NBA G League as well as spent time with the Los Angeles Lakers as well as the Atlanta Hawks before beginning his overseas career. Since then, he's played in Puerto Rico, Canada, France and Germany. This season, he's joined on with the Kobe Storks in Japan's B.League.

In episode 101 of Expat Hoops we welcome Andy Ogide to the pod to talk about his career playing basketball professionally overseas. For college, he attended the Ole Miss before transferring to Colorado State University to graduate there. Professionally, he played in numerous countries starting with Spain, and ending with Romania. In between, he played in Russia, France (Pro B), Israel, Japan, Italy, Turkey, and Argentina. He has also played for Team Nigeria in numerous international competitions including the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Welcome to another episode of Expat Hoops. This is episode 100 and today we welcome Stan Okoye to the pod. He's just finished his 11th season overseas, which 11 professional seasons is enough to talk about off the top. Professionally, he's played in Israel, Australia and France but a bulk of his time abroad has been Italy and Spain. Throw in the fact he's also played for Team Nigeria in numerous international competitions including the Olympics, the injuries along the way, and the fact he only had one D-1 offer, we highly suggest you stick around to hear his story.

Today we welcome Taylor Murray who played for Kentucky in college, where she became the only player in program history to end her career with at least 1,350 points, 280+ steals and 450+ assists. Taylor graduated in 2019 from Kentucky and began her first season overseas in Hungary. Then…covid happened. She has since played in Sweden and Great Britain before this last season spent in Romania. We're happy to welcome her to the pod and talk about her career and experiences overseas.

In Episode 98 of Expat Hoops, we welcome Amanze Egekeze who played for Belmont in college, graduated in 2018, and joins us from Kataja in Finland where he is currently playing in the Korisliiga. This is his second season in Finland, with prior stops in Japan, Korea, Greece, France, and the Netherlands. In addition to his professional career, he became a member of the Nigerian National team and played with the team in the qualifiers for AfroBasket 2021 and World Cup Qualifiers.

Today we welcome René Rougeau. He is a Los Angeles native who played for UNLV in college and is in the midst of his 15th season overseas. This season he's playing in Finland for the Helsinki Seagulls.Although he has had great success over the course of his career, he's faced a tough start to his pro career and a few set backs along the way. Hear about both the highs and the lows as he recaps his career through New Zealand, Mexico, Venezuela, Israel, France, and Finland.

Today we welcome Remy Abell who had quite the college career stateside before heading overseas. He started at Indiana, spent 2 years there, had to sit out a year to transfer (those rules feel like so long ago now), then spent the last 2 seasons at Xavier. He began an overseas basketball career that is now in it's 8th season, travelling through Finland, Hungary, Bosnia, and Cyprus.

This is Episode 95 of the Expat Hoops Podcast and today we welcome Troy Vasco. The Baltimore native played for the Baltimore Catholic League power Mount Saint Joe's before heading off to Allegany College in Mountain Maryland prior to becoming a professional basketball player. In fact, he would even teach as his day job while training and playing semi-pro for a few years post college before officially becoming a pro player. When we sat down with Troy, he had played in Antigua for 3 years and is still looking for new challenges abroad.

In Episode 94 of the Expat Hoops Podcast, we welcome former overseas pro Sean McCaw. His pro career lasted over a decade and he enjoyed it so much overseas, he stayed. He joins us from Germany today to talk about his experiences in his career as well as what he does today to stay active in the world of overseas basketball.

We welcome Rocky Kreuser in Episode 93 of the Expat Hoops Podcast. After a stellar college career at North Dakota State University, the Minnesota native's pro career started in 2022 in Germany. This season he joined Belgian powerhouse Antwerp Giants where he averages 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds through 19 games so far. He sat down with us from Antwerp to talk about how his career overseas got started as well as his experiences on and off the court while playing basketball professionally overseas.

We welcome Roydell Brown in Episode 92 of the Expat Hoops Podcast. His pro career started in 2020 in Slovakia, then he joined KTP-Basket in Finland for the 2021-22 season and he has played there pretty much ever since (save for the summer of 2023 when he played in Columbia). He joins us from the home of KTP-Basket, Kotka Finland to talk about his experiences on and off the court while playing basketball professionally overseas.

In episode 91 of Expat Hoops, we sit down with Germantown, Maryland native Javon Daniels. Javon is a former Division III player who started out his overseas career in Scotland and has enjoyed it so much, he stayed. He is now in his third season in the Scottish Basketball Championship (SBC for short), now with his second club the Falkirk Fury.

