PLNU Men's Basketball has made a name for itself in recent years within NCAA Division II. Now several Sea Lions are representing The Point on the global stage.
Daulton Hommes (Baskonia – Spain) and
Marek Klassen (Fraser Valley Bandits – Canada) have signed new professional contracts in recent weeks, while
Darnell Robateau (Sunshine Coast Phoenix – Australia) and
Yusuf Shehata (Al Ettehad – Egypt) are also playing professionally overseas. Recent PLNU grad
Ben Okhotin is competing in the ongoing The Basketball Tournament.
"It is always exciting to see our former PLNU players excelling and thriving as professionals," PLNU Head Coach
Matt Logie said. "The tradition and successes of the PLNU Basketball program is a direct result of the talented players and coaches that have poured into the development process here. We take great pride in helping our players prepare and create opportunities to continue as professionals after their time at the Point is concluded."
Hommes has signed a two-season contract with Baskonia, who plays in the EuroLeague and in the Spanish first division, Liga ACB. Klassen has re-signed with the Fraser Valley Bandits in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).
The 2018-19 NCAA Division II Player of the Year most recently played within the New Orleans Pelicans organization on a two-way contract after spending time with both the San Antonio Spurs' G-League affiliate and Vanoli Cremona in Italy.
In his lone season at PLNU, he averaged 21.9 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game, leading the Sea Lions to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game. The sharpshooter shot 53.3% from the field that season, including 47% from 3-point range on over 200 attempts.
In Fraser Valley Bandits history, Klassen is the team leader in career assists and second in games played and 3-pointers made. Since graduating from PLNU in 2015, he's played professionally in seven different countries, including Poland, England, Sweden Ukraine, Romania and Turkey.
He ranks in the top-10 in program history in several categories: 3-pointers made (second – 248), steals (seventh – 133), assists (eighth – 393) and 3-point field goal % (10th – .410).
Robateau has been playing for his hometown team, Sunshine Coast Phoenix, in the Australian NBL1. In the 2022 season, he's averaged 16.2 points per game to go along with 7.7 rebounds and 6.6 assists per contest.
Shehata, who plays for Al Ettehad in the Egyptian Basketball Super League, most recently has represented the Egypt national team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers. He helped his squad win Group D and advance to the second round of qualifying, which continues in August.
Okhotin is playing with the LA Cheaters in The Basketball Tournament. As a senior at PLNU, Okhotin shot 41.7% from 3-point range while averaging 13.4 points per game, earning All-PacWest Second Team honors.
