Area players on professional basketball teams include, top row from left, Dakota Mathias, Will Vorhees and Zavier Simpson; and bottom row, from left, Taren Sullivan, Martyce Kimbrough and Dantez Walton.
There are currently six young men from our area who are getting paid to play the game they love and are fulfilling their life-long dreams. After playing basketball at the college level, these athletes are now competing in professional leagues for teams from literally around the globe. Each one has his own unique story to tell about his personal experience, but they share their love for the game of basketball as the focus of their motivation.
Zavier Simpson (Lima Senior/LCC), Dakota Mathias (Elida), Will Vorhees (Columbus Grove), Martyce Kimbrough (LCC), Taren Sullivan (Bath) and Dantez Walton (LCC) are all currently playing in professional basketball leagues here in the U.S. and abroad.
It’s the dream of many college basketball athletes to compete in the NBA but, falling short of that, some are lucky enough to settle for professional basketball here in the United States (NBA’s G-League) or in professional basketball leagues in Europe and around the world. Although each of these athletes is getting paid to play the game they love, the road is not easy.
Athletes in pursuit of the professional basketball dream rarely play for the same team each season. Instead, with the help of their agents, they move from team to team and country to country as they outplay their contracts and move up to more difficult levels of play and more lucrative paychecks. Clay Tucker, a Perry graduate, currently on the coaching staff at Southern Utah University, played professional basketball for 16 years on 21 different teams. His story is not unique, as the current area athletes are discovering.
Martyce Kimbrough recently left for Indonesia to play for Bima Perkasa, a professional team located in the region of Yogyakarta. Martyce, who has bounced from Spain to France and now halfway around the world to Indonesia, spoke about the challenges of playing professionally overseas.
“It’s never easy,” he said. “You miss your family, friends and special days and moments.”
Kimbrough missed the funeral of a beloved uncle, Bobby, who was buried just days after he left. Kimbrough also talked about the challenges of moving to new countries.
“You must go into it with an open mind. You’re often dealing with a language barrier, cultural and religious differences, and even the food can take time to get used to,” he added.
Kimbrough talked about the playing adjustments that must be made when moving to new countries.
“It’s important to remember that the style of ball, the speed of the game, the coaching, the refereeing and the popularity of basketball can be different in diverse countries,” he says.
Kimbrough was quick to add that he wouldn’t trade his experience.
“I am playing the game I love; I have traveled the world, and I’m making money that will benefit me and my family in the future,” he said. “Professional basketball is often a short window of time, and I’m taking advantage of it.”
Here is a quick bio of each of these young men and their professional journey.
• Zavier Simpson: After a stellar career at the University of Michigan where he led UM to a Final Four appearance, Simpson played several games in the NBA in 2022 for the Oklahoma City Thunder. His first NBA points were vs. the Lakers. Simpson’s playing resume includes time in the G-League with the OKC Blues and Lakeland Magic. Simpson is currently playing for the Detroit Cruise, the Pistons’ G-League team. He is averaging 19.2 points per game with seven assists. Simpson recently made the winning shot at the buzzer with his father, Quincey, in attendance. In the humble opinion of this writer, the Pistons need to add this young man to their roster.
• Dakota Mathias: Dakota left Purdue University on the leaderboard for three-point field goals and assists after a remarkable career. He has played with two NBA teams, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged nearly double figures in 14 games in the NBA. Dakota has played with the Texas Legends and the Memphis Hustle in the G-League. He has also played professionally in Spain and Germany. Dakota is currently playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in the Basketball Budesliga, the major German professional league. He is averaging 14 points a game and is one of the leading three-point shooters in the league.
• Will Vorhees: Will was an All-American and National Player of the Year at Division II Notre Dame of Ohio before embarking on his professional journey. He has played professionally in Mexico, Argentina and Germany. The 6-foot-8 power forward is currently back on the roster for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the G-League, his third season playing with the Indiana Pacer affiliate.
• Martyce Kimbrough: Kimbrough still holds many three-point records for the University of Findlay, where he was a teammate of Taren Sullivan. Kimbrough’s calling card has always been his picturesque jump shot. His basketball journey has taken him from Spain to France and now to Indonesia, where league play begins this week.
• Taren Sullivan: After a great career at the University of Findlay, Sullivan embarked on his professional basketball career. The road has led him to pro teams in Germany, Slovakia, Nigeria and now Japan. He also has played in the NBA’s G-League with the Stockton Kings and Erie Bay Hawks. Sullivan is currently playing for the Hachio Bee Trains in Tokyo, Japan. He is averaging 16 points a game and seven rebounds and has become a fan favorite.
• Dantez Walton: Walton went pro following a decorated career at Northern Kentucky University. Walton’s professional basketball odyssey has included stops in the frigid city of Joensuu, Finland, to the Czech Republic and this season to Saudi Arabia playing for Al Hilal located in the city of Riyadh. The 6-foot-7 small forward is leading the club in scoring (18.3) and rebounding (9.2). He has earned player of the week in the league a couple times. His team is currently ranked third in the 12-team league.
I’m wishing luck to all these competitors. We’re all proud of them.
Bob Seggerson wrote this column for LimaScores.com and can be reached at [email protected].
