Flames in the Pros – Basketball
Darius McGhee
Liberty basketball legend Darius McGhee has kick-started his professional career with the Indiana Mad Ants in the NBA G League.
McGhee had the opportunity to ball professionally in the G League for the 2023-24 season, where he found a mid-season rhythm, consistently putting up points for the Mad Ants. The 25-year-old point guard became Liberty’s all-time highest scorer in 2023, and he led the NCAA in 3-pointers made with 142 in 2021, the 12th-most of all time.
McGhee continued his trend of shooting from behind the arc, regularly knocking down threes in limited minutes for Indiana.
It’s no surprise for Liberty fans to see McGhee playing professionally, as he is one of the best ballers to ever walk the halls of DeMoss. Despite being 5 feet, 9 inches tall, McGhee makes up for his stature with his agility, speed, vision and athleticism.
McGhee is making a major change for the upcoming season by signing a contract with the Telekom Baskets Bonn in the Basketball Bundesliga, the top professional league in Germany. Taking a major step forward in his career, McGhee will look to help carry Telekom all the way this season, as it was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the playoffs last season.
Kyle Rode
Another recent Liberty basketball graduate, Kyle Rode, is joining longtime teammate McGhee overseas.
The 6-foot-7-inch “Captain Rode” will be taking his talents to Germany to play with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Also playing in the Bundesliga, Rode will likely see former teammate McGhee on the court.
As a five-year Liberty veteran, Rode was a fan favorite on Liberty Mountain. As with McGhee, Flames fans also knew that Rode’s career likely wasn’t over after his time at Liberty.
An offensive weapon, Rode led the Flames with 14.2 points per game last season as well as a total of 100 3-pointers, averaging 3.13 per game, top in CUSA. Among the all-time leaders in offensive stats for Liberty, Rode’s talents will be much appreciated in Oldenburg.
The forward out of Lexington, Kentucky, was a multiple time ASUN/CUSA All-Conference selection, but he was moreover known for his leadership qualities. A great leader both on and off the court, Rode will likely continue his leadership in Germany.
With an exciting future for the beloved young man, Liberty will continue to watch his career with great anticipation as his first season of professional ball begins in Europe.
Bessire is a staff writer for the Liberty Champion.
