Where are they now: Update on Dayton Flyers playing overseas

Dayton’s Scoochie Smith against Rhode Island on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, at UD Arena. David Jablonski/Staff

Dayton’s Scoochie Smith against Rhode Island on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017, at UD Arena. David Jablonski/Staff

Scoochie Smith’s 10th season in professional basketball has taken him to Manisa, Turkey.

Turkey is the sixth foreign country the former Dayton Flyers guard has played in since his final college game in 2017. He played in Serbia last season and previously spent time in Lithuania, Poland, Greece and Australia.

There are a number of former Flyers playing overseas. Here’s an update on where they are:

• Chris Johnson: He signed with Elon Chalon in France in July after spending the last five seasons in Israel. Johnson played for Dayton from 2008-12.

• Devin Oliver: A senior in the 2013-14 season when Smith was a freshman, Oliver returned to Japan this season to play for Saitama.

“I’ll tell you what, it’s never easy leaving your home, leaving the people you love, but man I am so excited to get back to Japan,” Oliver wrote on X in August. “Just to see the beautiful country but also get back to doing what I love most, playing the GAME!”

Oliver played for different teams in Japan for three seasons (2021-24) before spending last season with Taipei Taishin in Taiwan and SLUC Nancy in France. He also has played in Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, Turkey and Germany in a 12-year career.

• Vee Sanford: The hero of Dayton’s victory against Ohio State in the 2014 NCAA tournament is playing in France, where he has spent the majority of his career, with Loon Plage this season.

• Dyshawn Pierre: The former Flyer forward signed with UNICS Kazan in Russia in August. He spent the last five seasons in Turkey.

• Josh Cunningham: The former Dayton forward has played in New Zealand, Venezuela and Uruguay in recent years and is now playing in Mexico with Gambusinos Fresnillo. He’s averaging 7.5 points this season.

• Darrell Davis: The guard who played for Dayton from 2014-18 signed to play for Minas Belo Horizonte in Brazil in August. He played in Israel last season.

• Ryan Mikesell: After three seasons in Germany and two in France, Mikesell will play in England with the London Lions. The team plays an exhibition game Thursday before opening the regular season later this month. Mikesell played for Dayton from 2015 through 2020.

• Jordy Tshimanga: A center for Dayton in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, Tshimanga will play in Taiwan with Taipei Taishin, the same team Oliver played with at the start of the 2024-25 season.

Tshimanga played in his home country, Canada, last season with the Winnipeg Sea Bears and in Mongolia with Khasin Khuleguud. He also spent time in Taiwan with the Kaohsiung Steelers.

• Rodney Chatman: Like Tshimanga and Mikesell, Chatman was a key player on Dayton’s 29-2 team in 2019-20. He will play in England this season with the Sheffield Sharks for the second straight season. He averaged 18 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game last season for Sheffield before suffering a season-ending injury.

“I’m very happy to have signed for the 2025-26 season,” Chatman said in a press release. “Although I joined the team partway through the season, I felt very comfortable in the locker room and with the team so it’s great to be back. The fans are fantastic both home and away and I thoroughly enjoy playing in front of you all; it makes a real difference. I feel like I have unfinished business after the injury last season, so I’m looking forward to building on the success we had as a team and aiming for more this season.”

• Moulaye Sissoko: The former Dayton center signed with C’Chartres Métropole Basket in France in July. Sissoko spent three years at Dayton (2019-22) before finishing career at North Texas.

• Elijah Weaver: A guard at Dayton for two seasons (2020-22), Weaver signed earlier this month with Abejas de León in Mexico. He played in Mexico and the Dominican Republic last season.

• Mustapha Amzil: A forward at Dayton for three seasons (2020-23) and at New Mexico for two seasons (2023-25), Amzil will start his pro career with KB Trepca in Mitrovica, Kosovo.

Enoch Cheeks: A starter for Dayton the last two seasons, he will start his career with the Windrose Giants, who are located in Antwerp, Belgium. The season starts Friday.

• Zed Key: After four seasons at Ohio State and one season at Dayton, he will play in the Czech Republic with BK JIP Pardubice, which starts its season Sept. 27.

• Kobe Elvis: He signed with BK Olomoucko in the Czech Republic in August. He played in his home country, Canada, over the summer with the Scarborough Shooting Stars. Elvis played one season at DePaul and three seasons at Dayton before finishing his career at Oklahoma last season.

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