By Ben Jenkins, Guest Writer 

With Zach Freemantle joining Colby Jones, Quincy Olivari, and Naji Marshall in the league, Xavier’s NBA footprint continues to grow. 

Former Xavier basketball star Zach Freemantle found a home in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers last week. Freemantle had a fantastic last season for the Musketeers where he averaged almost 17 points and seven rebounds per game and received Big East Second Team honors for the second year in a row. As his NCAA eligibility had finally expired, he went undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft. He signed with the Orlando Magic during the summer league but didn’t receive a contract offer from the Magic after the conclusion of summer league. Last week, Freemantle signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. An Exhibit 10 allows Freemantle to be with the team during training camp and guaranteed time with the Clippers G-League affiliate, the San Diego Clippers. If all goes well, he could have his contract converted to a guaranteed contract and play with the Los Angeles Clippers for the upcoming season. 

Freemantle joins Colby Jones, Quincy Olivari and Naji Marshall as recent Xavier alumni in the NBA. Jones recently signed with the Detroit Pistons, his third team during his time in the NBA. He was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in 2023 and spent the first year and a half of his career there not seeing much playing time.  

Halfway through the 2025 season he was involved in a three-team trade that sent him to the Washington Wizards. Once he got to Washington he spent time in the G-league with the Capital City Go-Go but cracked the rotation with the Wizards towards the end of the season. He ended the season on a great note with a 20-point, four assist performance against the Miami Heat in the final game of the year. 

While Jones is still looking to establish himself in the league, Marshall has carved out a significant role with the Dallas Mavericks. After spending four years in New Orleans with the Pelicans, Marshall signed with the Mavs in the summer of 2024. This past year he became a very important player in Dallas, playing about 30 minutes a night and averaging 13 points per game.  

Marshall was a part of the most successful Xavier teams in the last decade his freshman year. The 2018 Musketeers finished the season as the third ranked team in the AP poll and earned a one seed in March Madness for the first time in school history. They ultimately ended falling short in the turn up losing in the second round. Marshall played 20 minutes per game and averaged around eight points a night, playing a key role in one of the best seasons in Xavier Men’s basketball history.  

Olivari, recent cult hero for Xavier basketball, has made headlines in the NBA over the last year. After going undrafted in the 2024 draft, Olivari signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, where a picture of him and LeBron James surfaced that made the rounds on X because people had no idea who he was.  

He put his name on the map after this, however, as he began to tear up the G-League. In a press conference, he talked about idolizing Stephen Curry as a kid, which ultimately landed him a deal with Curry Brand for Under Armor. After his contract expired, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets, whom he will start the 25-26 season with.  

The Musketeer alumni all start new chapters of their careers on October 21.