Northwest Ohio has always punched above its weight in terms of basketball talent. Unbeknownst to many, a lot of the area’s greatest players continue on with their careers after college. Here is a look at all the local athletes playing pro basketball both domestically and overseas.
The biggest name of the bunch is undoubtably Vince Williams Jr. The second year pro is with the Memphis Grizzlies and getting solid playing time. The St. John’s grad saw limited minutes last year but has become a solid role player for Memphis and is a fan favorite amongst the Grizzlies faithful.
Just a step below the NBA, two local stars are showcasing their talent in the NBA G-League. Lima Senior’s Zavier Simpson is one of the best players in the league and is currently with the Motor City Cruise, an affiliate of the Detroit Pistons. Also in the G-League is Columbus Grove’s Will Vorhees. Vorhees was a NCAA D2 star at Notre Dame College. He is now in his third season of G-League basketball with the Indiana Mad Ants, a Pacers affliate.
WNBA star Natasha Howard is playing at Fenerbahce in Turkey this offseason. Howard, a Toledo Waite grad, helped the team to a Turkish Super League championship last season and they are currently ranked at the top of the EuroLeague this season. Fellow WNBAer Zia Cooke has chosen to forgo overseas competition this winter.
Playing for the Fenerbahce men’s side this year is Whitmer’s Nigel Hayes-Davis. Hayes-Davis has been playing major European basketball since 2018. This is his second season with Fenerbahce. He was named second team All-Super League last season. Hayes-Davis’ longtime rival Marc Loving has taken his talents to Romania this year. Loving, a Toledo St. John’s alumnus, played the last two season for the Leicester Riders in Britain. This season he will be suiting up for Sibiu as the starting forward.
Also in high level European competition this year is Elida’s Dakota Mathias. Mathias had a few short stints overseas but has mostly played in the NBA G-League with a few call ups to the big time since he turned pro in 2018. This season Mathias is playing for defending German champion Ulm. Ulm also qualified for the EuroCup this season, Europe’s second tier continental tournament.
Just across the border in Luxembourg, Clyde’s Amanda Cahill is again playing in the small European nation. This season she will be suiting up for Grengewald who are currently 10-0 in league play and also participating in the EuroCup. Wauseon’s Austin Rotroff is also playing in Luxembourg this season as he signed with Sparta after a collegiate career at Duquesne.
One of Northwest Ohio’s longest tenured pros, William Buford has taken his talents to Brazil this year to play for Fortaleza. The Toledo Libbey graduate has been playing professionally since 2012 and this will be his first season outside of the USA or Europe.
St. Henry’s Ryan Mikesell is playing for French side Chalon this season after spending last season at Le Portel. Mikesell has been playing overseas since the 2020-21 season. Go over to Hungary and you will see Springfield’s Demajeo Wiggins. Wiggins has been playing in Europe since 2021 and this is the big man’s first in Hungary as he suits up for Szolnok. Also in Europe this year is Toledo St. John’s grad Keith Jordan. Jordan is playing for Icelandic side Breidablik. Caterrion Thompson of Lima Senior is playing this season for the Oaklands Wolves in the United Kingdom. Thompson has been playing pro ball since she turned pro in 2022.
Over in the middle east, Lima Central Catholic grad Dantez Walton is playing for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia. Walton has played the last three seasons in Europe. On the opposite side of the continent, fellow Lima Central Catholic grad Martyce Kimbrough has signed with Bima Perkasa Jogja of Indonesia after playing in Europe since 2018. Head north on the continent and you will find Findlay’s CJ Gettys playing for Hong Kong side Tycoon. The seven footer has been dominating east asian basketball leagues the past few seasons. Also, in Japan is Lima Bath’s Taren Sullivan. Sullivan has been playing pro ball since 2018. Sullivan is playing this season for the Tokyo Trains.
Keeping up with all the various professional basketball players from Northwest Ohio isn’t easy. Many newspapers and journalists across our area are unaware that many of these athletes are competing. Be sure to subscribe to this newsletter as it is the only place with consistant updates on NWO athletes playing across all levels of professional basketball.
Leading Updates
Martyce Kimbrough (Lima/Central Catholic) signs with Bima Perkasa Jogja of Indonesia.
Notable Game Updates
On December 19th Grace VanSlooten (Toledo/Notre Dame) had 25 points and 9 rebounds in an Oregon loss to Utah Tech.
On December 19th Zavier Simpson (Lima/Lima Senior) had 23 points in a Motor City loss to Santa Cruz.
On December 20th Ivy Wolf (Minster) had 18 points in a Dayton loss to Vanderbilt.
On December 20th Amanda Cahill (Clyde) had 21 points and 10 rebounds in a Grengewald win over T71.
On December 21st Brooklyn Thrash (Wayne/Elmwood) had 12 points in a Canisius win over Youngstown State.
On Decembe 21st Kacee Baumhower (Sylvania/Northview) had 18 points in a Wright State loss to Wyoming.
On December 21st DeAndre Nassar (Bluffton) defeated #35 John Worthing in a 4-2 decision.
On December 22nd Austin Kohlhofer (Delta) defeaed #62 Bryan Caves in a 5-1 decision.
On December 23rd Natasha Howard (Toledo/Waite) had 21 points and 12 rebounds in a Fenerbahce win over Mersin.
On December 23rd Da’Sean Nelson (Toledo/Rogers) had 11 points and 6 rebounds in a DePaul loss to Villanova.
On December 23rd Vince Williams Jr. (Toledo/St. John’s) had 5 points and 11 rebounds in a Grizzlies win over the Hawks.
Interesting Reads
LCC & UF Grad Martyce Kimbrough Set to Continue Pro Basketball Career in Indonesia
Findlay QB Montgomery, Whitmer OL Lowe names to follow for next year's signing day
Owens tabs former Ottawa Hills coach Baer to lead men's soccer program
Survey: Many area basketball coaches are in favor of OHSAA's potential expansion of divisions
Wynford's "Buzz" Kocher records win No. 500 in 41st year coaching
Just For Fun
NWO athletes to win a College Football National Championship