Union players in the pros

Several Union University athletes have gone on to play professionally in their sports after graduation. Some Union athletes have also participated in the Olympic games. Below is a list of these athletes.

 
 

Men’s Basketball - name, last season at Union, team(s)
Charlie Wilson - 2017-18 - Argentina
Nick Velasquez - 2017-18 - El Salvador 
Ashanti Day - 2016-17 - Canada
Jared Scott - 2016-17 - Spain
AJ Roberts - 2014-15 - London Leopards
Jordan Montgomery - 2015-16 - Brazil
Corieon Pearson - 2014-15 - Israel
Dani Marti - 2013-14 - CB Clavijo
Anthony Freeman - 2012-13 - Australia
Veljko Petrovic - 2012-13 - France
Leventrice Gray - 2011-12
Antoine Joseph - 2011-12 - Chile
Shane Burrell - 2010-11 - Italy
Matt Neaville - 2010-11 - Mexico
Greg Truvillion - 2010-11, Liniers of the Argentina Basketball League
Stan McNeil - 2011-12, Harlem Globetrotters Organization
Pierry Valmera - 2006-07, BC Boncourt - Switzerland
Ben Frederick - 2006-07, Esqueira - Portugal
Bruno Martinessi - 2004-05, Libertad - Metropolitan League in Paraquay
Chima Abakwue - 2003-04, Harlem Ambassadors - Fort Collins, Colorado
Matt Noah - 2002-03, ASC Gottingen - Gottingen, Germany
Robert Joseph - 2001-02, Coinga Menorca (Spain); C.B. Galicia; LEB2, Baloncesto Fuenlabrada (Spain)
Anthony Brooks - 2000-01, BG Hagen - Hagen, Germany
Rodney Bond - 2000-01, Slam Ball League - Team Bouncers
Gaylon Moore - 1999-2000, Worthing Thunder - London, England
Tryrian Ridges - 1999-2000, South Dakota Gold - Mitchell, S.D.
Matt Hoover - 1998-99, TSV Crailsheim - Crailsheim, Germany
Keiron Mitchelhill - 1994-95, Townsville Heat - Townsville, Australia
Jeff Richey - 1965-66, Drafted by the Oakland Oaks of the ABA in 1988-76. Toured internationally with the Gulf Oil Tourning All-Stars in 1967-68.
Ken Hane - 1967-68, Drafted by the New Jersey Americans of the ABA in 1968.


 

Baseball - name, last season at Union, team(s), Draft Pick/Overall #
* - denotes major league experience
Will Irvin - 2012, Independent Contract
Roger Cook - 2003, Independent Contract                  
Rolando Agosto - 2002, San Diego Padres, 15th / No. 445 (Padres)
Blake Allen - 2002, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, 8th / No. 244 (Indians)
Bart Lindsey - 2000, Philadelphia Phillies, Free Agent
John Melton - 2000, Arizona Diamondbacks, Free Agent
Ed Grammer - 1998, Philadelphia Phillies, 37th Round (Phillies)
Art Waldrep - 1994, Colorado Rockies                           
Luis Ortiz* - 1991, Boston Red Sox (1993-94)*, Texas Rangers (1995-96)*, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, 8th Round (Red Sox)
Julio Osuna - 1988, California Angels                              
Ronnie Giddens - 1983, Cincinnati Reds/Pirates       
Mike Melton - 1981, St. Louis Cardinals                        
Joe Graves - 1979, New York Mets
Steve Valdez - 1974, Kansas City Royals                                 
Stan Hough - 1974, New York Mets                                
Gary Blalock - 1974, New York Mets                              
Roman Bailey - 1973, Kansas City Royals                      
Jim Zak - 1971, Chicago White Sox                                  
Johnny Martin - 1970, Seattle Mariners                       
Don Coffman - 1970, San Francisco Giants                  
Gary Hoskins - 1967, Chicago White Sox                       
Stan Little - 1965, Seattle Mariners                                 
Jim Conner - 1963, Los Angeles Dodgers                      
Don Douglas - 1963, Philadelphia Phillies                     
Frank Nation - 1963, St. Louis Cardinals                        
Dave Pflasterer - 1963, San Francisco Giants              
Harbert Lee - 1960, St. Louis Cardinals                          
Jim Scott, - 1960, Cleveland Indians                                 
Johnny Rose - 1956, San Francisco Giants                    
Robin Coffman - 1954, San Francisco Giants               
James (Jimmy) William Moore* - 1922, Chicago White Sox (AL) (1930), Philadelphia Athletics (AL) (1930-31)         
Benjamin (Ben) Nathaniel Shaw* - 1916, Pittsburg Pirates (NL)* (1917-18)                    
Turner Barber* - 1914, Washington Senators (AL) (1915-16)*, Chicago Cubs (NL) (1917-1922)*, Brooklyn Robins (NL) (1923)*                                                    
William (Bill) Booth Hopper* - 1910, St. Louis Cardinals (NL) 1913-14)*, Washington Senators (AL) (1915)*              

 
 

Women's Basketball - name, last season at Union, team(s)
Josephine Owino - 2008-09, WNBA - Washington Mystics (Drafted Third Round, 28th Overall Selection)
DJ Sissoko - 2006-07, Ekstraklasa
Natanya Smith - 2006-07, Belongest
Paola Ferrira - 2004-05, Vidrogal Alumisan Pio XII, Nantes Reze
Chelsey Shumpert - 2017-18, Nottingham, UK



Softball - name, last season at Union, team(s)
Emily Benentt, 2018, ASBA Future 1s (12th round, 45th over pick)
 
 

Olympics - name, last season at Union, team(s)
Al Alan (Union Teacher/Track Coach) - 1932 Olympic Hurdles competitor
Cano Valez (Union Baseball 1986-88) - pitched for Puerto Rico in the 1988 Olympics
Gladys Wandera (Union volleyball 2003-04) - played for Kenya in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece
DJ Sissoko (Union Women's Basketball 2006-07) - played for Mali in the 2008 Olympic in Beijing, China