Former basketball players and graduates of Nicholls State University have taken their talents overseas to professional levels.

Jovana Mandic, Jeremy Smith and Fred Hunter have all continued to play high-level basketball after stepping off of the court in Stopher Gymnasium for the last time. While Mandic is still getting used to playing professionally this year, Smith and Hunter, who were teammates at Nicholls, joined as teammates once again last season in Australia.

A 2016 Mass Communication graduate Mandic, native of Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina, played center for the Colonels for two seasons. In early August she signed to play professionally in Spain for Baloncesto de Batalyaws basketball. Mandic travelled to the city of Badajoz where the team’s organization is located this week. Her first practice is today as she prepares for her first pro game when the season starts on October 1.

On transitioning into pro play, Mandic expects to smoothly get into the rhythm of being a professional athlete. Being closer to family, focusing solely on basketball and growing as both a player and a person is what Mandic wants to enjoy the most out of this new experience.

“Being from Europe, I am familiar and have worked out with some pro teams before,” Mandic said. “I like playing overseas more because you get to travel, experience new culture, languages, food and culture. I’ve never been to Spain before and I am looking forward to that.”

Mandic will start off in League 2 and hopes to one-day advance to top Euroleague team play.

Both Hunter and Smith have played multiple seasons overseas since graduating from Nicholls, and have already transitioned into playing professionally. Both athletes teamed up to play for the Werribee Devils in Melbourne, Australia. In Australia they played under Head Coach Michael Czepil, former Nicholls Assistance coach under former Head Coach J.P. Piper.

The chemistry and bond that was made while teammates at Nicholls carried over to Australia.

“If anything I feel like the chemistry between us strengthened,” Smith said. “We formed a brother like relationship at NSU, so I didn’t have any doubts about the chemistry. It’s rare to do something you love in another country with one of your best friends on and off the court.”

Because the two were already familiar with one another’s game, it allowed them to work together more fluently on the court.

“We didn’t have to ‘get to know each other’ or learn each other’s game because that’s been done already,” Hunter said. “Chemistry carried over between us too, but it was even better because we had more freedom to play out a game during last season.”

Since turning pro, the two have gotten the chance to travel, gain new hobbies, try new foods and experience new cultures.

“Besides the gameday experience, I enjoy the basketball clinics with the kids, going to popular sporting games in Australia like netball and football and exploring the city,” Smith said. “I think going to the beach is by far one of my favorite new hobbies.”

Smith, a 2013 Interdisciplinary Studies graduate from New Orleans, played his second professional season last season after a successful first attempt in the pros. In his senior season at Nicholls, Smith averaged 14 points per game on 54 percent shooting. He started his pro basketball career in the Basketball South Australia’s Premier League. While playing for the South Adelaide Panthers in 2015, Smith averaged over 23 points per game, finishing second in league MVP voting. Last season with the Devils, Smith recored 24 points per game and 8 rebounds shooting 60 percent from the field.

Hunter enjoys the lifestyle of living overseas.

“Although I stuck pretty much to foods I was used to, I did try kangaroo,” Hunter said. “I experienced a lot while playing overseas from bushwalking in caves in Tasmania to exploring throughout Jerusalem.”

Hunter, a 2012 Interdisciplinary Studies grad and native of Denton, Texas, had a great collegiate career as a Colonel. Hunter left the Nicholls basketball program in top ten all-time in starts, minutes, field goals made, steals, offensive rebounds, free throws and also field goal percentage.

Going forward, Hunter looks forward to his next move and plans to play ball for as long as possible. He is currently back home enjoying family and being a great father to his daughter, Aliyah.