Late October Update On How Some 2019-20 G Leaguers Are Doing Overseas

Scoochie Smith - KK Mega Bemax

Although Scoochie’s time in the G League has been limited, as he’s only played sixty nine games in the league over the course of three seasons, the Dayton alum still was able to establish himself as one of the best facilitators in the league. Whether it was with Fort Wayne or Canton, the 6’2 guard was able to immediately build a connection with his teammates and push them to do better. From a statistical standpoint, that’s shown by him averaging 6.2 assists per game with a phenomenal 3.2 assist/turnover ratio.

The peak of his impact came during the 2018-19 season where he stood as the starting point guard for the Charge. While the team struggled during that campaign as they finished with a 22-28 record, the blame couldn’t be placed on the shoulders of Smith. This is due to how the team scored 3.5 points per 100 possessions more when Mr. Scoochie was on the court (105 points per 100) compared to when he was on the sidelines (101.5 points per 100).

Now transitioning to the 2020-21 season, Smith has taken his talents to Serbia to play with KK Mega Basket of the Adriatic League. Although the season is still young, the veteran guard’s skills as a facilitator has transitioned. In the first four games of the current season, he’s currently averaging 5.2 assists with a fantastic 4.2 Ast/TO ratio. Although the season is still young, it’s becoming apparent that Smith is a great facilitator no matter the competition that he’s working against.

JaKeenan Gant - Ulsan Mobis Phoebus

Following a solid two-year with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, which ended his college career, signed on to join the Indiana Pacers from 2019 Summer League through training camp. After being one of the last players to get waived, the 6’8 forward made his way to the G League as a member of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Due to the presence of the likes of Ben Moore, Alize Johnson, and Brian Bowen, Gant was resigned to be part of the team’s second unit. In 29 games with the team, he averaged 8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 block on 48% from the field and 32% from 3 on 2.7 attempts per game.

While he didn’t have the best season due to inconsistent playing time, the rookie did have a handful of good outings for the team. For one, he started 2020 off right by putting up 27 points, and 7 rebound on 11-19 from the field and 4-8 from beyond the arc performance against the Capital City Go-Go in a January 3rd victory.

After a year with Fort Wayne, the young forward followed in the footsteps of a lot of G Leaguers by taking a journey to the other side of the world to play basketball. For the former Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year, that path took him to South Korea to play for Ulsan Mobis Phoebus of the Korean Basketball League. In his first seven games with the team, the young forward has stood as the team’s leading scorer by averaging 16.9 points, and 6.5 rebounds on 51% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc on 4.6 attempts on 18 minutes per game.

Barry Brown - MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg

Way back at the start of July, this site had a series on the twenty G Leaguers that could get two-way deals during the 2020 off-season. In the third part of that series, I wrote about Barry Brown, who stood as one of the most intriguing parts of an Iowa Wolves squad that had a lot of great young talent. That interest came through him being an incredibly versatile player that was able to drive to the rim with both hands, stick to his man as an on-ball defender, and also shoot 39% from beyond the arc on 5.3 attempts per game.

Although he hasn’t yet received a two-way deal from an NBA team, the Kansas State alum hasn’t stopped doing what he can to gain experience against pro competition. That method comes from him heading to Germany to compete with MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg of the German BBL league. Before then, the young guard is helping the team compete in the German Cup. In the team’s first three games, Brown has been outstanding as he’s averaging 18 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals on 51% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc on 6.7 attempts per game.