From Overlooked to Opportunity: Raheem Brizendine’s Unfinished Journey to Professional Basketball
The long road from college hoops to a first pro contract
He never played a minute of high school basketball. Now the 6’3″ American combo guard is chasing his first professional contract, and he has Australia in his sights.
Most players who reach college basketball in the United States have a familiar story. They were spotted early, played varsity through high school and had recruiters calling before graduation.
Raheem Brizendine’s story starts somewhere else entirely.
“I never played high school basketball,” he told Basketball News Australia. “I wasn’t highly recruited, and I haven’t had the traditional path that many players experience. I’ve had to fight, sacrifice, and create opportunities for myself at every stage of my journey.”
That fight has taken him through prep school, junior college and three university programs, two of them at NCAA Division II level. Now the free agent guard is looking for the one thing he hasn’t had yet: a professional opportunity. He’s hoping it comes in Australia, at NBL1 or Big V level.
Earning a way in
Without a high school record to show coaches, Brizendine had to talk his way into prep school just to keep playing. From there he moved to the junior college ranks with Riverland Community College in Minnesota.
It wasn’t a glamorous start. He spent his first season at Riverland mostly watching, then played 28 games the following year in a supporting role. But it gave him what he needed most: a foot in the door of college basketball, and time to learn the game at that level.
“Throughout my career, I’ve played with a chip on my shoulder,” he said, “constantly working to prove myself despite being overlooked and doubted along the way.”
The breakout at Central
The turning point came in 2023-24, his sophomore season, at Central Bible University in Moberly, Missouri. The school was then known as Central Christian College of the Bible, and it competes in the NCCAA, a national association of Christian colleges in the United States.
Given the keys, Brizendine started all 22 games he played and led the team in scoring average. According to the school’s official statistics, he averaged 20.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 52.1 per cent from the field.
Those are big numbers for a guard, and the efficiency stands out as much as the volume. The season also earned him a place on the NCCAA Division II All-Central Region First Team and the Midwest Christian College Conference (MCCC) All-Conference Team.
| 2023-24, Central Bible University | |
|---|---|
| Games (starts) | 22 (22) |
| Points per game | 20.8 |
| Rebounds per game | 5.5 |
| Field goal % | 52.1 |
| Free throw % | 70.5 |
Source: Central Bible University official 2023-24 statistics
Stepping up to Division II
That season opened the next door. Brizendine moved up to NCAA Division II with Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina for 2024-25, then finished his college career at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, in 2025-26.
The jump in level meant a smaller role, against tougher and more physical competition. For a player who had already built his career one step at a time, it was another test to pass rather than a reason to stop.
After college, he went looking for his chance at the professional level. He attended NBA G League tryouts with the Osceola Magic in Orlando and the Delaware Blue Coats. He didn’t earn a roster spot, but he says the feedback from scouts convinced him he belongs.
“Those experiences reinforced my belief that I belong at the professional level,” he said, “and motivated me to keep working.”
Why Australia
Brizendine is now pursuing opportunities overseas, and Australia is at the top of his list. He’s targeting NBL1 and Big V, competitions that have become a proven landing spot for American guards looking to start their professional careers.
For clubs, the profile is a combo guard who can play on or off the ball, has size for his position and has shown he can score efficiently when given a lead role. For Brizendine, it’s the chance to make an impact on and off the court.
The off-court part matters to him. Faith is a big part of his life, and he wants his story to reach young athletes who feel the way he once did.
“Your circumstances don’t have to determine your destination,” he said. “I want kids to understand that where you start doesn’t determine where you can finish. With faith, discipline, consistency, and a willingness to keep working when nobody believes in you, you can accomplish things that people may have once told you were impossible.”
He isn’t done yet. “I’m still chasing the dream, still working, and still believing that the best chapters of my story are ahead of me.”
Watch: Raheem Brizendine highlights
Player profile
| Name | Raheem Brizendine |
|---|---|
| Nationality | American |
| Position | Combo guard (PG/SG) |
| Height / weight | 6’3″ (191 cm) / 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Status | Free agent |
| Pathway | Prep school, Riverland CC (JUCO), Central Bible University (NCCAA), Southern Wesleyan (NCAA DII), Regis (NCAA DII) |
| Best season | 2023-24, Central: 20.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 52.1% FG |
| Looking for | NBL1, Big V or similar in Australia |
| Career highlights & achievements | 20.8 PPG and 52.1% FG in 2023-24 at Central, the team’s top scoring average; NCCAA Division II All-Central Region First Team (2023-24); MCCC All-Conference Team (2024); competed at NCAA Division II level with Southern Wesleyan and Regis; attended NBA G League tryouts with the Osceola Magic and Delaware Blue Coats |
Frequently asked questions about Raheem Brizendine
Who is Raheem Brizendine?
Raheem Brizendine is a 6’3″ American combo guard (PG/SG) and free agent seeking his first professional contract, with Australia’s NBL1 and Big V competitions among his targets.
Where did Raheem Brizendine play college basketball?
He played junior college at Riverland Community College, then Central Bible University (NCCAA), Southern Wesleyan University (NCAA Division II) and Regis University (NCAA Division II).
What were Raheem Brizendine’s best college stats?
In 2023-24 at Central Bible University he averaged 20.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 52.1 per cent from the field, according to official school statistics.
What awards has Raheem Brizendine won?
He was named to the NCCAA Division II All-Central Region First Team in 2023-24 and the Midwest Christian College Conference All-Conference Team in 2024.
Has Raheem Brizendine signed with an Australian club?
No. He is currently a free agent and is looking for an opportunity in Australia.
The BNA View
Every season, NBL1 and Big V clubs go looking for an import who can lift their roster. Plenty arrive with big college names. Fewer arrive with a story like this one.
Brizendine’s numbers at Central show a guard who can carry a scoring load efficiently when he’s trusted with the ball. His time in Division II and at G League tryouts shows a player willing to test himself against a higher level, even when it meant a smaller role.
What stands out most is the path itself. He has never been handed anything, and that kind of resilience tends to travel well into a new league, a new country and a new locker room.
Whether that first professional opportunity comes in Australia is now up to the clubs. We’ll be watching where the next chapter takes him.
Asif Ahmed
Asif Ahmed is a Mass Communication and Journalism graduate from Khulna University. He has spent more than four years covering Australian basketball for Basketball News Australia (BNA). His work includes match coverage, news and in-depth player features, with a focus on athletes’ stories and the pathways into professional basketball.