BOILING SPRINGS — In recent years, there have been many Runnin' Bulldog basketball players that have moved on to professional basketball careers all over the world. As the Gardner-Webb basketball program has experienced the current success of four straight winning seasons - the first such occurrence in the program's Division I era - Gardner-Webb's players have also been enjoying individual success beyond their collegiate playing careers.
Last season, five of head coach Tim Craft's former players spent time in the professional ranks in addition to several long-time professional players that donned the Red & Black during their collegiate careers.
Naji Hibbert finished his playing career at Gardner-Webb University in 2014 after transferring to the Runnin' Bulldogs from Texas A&M. In his one season with the Red & Black, Hibbert averaged 11.5 points and knocked down 58 three-pointers to help Gardner-Webb to an 18-15 overall record and a berth in the Big South semifinals. Following a stint in Greece in his rookie year, he is currently in France for his second professional season and playing for CEP Lorient of the French Second League.
Onzie Branch, a 2014 Gardner-Webb graduate, is in his second season in Puerto Rico and currently playing for Caciques de Humacao in the BSN League. Branch averaged 15 minutes - primarily off the bench - during his two-year stint with the Runnin' Bulldogs, posting 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the floor. He is currently sporting percentages of 40 percent from the field and 75 percent at the free throw line.
Jerome Hill finished his three-year career as a Runnin' Bulldog in 2015 as the program's Division I leader in rebounding (764), and currently ranks second in the program's Division I era with 1,394 points. Hill put up career numbers in his final season with Gardner-Webb, averaging a double-double with team-highs of 18.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while earning Big South All-Conference First Team honors. He recently finished his first season in the Dominos League of Iceland playing for Keflavik. Hill had an outstanding rookie season with Keflavik, averaging 21.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Fan favorite Tyler Strange graduated from Gardner-Webb in 2015 as the program's all-time leader in both assists (651) and steals (207), while leading the Runnin' Bulldogs to 68 wins during his four-year career - the second-highest total for an individual player in the school's Division I era. During a brief stint with KK Mornar of Montenegro in the Balkan League, he averaged nine points, five assists, and five rebounds per contest. Strange is currently in China on a three-week tour with a team of players from the NBA's Developmental League.
Jarvis Davis finished his four-year tenure at Gardner-Webb in 2015 following a stellar senior season, in which he averaged a career-best 8.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while knocking down 56 three-pointers and totaling 39 steals. Davis put together a terrific rookie season with Angra of Portugal's Proliga averaging 26.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. He has already signed with the Rostock Seawolves of the 2. Basketball Bundesliga's ProB for next season.
Other former Runnin' Bulldogs who have played professionally in recent years: Thomas Sanders '08 – five-year career in the NBA D-League, Spain, Israel, Finland, Peurto Rico, and Venezuela; Tim Jennings '06 – 10-year career in the NBA D-League, Germany, Ireland, Argentina, Uraguay, and Bolivia; and Simon Conn '06 - 10-year career in Australia.
