‘Last Chance U: Basketball’ star Deshaun Highler starts pro career
CHOCÓ, Colombia (BVM) – Former “Last Chance U: Basketball” star Deshaun Highler has begun his professional basketball career in Colombia. The former East Los Angeles College and Sacramento State player had entered the transfer portal after two years in Sacramento but now the 6-foot-2 guard is playing for Cimarrones Del Choco in the Colombian Professional League.
💣 🎬 De Netflix a Cimarrones
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Deshaun Highler la estrella del documental "Last Chance U" será nuevo jugador de Cimarrones del Chocó.
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Viene de jugar en Sacramento State en en la NCAA.
. @11Deshaun @Info_Cimarrones pic.twitter.com/yTAzbwTx2j— BasquetbolistasCol (@BasketCol) October 9, 2022
The team has won the Colombian Professional League championship twice and is currently ranked amongst the top teams in the league.
Since signing on October 8, Highler has begun his pro career and is already seeing a lot of success in Colombia. Through six games, Highler is averaging more points (9.5) than he did during both his seasons with Sacramento State. Coming off the bench for Cimarrones, Highler is averaging 9.5 points and 3.5 assists. The “Last Chance U: Basketball” point guard is playing like he did when he was with ELAC when he averaged 12.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals. He is also showing off his shooting ability with Cimarrones. Highler is shooting 75% from the field and 54.5% from three.
However, the improvement in Highler’s play seems to be due to the new environment rather than just purely from training. Highler recently tweeted about his time at Sacramento State and implied that he never got the chance to play at the level that people saw during his time on “Last Chance U: Basketball.” Highler has yet to elaborate on his time with the Hornets but his play has certainly been better with Cimarrones.
The time will come for me to tell the truth about Sacramento State. But for now I’ll just let you guys continue to think that I just forgot how to play and shoot a basketball for 2 years. 🤝
— Deshaun Malik 🏴☠️ (@11Deshaun) October 14, 2022
Highler even got to reunite with his former ELAC teammate and another “Last Chance U: Basketball” Joe Hampton, who plays for Piratas. Hampton had 19 points in the game but Highler and Cimarrones got the win.
Beat the odds. My brother 4L. 🖤🏴☠️ @jmmh_3 pic.twitter.com/hyJejaY3ei
— Deshaun Malik 🏴☠️ (@11Deshaun) October 13, 2022
According to Highler via his Twitter, the point guard is having the most fun and is the happiest he has been in a long time. From “Last Chance U: Basketball” to Division I basketball and now professional basketball, Highler has worked hard to get where he is at.
