Ex-Cincinnati Bearcat, Xavier Musketeer flourish in hoops overseas

Two players who participated in the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout on Dec. 14, 2024, at Fifth Third Arena, have made their mark in recent days playing overseas.

In that Shootout, won by UC 68-65, Simas Lukošius led the Bearcats with 14 points, while Dante Maddox Jr. came off the bench for Xavier with two points and three rebounds.

Simas Lukosius (41) defends against Baylor's VJ Edgecombe (7) in a Jan. 7, 2025 game in Waco. Lukosius was just named MVP of the BCL Final Four.

Maddox has since been named the MVP of the BNXT League, a top-tier league in Belgium and the Netherlands. Lukošius was just named MVP of the Basketball Champions League Final Four playing for Rytas Vilnius, a Lithuanian team that just beat AEK BC (Greece) in Spain.

Simas Lukošius takes over BCL Final Four with 3-point show

The former Cincinnati Bearcats sharpshooter under former coach Wes Miller, nailed seven 3-pointers as Rytas Vilnius came from 20 points down to defeat AEK BC. Lukošius finished with 23 points and was named MVP.

"I feel amazing," Lukošius said in a Basketball Champions League game report. "I can't say what happened because I still have to figure it out myself. Our work throughout the season has paid off today. I'm just so happy for the team and for everyone around this amazing club. We made something special."

Lukošius from Lithuania is half-German and has expressed interest in playing for their national team, as their coach attended his clutch performance in Spain.

Former Xavier Musketeer Dante Maddox Jr. is BNXT League MVP

Maddox played just the 2024-25 season with Xavier after previously playing at Cal State-Fullerton and Toledo. He averaged 7.3 points for the Musketeers and shot 41.1% from the 3-point line.