In episode 89 of Expat Hoops Podcast, we're happy to welcome back Jay Threatt. The former George Mason and Delaware State player has been an overseas pro and is now 12 years in. He started off in Iceland and has taken him to all across Europe. Last time we caught up with him two years ago, he was in Poland. A lot has happened since then and he joins us now from Romania.

On this episode 88 of Expat Hoops, we're happy to welcome Madi Torresin. The Pennsylvania native, but Canadian national, is a 2019 grad of West Chester University, by way of UMBC. She's played in Germany, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Luxemborg, Australia. She's currently playing in France's League, albeit in the small nation of Monaco just off the southern portion of France.

In episode 86 of Expat Hoops, we sit down with Jared Kimbrough, who played for La Salle before transferring and graduating from the University of Hartford. Jared is in the midst of his first professional season overseas, and it has already been eventful with plenty of stories to tell.

We caught up with Will Thomas, now in his 16th season overseas. He rejoined Unicaja Malaga this season after having played for AS Monaco last season. Just recently, Will became one of only 7 foreign born players to play in over 200 games for Unicaja. It's always great sitting down with Will to catch up, and we hope you enjoy this pod as much as we did.

In Episode 84 we're happy to welcome Jeremiah Wilson to the pod. The Chicago, Illinois native played for Casper Community College before transferring to Tarleton State before heading overseas to start his career as a pro. He's been playing professionally for 13 seasons overseas in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Middle East.

In Episode 83 of Expat Hoops we welcome Gavin Ware to the pod. The Starkville, Mississippi native stayed home to play for Mississippi State before heading overseas to start his career as a pro. He's had stops in Belgium, Germany, Japan, and extensive time in France. We sat down with Gavin after his 7th season. Turns out, we got to break the news that Gavin is committed to go back to Japan for his 8th and 9th season.

Dino Gregory, originally from Baltimore, Maryland, played in the Baltimore Catholic League for Mount Saint Joe's, then for the University of Maryland before heading overseas to start his career as a pro. He had stops in Sweden, Germany, Poland, Hungary, and Romania. Dino has since retired from pro basketball, but still plays in leagues for fun while being a firefighter for the Kirkland, Washington Fire Department.

Welcome to Expat Hoops, the ultimate podcast for basketball enthusiasts and fans of the global game! In this episode, we welcome Xavier Sewell, who takes us through his basketball career from NAIA though Portugal, France, and Norway. Throughout this captivating interview, Xavier reveals the triumphs and challenges he encountered while pursuing his passion in these diverse leagues. Discover the relentless dedication and sacrifice required to compete at the highest level and the sheer joy of playing the game he loves in different cultures.

In this episode, we are thrilled to have the incredible Louis Hinnant joining us, as we dive deep into his fascinating overseas basketball career. His overseas basketball journey spanned Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Ukraine, Germany, and Poland. Don't forget to subscribe to Expat Hoops for more captivating interviews with international basketball icons, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and expert analysis. Join our vibrant community of hoop enthusiasts, and let's explore the world of basketball together. Follow us on social media to stay updated on all things basketball and connect with fellow fans. Remember, the ball never stops bouncing, and Expat Hoops is your passport to the thrilling world of global basketball.

In this episode, we sit down with O.D. Anosike, a New York native and Siena College alum who has found success playing professionally in countries all over the world. Anosike takes us through his basketball journey, from playing at Siena College to pursuing a career overseas. He shares the challenges he faced adjusting to different cultures and playing styles, as well as the rewards of experiencing new places and meeting new people. As a player who has competed in top-level leagues in Europe, Asia, and Mexico, Anosike offers a unique perspective on the global game of basketball. He discusses the similarities and differences between basketball cultures in different parts of the world, and how he has adapted his game to fit each situation. Whether you're a basketball fan or just interested in hearing about life as an expat athlete, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we dive deep into the world of overseas basketball with Od Anosike on Expat Hoops.

Cassandra Brown has played in over 19 countries when we sat down with her for Episode 78 of Expat Hoops. Born and raised in Vernon BC, Cassandra played collegiately at the University of Portland. Now, with over 8 years of professional overseas experience, she's currently playing with the Mount Gambier Pioneers before looking toward a return to Europe. Her story, career, and plans for the future are well worth listening to and we hope you enjoy her episode as much as we did!

