CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's basketball has several program alumni that are currently competing in professional basketball in Europe as the second part of that season is set to begin. Former All-Ohio Valley Conference players
Trae Anderson and Tyler Laser are playing overseas.
Anderson recently joined the Golden Eagle YLLI team playing in the Kosovo Super League. Anderson has appeared in two games with the team averaging 15 points and 6 rebounds in his first two appearances. Anderson, a 2016 first team All-OVC selection, is one of two former Panthers in the starting line-up for the Golden Eagle YLLI team as EIU graduate Chris Olivier is also a starter for the team. Olivier played his final year of college basketball at Oklahoma State after earning his undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois. Olivier has also played in two games averaging 22.5 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Laser is playing his sixth season of professional basketball spending this season as a member of Trefl Sopot in Poland. Laser has played in five games this season averaging 5.6 points and 2 assists per game while missing several games due to injury. Laser was a first team All-OVC selection in 2010 and missed a majority of his senior year at EIU due to injury. He played last season in both Bulgaria and Greece.
Aleksa Novakovic, a member of last year's EIU team, is currently playing for L'Aquila Basket in the Italian Series C League. Novakovic, who is from Serbia, appeared in eight games for EIU last season before electing to remain in Europe begin a professional career this summer.
