Photo by: Dale Rutemeyer
Mocs in the Pros: Stephens Signs NBA Deal, Multiple Mocs Open New Season
10/1/2026 9:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
2026-27 TICKET INFORMATION
CHATTANOOGA (October 1, 2026) --- Professional seasons are getting underway across the globe, and several former Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball alums have already made an impact to begin the 2026-27 campaign.
Highlighted by Jake Stephens earning an opportunity with the Milwaukee Bucks, fellow former Mocs Trey Bonham, Matt Ryan and Tyler Millin have also turned in notable performances over the past several weeks to kick off their seasons.
NOTABLE TRANSACTIONS/HIGHLIGHTS
Matt Ryan ('20) helped lead Maxima Roma to an 89-55 victory over U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the club's EuroCup debut. Ryan finished with a team-high 16 points while adding four rebounds, three assists and a steal in just under 26 minutes of action. The performance marked Ryan's first double-digit scoring effort of the new season and helped Maxima Roma earn its first official EuroCup victory.
September 17 – Jake Stephens ('23) signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA). The 7'0" center joins Milwaukee after spending the 2025-26 season with KK Split in Croatia, where he averaged 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists across 61 appearances. Stephens previously competed with the Phoenix Suns during the 2026 NBA Summer League and spent his first professional season in the NBA G League with the Capital City Go-Go and Stockton Kings.
Trey Bonham ('25) has opened his second season with Pardubice (Czech Republic – NBL) in impressive fashion, averaging 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game over his first four contests. Bonham scored 18 points with six assists in the season opener before following with 19 points, five assists and three steals on September 23. Last night, Bonham posted 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals in a 92-82 victory over Srsni Pisek to help his team to a 4-0 start this season.
Tyler Millin ('24) has provided consistent production for Freseros de Irapuato (Mexico – LNBP) during recent action. Millin scored 13 points in back-to-back September contests against Lobos de Puebla and Soles de Mexicali before adding 13 points, five rebounds and three assists against Abejas de León. Most recently, Millin finished with 14 points in an 88-97 contest against Panteras de Aguascalientes on September 27.
For the complete list of Mocs actively competing in the professional ranks, please view the table below or check in our Eurobasket page located HERE.
(all information courtesy of Eurobasket)
CHATTANOOGA (October 1, 2026) --- Professional seasons are getting underway across the globe, and several former Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball alums have already made an impact to begin the 2026-27 campaign.
Highlighted by Jake Stephens earning an opportunity with the Milwaukee Bucks, fellow former Mocs Trey Bonham, Matt Ryan and Tyler Millin have also turned in notable performances over the past several weeks to kick off their seasons.
NOTABLE TRANSACTIONS/HIGHLIGHTS
Matt Ryan ('20) helped lead Maxima Roma to an 89-55 victory over U-BT Cluj-Napoca in the club's EuroCup debut. Ryan finished with a team-high 16 points while adding four rebounds, three assists and a steal in just under 26 minutes of action. The performance marked Ryan's first double-digit scoring effort of the new season and helped Maxima Roma earn its first official EuroCup victory.
September 17 – Jake Stephens ('23) signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Milwaukee Bucks (NBA). The 7'0" center joins Milwaukee after spending the 2025-26 season with KK Split in Croatia, where he averaged 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists across 61 appearances. Stephens previously competed with the Phoenix Suns during the 2026 NBA Summer League and spent his first professional season in the NBA G League with the Capital City Go-Go and Stockton Kings.
Trey Bonham ('25) has opened his second season with Pardubice (Czech Republic – NBL) in impressive fashion, averaging 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game over his first four contests. Bonham scored 18 points with six assists in the season opener before following with 19 points, five assists and three steals on September 23. Last night, Bonham posted 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals in a 92-82 victory over Srsni Pisek to help his team to a 4-0 start this season.
Tyler Millin ('24) has provided consistent production for Freseros de Irapuato (Mexico – LNBP) during recent action. Millin scored 13 points in back-to-back September contests against Lobos de Puebla and Soles de Mexicali before adding 13 points, five rebounds and three assists against Abejas de León. Most recently, Millin finished with 14 points in an 88-97 contest against Panteras de Aguascalientes on September 27.
For the complete list of Mocs actively competing in the professional ranks, please view the table below or check in our Eurobasket page located HERE.
| Chattanooga Alums in the Professional Ranks | ||||
| Name | Grad Yr. | Team | Country | League |
| Jikari Johnson | 2026 | Starogard Gdanski | Poland | Polish I Liga |
| Makai Richards | 2026 | UBSC Raiffeisen Graz | Austria | Austria BSL |
| Trey Bonham | 2025 | Pardubice | Czech Rep. | Czech NBL |
| Frank Champion | 2025 | MLP Academics | Germany | ProA - 1st |
| Tyler Millin | 2024 | Freseros de Irapuato | Mexico | LNBP |
| Jan Zidek | 2024 | Grupo Ureta Burgos | Spain | Primera FEB |
| Jake Stephens | 2023 | Milwaukee Bucks | USA | NBA |
| Avery Diggs | 2022 | Villa San Martin | Argentina | La Liga |
| D. Jean-Baptiste | 2022 | Team FOG Naestved | Denmark | Basketligaen |
| Malachi Smith | 2022 | Toronto Raptors | USA | NBA |
| Silvio de Sousa | 2022 | Maroussi | Greece | GBL - 1st |
| Stefan Kenic | 2021 | Neftci | Azerbaijan | ABL |
| Mark Tikhonenko | 2021 | Jaen CB | Spain | Segunda FEB |
| Matt Ryan | 2020 | Maxima Roma | Italy | Serie A |
| Ramon Vila | 2020 | Grupo Ureta Burgos | Spain | Primera FEB |
| Thomas Smallwood | 2019 | CB Prat Juventudis | Spain | Tercera FEB |
| Kevin Bridgewaters | 2008 | Newfoundland Rouges | USA | TBL |
Players Mentioned
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