In Episode 77, we're joined by Will Perry, a talented point guard who has taken his skills from D-II Lenoir-Rhyne to around the globe. From his humble beginnings in Spain to his current stint in Mozambique's Basketball Africa League, Will has seen it all. In this episode, he'll share his unique insights into the world of overseas basketball, including the challenges and rewards of playing in different countries, adapting to new cultures, and dealing with the ups and downs of a career in sports. Will's journey is both inspiring and informative, making this episode a must-listen for any basketball fan, whether you're an aspiring player or just someone who loves the game. With his infectious enthusiasm and candid stories, Will will take you on a journey through some of the most exciting basketball leagues in the world, from Portugal to Bulgaria and beyond.

Our guest on the pod today is Eric Pierce. The Oceanside California native has just begun his overseas career after recently graduating from Bellevue University. He's currently playing for Ghaz Al-Shamal in Iraq's Super League and he sits down to talk about the beginnings of his overseas career with us.

We're happy to welcome Rashad James to the Expat Hoops podcast. Get an inside look at his career spanning multiple countries and representing Team USA in this exclusive interview!

Our guest on the pod today is Darious Moten. The Georgia native has been playing international basketball since the 2015 season following his career with the Mercer Bears. He has played in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Poland, and now in the Czech Republic where he joins us from today.

Our guest on the pod today is Keith Braxton. The New Jersey native is in his second season of international basketball following four years at Saint Francis University. He started his career in Israel and is playing this season in Belgium where he joins us from today.

Our guest on the pod today is Ryan Pearson. After a stellar 4 years at George Mason, he has been playing international basketball since the 2012-13 season when he started out in Ukraine. He has since played in Israel, Belgium, Hungary, several seasons in France, Mexico, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, and he most recently joined friend of the pod and another Mason alum Gabe Norwood on the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippines.

We're happy to welcome Skyler Bowlin to Expat Hoops for our latest episode. The Arkansas native has been playing international basketball since the 2011-12 season following four years at NCAA Division II Missouri Southern. Since starting his career in Germany's second tier league, he has since played in Austria, Denmark, Germany (again) in the Basketball Bundesliga for several years, Greece, and Poland. Skyler joined us from Horsens, Denmark however he's currently playing for the powerhouse of Denmark's Basketligaen, the Bakken Bears.

Episode 70 has us sitting down with Tayler Persons. The Indiana native and Ball State alum's pro career actually began in the Dutch Basketball League in 2019. That 2019-20 season was cut short in March of 2020, but not before he finished the season as the assists leader in the league and was named to the All-FIBA Euro Cup team. He has since played in Germany, Poland, Hungary, and now in France with legendary franchise Élan Chalon where he joins us from today.

Kenny Hayes is a pro basketball vet with over a decade under his belt. The Miami University alum's pro career actually began stateside with the Maine Red Claws before heading overseas. By now he's spent a decade overseas alone. Beginning his overseas career in Venezuela and including stops in Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Spain, France, and several seasons in Turkey where he joins us from today.

A floor general with a decade plus career only begins to describe Derek Needham. We caught up with Derek as he's about to begin his second season with Frutti Extra Bursaspor coming off a revival season for him as he was named to the All-EuroCup First Team in the 2021-22 campaign. However, the Fairfield alum's career began overseas in Lithuania & his career internationally spans countries like Ukraine, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Montenegro and Turkey. He now holds a passport from Montenegro as he has represented the country on the international basketball stage. You won't want to miss a moment of this interview and the extras we have about Derek's career and experiences overseas.

This episode of Expat Hoops features Anthony Clemmons. The Iowa alum's career began overseas in Austria. His career internationally spans countries like Kazakstan, Monaco, Serbia and he's set to begin his second season in Turkey.

Josh Boutte hails from New Iberia, Louisiana. After graduating from Angelo State University, he got his first overseas gig in Kosovo. However, that wouldn't last longer than 6 games as the world-wide pandemic broke out and he returned to the U.S. After a short delay in his career, he headed to El Salvador to play, and followed up with a season in Germany.

Tyler Cavanaugh has been a prolific scorer with fantastic outside shooting touch for a long time. After a successful college career at George Washington, he caught the attention of the Atlanta Hawks. He was soon thrust into NBA action after a series of injuries and did not disappoint. After a couple seasons between the NBA and the G League, he set out overseas to Germany, Spain, and now Lithuanian powerhouse Zalgiris Kaunas. He's set to begin his third season in the EuroLeague, and his second season with Zalgiris. We caught up with him while the team trains in Spain prior to the 22/23 season.

