In my last few columns I have been banging on about how great non-U.S. basketball players are.  I don’t want to sound anti-American, so how about some love for U.S. players?  I have gone about compiling a “Where Are They Now” list, featuring the best of the best American players playing overseas for a living.  There are plenty of names on the list that fans will have never heard of or have not heard about for years.

The top leagues in the world (outside of the NBA) are located in Europe.  The leagues in Russia, Greece, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Israel and France are generally regarded as the best of the bunch.  The top league that teams in all European countries vie to compete in is called the Euroleague, which is a league that consists of the top 24 club teams competing in the various countries in Europe.  The league finalizes with a Final Four weekend similar to the NCAA.

Now, with that out of the way, on with the proceedings:

All-Overseas First Team

Tyus Edney – Guard – UCLA (1995) – Olympiakos – Greece

Edney came back into the North American fan’s conscious this summer competing with the U.S. National Team.  Tyus has been a very successful European pro since leaving UCLA with a National Championship.  A stop in Lithuania saw him win a National Championship and the 1999 Euroleague title, where he led the league in assists.  Visits in Italy had him winning 2 National Championships and being named to the All-Euroleague 1^st team in 2002 and 2003. 

Marcus Brown – Guard – Murray State (1996) – Unicaja – Spain

Ever since a brief NBA run, Brown has been terrorizing European opponents.  The past 3 years he made the All-Euroleague team each season (two 2^nd team selections and one 1st team).  His past 2 seasons playing for Russia’s top team, CSKA, had him averaging about 16.5 points per game.  He has taken his game to Spain this season.

Anthony Parker – Guard – Bradley (1997) – Maccabi Tel Aviv – Israel

The Toronto Raptors are definitely aware of Parker’s talent, after he led his team to a victory over the Raptors a few weeks back.  After a cup of coffee in the NBA, Parker has gone on to become one of the best pros in Europe.  How’s this for a resume: 4 Israeli National Championships, 2 Euroleague titles, MVP of the Euroleague (2005), MVP of the Euroleague Final 4 (2004) and MVP of the Israeli League (2004). 

Maceo Baston – Forward – Michigan (1998) - Maccabi Tel Aviv – Israel

In my opinion Baston should be in the NBA.  Nevertheless, he is enjoying a successful run in Europe, the past 2 seasons winning the Euroleague along with teammate and compatriot Parker.  He has been an All-League and All-Defensive team member those past 2 seasons also.  In last year’s 24 game Euroleague season, he put up averages of 14.5 points, 5.5 boards and 1.5 blocks.

Tanoka Beard – Center – Boise State (1993) – Zalgiris – Lithuania

Beard has been a top performer in Europe for over a decade now.  He seems to be getting better with age – his last season was arguably his best.  2005 he was an All-Euroleague 2^nd Team selection and won a rebounding title in both the Euroleague and the Lithuania league, with a 10.6 board average in both.  He also can score – 18 per game in the Euroleague and 19.7 in Lithuania last season.

All-Overseas Second Team

Khalid El-Amin – Guard – Connecticut (2000) – Azovmash – Ukraine

Another former NCAA National Champion (1999), Khalid has dominated the Turkish league the past 2 seasons.  Player of the Year both seasons, last year El-Amin was second in scoring (20.9) and third in assists (5.2).  He just started his first season in the Ukraine Superleague and he has so far led his team to a 4-0 record.

Louis Bullock – Guard – Michigan (1999) – Real Madrid – Spain

A 2001 All-Euroleague 1^st Team selection, Bullock has enjoyed a 6-year career thus far in Europe.  Last season his team won the Spanish League Championship and Louis was named the Finals MVP.  Through 3 games this year he is averaging 23 points per game for 2-1 Real Madrid.

Drew Nicholas – Guard – Maryland (2003) – Benneton Treviso – Italy

Yet another NCAA champion (2002), Nicholas has taken his game overseas also.  He led the Italian league in scoring last year with a 22.8 points per game average. At the end of last season he went and played for Tau Ceramic in Spain who made it to the championship game.  This year he will get his first taste of the Euroleague with Benneton Treviso.

Erwin Dudley – Forward/Center – Alabama (2003) – Turk Telekom – Turkey

Dudley made his first full season in Europe a very successful one.  Last year in Israel he was 5^th in the league in scoring (19.7) and 1^st in rebounding (11.6), which earned him All-League honors.  He played for the L.A. Clipper summer league team this past summer and has since gone to play in Turkey.  In 2 games this season he is averaging 15 points and 6.5 boards per contest. 

Kevin Thompson – Center – North Carolina State (1993) – Akasvayu – Spain

A 11 year European career has seen Thompson be named the Turkish league MVP (1998) and an All-League performer in Spain.  Last season he led the Spanish league in rebounds with 9.1, to go along with his 15.5 points per game.  In 3 games this year he isn’t as dominate – 7.3 points and 6 boards per game – but it is still in the early going.