USA World Cup Qualifying Team | NBA Summer League

CHATTANOOGA (July 6, 2026) --- Former Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball standouts Jake Stephens ('23) and Matt Ryan ('20) headline the program's professional offseason activity after securing respective roster spots with the Phoenix Suns and USA Basketball over the past few weeks.
 
Jake Stephens – Phoenix Suns (NBA Summer League)
Stephens has signed with the Phoenix Suns and will make his fourth career appearance on the NBA Summer League stage, which is set for July 9-19 in Las Vegas. Stephens competed during the summer months with the Sacramento Kings in 2023 before lacing up for the Charlotte Hornets in 2024 and Atlanta Hawks in 2025.
 
The 2023 Reese's Division I College All-Star and three-time All-Southern Conference selection recently wrapped up the 2025-26 season with KK Split of the Croatian A-1 Liga and Liga ABA. He appeared in 61 games while averaging 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game and was named the Adriatic Liga ABA Round 4 MVP.
 
Of note: Stephens is still one of just five players in NCAA Division I men's basketball history to finish their career with more than 1,900 points, 900 rebounds, 300 assists and 200 blocks. (per Stathead; player stats available back to 1986-87)
 
Matt Ryan – July 2026 USA Men's World Cup Qualifying Team
Ryan earned a spot on the July 2026 USA Men's World Cup Qualifying Team, which opened play with an 82-81 win at Dominican Republic last Friday (July 3) before the team closes its qualifying window at Mexico on July 6. The team is one of 80 national teams competing for one of the 32 berths to the 2027 FIBA Men's World Cup in Doha, Qatar.
 
Ryan is making his second appearance with the red, white and blue after competing with USA Basketball on the February 2022 Men's World Cup Qualifying Team (Window 2). He most recently competed in the UAE Adriatic League with Dubai in 2025-26 after appearing in 82 games across four seasons in the NBA with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans and New York Knicks.
 
Mocs in the Pros (15) – July 2026 Update
Matt Ryan – 2020 – USA Men's World Cup Qualifying Team
Jake Stephens – 2023 – Phoenix Suns (NBA Summer League)
Malachi Smith - 2022 - Brooklyn Nets (NBA)
Trey Bonham – 2025 – Pardubice (Czech Republic)
Frank Champion – 2025 – Korihait (Finland)
Tyler Millin – 2024 – Komarno (Slovakia)
Jan Zidek – 2024 – Grupo Ureta Tizona Burgos (Spain)
Avery Diggs – 2022 – Tampa Bay Titans (TBL)
David Jean-Baptiste – 2022 – Naestved (Denmark)
Silvio de Sousa – 2022 – Maroussi (Greece)
Stefan Kenic – 2021 – Neftci (Azerbaijan)
Mark Tikhonenko – 2021 – Jaen CB (Spain)
Ramon Vila – 2020 – Grupo Ureta Tizona Burgos (Spain)
Thomas Smallwood – 2019 – CB Prat Juventudis (Spain)
Kevin Bridgewaters – 2008 – Newfoundland Rogues (TBL)

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