Karvel Anderson, an Elkhart, Indiana native, has been a prolific scorer overseas for years now. Basketball has taken him from his Indiana home to junior college to Robert Morris before playing in Italy, France, Spain, Israel, Germany, and Turkey.

In episode 63 of Expat Hoops, we sit down with Cleveland State alum J'Nathan Bullock. He's put together an overseas career that spans various stops in Europe and Asia. That, plus he was in demand by a few teams to be the next basketball to tight end prospect in the NFL.

Glen Burnie, Maryland native Jordan Hawkins joins us after she just completed her third professional season overseas. A graduate of Assumption College, Jordan has played primarily in Romania, but has experience in Germany, Serbia, and Greece. We sit down to talk about her career and where she might want to go next in her career overseas.

D'Angelo Harrison is one of the more prolific scorers in overseas basketball today. The Texas native and Saint John's University alum quickly established himself overseas in Turkey. From there, he's played in Israel, Russia, Ukraine, France, and Italy.

Malcolm Grant joins us for Episode 60 on Expat Hoops to talk about his college career (split between Villanova and Miami) and his overseas career which now spans 10 years. He started in the Cypriot League in Cyprus before heading to Australia in his rookie season abroad. In the years that followed, he's spent time in Canada, Sweden, Slovenia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Montenegro, and Iran.

Shannon Shorter, as of sitting down with us, was wrapping up his 10th season playing basketball overseas. The University of North Texas Grad began his career in Mexico, and has since made his way to Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. In short, he's been pretty much everywhere in his decade long career.

In Episode 58, we're joined on the Expat Hoops Pod by Mehryn Kraker, a former Horizon League player of the year at Wisconsin-Green Bay and WNBA draftee. After being drafted by the Mystics, she began her pro career playing in the vaunted Spanish women's league for multiple seasons. She abruptly retired during Covid, but still had the itch to continue playing at a high level. Fortunately, we caught up with Mehryn as she wrapped up her first season back as a professional in Sweden.

In Episode 57, we talk to Stephen Zack a LaSalle grad who has played all across Europe and in Israel.

Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Vee Sanford spent his first two college years at his “dream school” of Georgetown before transferring closer to home and becoming a Dayton Flyer. You might remember him from hitting the game winner over Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament in 2014. After a college career capped by the Elite 8 appearance, he made his way to Iceland to begin his pro career. He spent one season in Iceland before heading to Germany to play for Wurzburg in the Basketball Bundesliga. From there, he would head to France and spend the next 4 seasons playing for 4 different teams in France's top league. Hear about how France became a second home for Vee and how he caught a little controversy for switching sides in a longstanding rivalry. We interviewed Vee as he's playing in Italy's top league this season. Hear about his overseas basketball career, on and off the floor, right here on Expat Hoops. So subscribe to Expat Hoops on YouTube and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

In Episode 55 we sit down with Texas State alum Victor Bermudez. His overseas journey is the epitome of perseverance. He joined us from Qatar in our interview where his career is going very well now. But here is a small sample of how he got to where he is now. Barely played as a junior in high school. 6th man as a senior in high school. While he did well in AAU, no college interest. Went prep, caught on with Texas State. At Texas State, he averaged 1 point per game as a junior, 2 as a senior. He broke his foot right before graduation, out 6 months. He worked as a shoe salesman and at a night club for 2 years. His first professional job he made happen on his own by Facebook messaging the club. Hear about his incredible journey and about his experiences overseas.

In Episode 54 of Expat Hoops Podcast we talk to former Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) alum and current Illawarra Hawks star Antonius Cleveland. He graduated from SEMO in 2017 and spent the last 3 years between the G-League and stints in the NBA before moving to the Hawks of Australia's NBL this year. We talk about his journey from an undersized recruit all the way to being the "final piece of the puzzle" in Illawarra's quest for an NBL title.

On the latest Expat Hoops Podcast, we sit down with Terry Smith who has been playing for Hermine Nantes Basket in France's LNB Pro B since 2019. Terry's career is truly a story of great success at the highest levels of Europe after a rough start. Coming out of Division II Mercyhurst, he got his professional start in the lower levels of German basketball for very low pay. The team folded and he took an IT job in the Washington, DC area before his next basketball job. Even when he got his next basketball job, in the Czech Republic, his struggles still were not over. Hear about his crazy experiences to start his career, and hear about how he gradually worked his way up to success in European basketball.