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What CAA Basketball Players Have Made It To The NBA?

What CAA Basketball Players Have Made It To The NBA?

Here’s the breakdown of CAA basketball players to reach the NBA since 1990.

Jan 30, 2024 by Deondre Hayes
What CAA Basketball Players Have Made It To The NBA?

The Coastal Athletic Association is home to 14 schools along the East Coast ranging from Massachusetts to South Carolina. While the CAA basketball programs are considered to be Mid-Major Division I, these programs continue to make a name for themselves not only in the NCAA Tournament but in the NBA as well. 

Formerly known as the Colonial Athletic Association, the CAA is responsible for two of the unforeseen Cinderella stories in NCAA Tournament history. In 2005-06 George Mason won their first-ever NCAA Tournament game and made a run to the Final Four. In 2011, VCU rallied behind Head Coach Shaka Smart for the only Final Four appearance in school history.

There's no question whether players from a conference such as the CAA can compete with those of the Big Ten, SEC, or ACC who are known to make a mark in the NBA. Some of the league’s biggest stars today including Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, and Paul George were all products of Mid-Major college programs. 

Here’s the breakdown of CAA players to reach the NBA since 1990. 

Drexel University 

Malik Rose was the 44th pick in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft. Along with his 13 season career, he won two championships with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999 and 2003.

Damion Lee went undrafted in 2016 and played two years in the G league before signing an initial contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Lee would then sign a Two-way Contract with the Golden State Warriors and be a part of their 2022 Championship team. Lee is now going seven years in the NBA and currently playing for the Phoenix Suns. 

College of Charleston

Anthony Johnson was the 11th pick in the second round of the 1997 NBA Draft. He is the first player in school history to be selected in the NBA Draft. Johnson played on 7 different teams over his 13 season career. 

Anthony Goudelock was the 16th pick of the second round in the 2011 NBA Draft. He has played 2 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Houston Rockets in 2016.

Grant Riller was the 26th pick in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft. He played one season with the Charlotte Hornets before going overseas to play professionally. Riller is the 3rd leading scorer in CAA history. 

Joe Chealey went undrafted in 2018 but signed with the Charlotte Hornets in 2019. He played 2 seasons with the Hornets and their G League affiliate the Greensboro Swarm. 

Jarrell Brantley was the 20th pick in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft. He played a total of 2 seasons with the Utah Jazz along with multiple G league and overseas teams. 

UNC Wilmington

Matt Fish was the 23rd pick of the second round in the 1992 NBA Draft. Fish played for six different NBA teams throughout his 6-year career before heading to play overseas. 

Devontae Cacok went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft after leading the nation in rebounding in his 2017-18 season at UNCW. He would sign with the Lakers later in 2019 and be a part of their 2020 Championship team. 

University of Delaware

Nate Darling went undrafted in 2020 before signing with the Charlotte Hornets. He is the only Blue Hen player in NBA history. After one season he went on to play professionally in Canada. 

Monmouth

Alex Blackwell went undrafted in 1992 before having a small stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. Blackwell went on to have a lengthy career overseas until 2009. 

Stony Brook

Jameel Warney went undrafted in 2016 before having a short period with the Dallas Mavericks. Warney led Stony Brook to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and is the school's all-time leader in points, rebounds, and blocks. He currently plays overseas in Korea and won the Korean League Championship in 2022.

Towson

Kurk Lee went undrafted in 1990 before playing season with the New Jersey Nets. He then had a successful career overseas until he retired in 2002. 

Jerrelle Benimon went undrafted in 2014 before playing in the G League and eventually a short stint with the Utah Jazz. Benimon is a former 2x CAA player of the year and 2x All-Defensive team both in 2013 and 2014.

Gary Neal started his career overseas after going undrafted in 2007. He signed his first NBA contract with the San Antonio Spurs in 2010. Neal was on the cusp of the NBA Championship with the Spurs in 2013 before losing to the Miami Heat in game 7. He then played on four other NBA teams before finishing his career in the G League and overseas. 

Campbell

Chris Clemons went undrafted in the 2019  NBA Draft before signing with the Chicago Bulls. Clemons joined the G League following his first season with the Bulls and is currently on the Windy City Bulls. 

Northeastern

J.J. Barea went undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft before signing with the Dallas Mavericks. Within his time from 2006-2011, Barea helped the Mavericks win the NBA Championship in 2011. He would then play three seasons for the Timberwolves before returning to Dallas to finish his NBA career in 2020. 

William & Mary 

Nathan Knight went undrafted in 2020 after being named the CAA Player of the Year in his last season at William and Mary. After a short stint with the Atlanta Hawks, he has joined the G league and is currently playing for the Motor City Cruise. 

Elon

Elijah Bryant played his first 2 years at Elon where he won CAA Rookie of the Year in 2015 before transferring to BYU for the remainder of his eligibility. Bryant went undrafted in 2018 before signing with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021 and joining their 2021 NBA Championship roster.

Hofstra 

Speedy Claxton was the 20th pick in the first round of the 2000 NBA Draft. He played for five NBA teams over his nine-year career, including the San Antonio Spurs where he won an NBA Championship in 2003. Claxton is currently the Head Coach of the basketball program at his Alma Mater since 2021.

Charles Jenkins was the 14th pick in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He played a total of three seasons in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers before finishing his career overseas.

Norman Richardson went undrafted in 2001 before signing with the Indiana Pacers, he also played one season with the Chicago Bulls in 2002. Richardson is currently an Assistant Coach for the Charlotte Hornets. 

Justin Wright-Foreman was the 23rd pick in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft. He played one season with the Utah Jazz before entering the G League and eventually continuing his career overseas. Wright-Foreman was a 2x CAA player of the year (2018,2019) and most recently the CEBL Scoring Champion in 2023. 

Hampton

Devin Green went undrafted in 2005 before signing a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. After his one season with the Lakers, he would play a lengthy 15 years overseas. 

Rick Mahorn is also a notable Hampton Alumni who was drafted in 1980 by the Washington Bullets. He is famously known for his time with the Detroit Pistons “Bad Boys” and winning an NBA Championship in 1989. Mahron was also a CAA Player of the Year in 1979.

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