Current Cavs in the Pros

Kankakee Community College continues to be represented at the professional level, with several former Cavaliers building strong careers beyond KCC. From professional basketball opportunities overseas and in North America to Major League Baseball and affiliated Minor League Baseball, these former Cavs continue to show the impact of the program and the player development foundation built at KCC.

Cha’Vez Woods — New Castle Falcons

Cha’Vez Woods continues his basketball journey with the New Castle Falcons after putting together an outstanding senior season at McKendree University. Woods was named GLVC First Team All-Conference and earned a spot on the GLVC All-Defensive Team for the 2025-26 season, confirming his status as one of the top two-way guards in the league.

Woods started all 29 games as a senior and averaged 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 45.6% from the field, 38.7% from three, and 82.3% from the free-throw line. He scored in double figures in 23 games, posted seven 20-point performances, and had two games of 30-plus points. Before McKendree, Woods was a standout at KCC, where he started all 31 games during the 2023-24 season, averaged 16.0 points per game, shot 41.2% from three, and earned First Team All-Region 4 honors. His growth from KCC to McKendree and now into the professional ranks is a strong example of the Cavalier pathway.

James Franklin Jr. — Montreal Toundra

James Franklin Jr. has also moved into the professional basketball ranks after being selected by the Montreal Toundra in the Basketball Super League draft. The 6-foot-5 wing from Smyrna, Tennessee brings size, athleticism, and versatility to the professional level after previous stops at KCC and Glenville State. Franklin has been listed as a forward/wing prospect at 6-foot-5, with experience at the NCAA Division II level before beginning his professional career.

Franklin’s selection by Montreal is another major step for a former Cavalier, showing the value of continuing to develop, compete, and stay ready for opportunities after KCC. RealGM has tracked Franklin in professional box scores during the 2025-26 Basketball Super League season, giving him early professional experience as he continues building his career.

Peyton Niksch — Milwaukee Brewers Organization

Peyton Niksch has wasted little time making an impact in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. After signing with Milwaukee as a free agent in July 2025, Niksch was assigned to the Brewers’ system and began his professional career in affiliated baseball. Niksch is currently with the Wilson Warbirds, Milwaukee’s Single-A affiliate.

Niksch’s early professional numbers have been impressive. Currently, Peyton has a 3-1 record with a 2.57 ERA, 21 innings pitched, 21 strikeouts, and two saves. That production follows one of the best seasons in KCC baseball history, where Niksch earned NJCAA First Team All-American honors before signing professionally. His transition from KCC ace to professional reliever has been exactly what the Cavaliers hoped to see.

Dylan Dodd — Atlanta Braves

Dylan Dodd continues to represent KCC at the highest level of baseball with the Atlanta Braves. The left-handed pitcher, originally drafted by Atlanta in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Southeast Missouri State, made his Major League debut on April 4, 2023, after beginning his college career at Kankakee Community College.

Dodd has continued to carve out a role with the Braves and has opened the 2026 season strong. Dodd currently has four appearances, a 1.13 ERA, eight innings pitched, nine strikeouts, one save, and a 0.75 WHIP for Atlanta this season. His professional career now includes 40 Major League appearances, and he remains an example of what is possible for KCC players who continue to develop and perform at every level. For the Cavaliers, having a former player competing in the Major Leagues is a major point of pride and a powerful reminder of the program’s reach.

Cavaliers at the Next Level

Woods, Franklin, Niksch, and Dodd represent different paths, but the common thread is the same: each used KCC as part of a larger journey toward professional athletics. Their success reflects the standard of development within Cavalier athletics and gives current KCC student-athletes a clear picture of what can happen when talent, work ethic, and opportunity come together.