Several players from the Northern Iowa Panthers basketball program have gone on to play in the NBA. While the school is not widely known for producing professional talent, it has contributed to the league over the years. In this article, we aim to list those former Panthers who have reached the NBA, including details about their college careers, draft information, and time spent in the league.
AJ Green
First, AJ Green, a professional basketballer born on September 27, 1999, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, is currently with the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA. He played college basketball at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) from 2018 to 2022, where he became the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,769 points. Green was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Player of the Year and earned multiple All-MVC honours during his collegiate career.
After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, Green signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. He split time between the Bucks and their G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd. In July 2023, he secured a standard three-year contract with the Bucks.
Seth Tuttle
Seth Tuttle, born on September 5, 1992, in Mason City, Iowa, is a former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Northern Iowa Panthers. He played college basketball at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) from 2011 to 2015, where he became one of the program’s most accomplished players. Tuttle finished his collegiate career as UNI’s fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,747 points and fifth in career rebounds with 917.
During his time at UNI, Tuttle earned several accolades, including Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Freshman of the Year in 2012, First-Team All-MVC honours in 2014 and 2015, MVC Player of the Year in 2015, and consensus Second-Team All-American in 2015.
After going undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft, Tuttle joined the Miami Heat for the NBA Summer League. He then played professionally overseas for three seasons: with Oliver Baskets in Germany (2015–2016), Limburg United in Belgium (2016–2017), and Spirou Charleroi in Belgium (2017–2018).
Pete Spoden
Pete Spoden was a standout forward for the Northern Iowa Panthers (then known as Iowa State Teachers College) from 1960 to 1964. Standing 6-foot-6, he earned AP First Team All-American honours in 1964 and set multiple school records. In the 1964 NBA Draft, Spoden was selected in the fourth round (28th overall) by the Baltimore Bullets. Although he did not appear in an NBA game, his selection marked a significant achievement for the UNI basketball program. Spoden was inducted into the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989, recognising his lasting impact on the program.
Players Who Play Professionally Outside of the NBA
In addition, several former Northern Iowa Panthers have continued their basketball careers in professional leagues outside of the NBA. These athletes have played in countries such as Germany, Belgium, and other parts of Europe and Asia, gaining valuable experience and showcasing their skills on international courts.
Players like Seth Tuttle, who had stints in Germany and Belgium after a strong college career, exemplify how Northern Iowa talent can thrive overseas. While these leagues may not receive the same attention as the NBA, they remain competitive. They offer fans and analysts opportunities to follow and evaluate talent through resources like basketball odds and performance metrics.
Noah Carter
Noah Carter is a 6’6″ forward from Dubuque, Iowa. During his time at UNI, he earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honours and contributed to regular-season conference titles in 2020 and 2022. He then transferred to the University of Missouri for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons. In his final college season, Carter averaged 11.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game over 32 games.
After going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft, Carter signed with BK Olomoucko in the Czech National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2024–25 season. In his rookie professional season, he averaged 18.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game over 49 appearances, shooting 49.2% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range.
Jeremy Morgan
Then there is also Jeremy Morgan, born on May 8, 1995, in Coralville, Iowa, who is a professional basketball player currently with Hapoel Jerusalem in the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroCup. He played college basketball at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) from 2013 to 2017, where he became one of the program’s most versatile and accomplished players.
After going undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft, Morgan signed with the Memphis Grizzlies and played for their G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, during the 2017–18 season, averaging 7.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over 32 games. Morgan then embarked on an international professional career, playing for Kouvot in Finland (2018–19), Crailsheim Merlins in Germany (2019–20), Aquila Basket Trento in Italy (2020–21), Telekom Baskets Bonn in Germany (2021–23), and JL Bourg-en-Bresse in France (2023–24).
In July 2024, he signed with Hapoel Jerusalem, continuing his professional journey in the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroCup.