Utah State Professional Athletes

Neemias Queta is making the most of his minutes in Boston — and Friday night against the Knicks, he made sure everyone noticed.

The Utah State product delivered a 15-point, 6-rebound, 3-block performance in the Celtics' 107-103 win over New York on October 23, carving out a starring role in one of the week's highest-profile rivalry matchups. The outing was a statement in more ways than one: Queta's big corner three-pointer — which Queta himself described as the product of a long journey to this moment — emerged as the play of the night, celebrated by CelticsBlog as a signature moment in Boston's early-season identity.

The context only sharpened the drama. The game doubled as a "revenge game" for Mitchell Robinson, who landed in Boston after the Knicks declined to pay him through the second apron in the offseason. With Robinson's minutes being carefully managed, Queta stepped into an expanded role alongside Luka Garza — and delivered. His three blocks anchored a Celtics defensive effort that held off a Knicks team that came in hungry. The 15 points marked a significant high-water mark for a center not typically known for his scoring volume.

Earlier in the week, Queta was solid if quieter in a 113-121 loss to Detroit on October 20 — 3 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 22 minutes, with a +7 plus-minus that suggested the Celtics played better with him on the floor despite the final score.

Merrill Stays Steady in Cleveland

While Queta grabbed the spotlight, Sam Merrill continued to carve out a reliable reserve role for the Cavaliers. The former Aggie logged 24 minutes in a 106-114 loss to Philadelphia on October 22, finishing with 5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal — and posting a +5 plus-minus that outpaced his team's overall result.

Two days later, Merrill was sharper in Cleveland's 125-121 win over Brooklyn on October 24: 7 points, 3 assists, and a +7 plus-minus in 21 minutes off the bench. Nothing flashy, but the kind of steady, winning-side production that keeps a rotation guard employed on a championship-caliber roster.

Taylor Funk, the third Aggie on an NBA roster, did not appear in the game log during this period for the Jazz.

The Bigger Picture

For Utah State alumni watchers, this was Queta's week — and it was a big one. Two years removed from going undrafted, the Portuguese center has built himself into a genuine rotation piece for the defending champions. The corner three against the Knicks, according to Queta, was years in the making. Based on Friday night, it was worth the wait.

Utah State has quietly become a pipeline to Boston's frontcourt — and heading into the 2026-27 NBA season, both Neemias Queta and Luka Garza are making the case that Logan, Utah is producing some of the best big-man depth in the league.

Queta Makes His Claim

Queta, the Celtics' starting center, used the final day of Boston's preseason camp at The Citadel to put the rest of the league on notice. The former Aggie made a bold public claim about the quality of Boston's frontcourt rotation — a unit that, by his telling, is no longer a question mark but a genuine strength. It's a notable shift in narrative: entering last season, Queta was largely unproven as a starter, and the Celtics' center depth drew real skepticism around the league. According to Heavy Sports, that rotation proved its worth as the year went on, and Queta is clearly not shy about saying so heading into year two.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla, meanwhile, was in a different mood at the same practice session — telling his rookies to be seen and not heard, per Sports Illustrated. Queta, no longer a rookie in standing, apparently got the memo that veterans talk.

Garza Steps Up While Queta Sits Out

The preseason opener against the Cavaliers painted an interesting picture. Queta was among eight Celtics players held out of the game — alongside Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Paul George, and others — leaving Garza to carry the frontcourt load in Cleveland.

He delivered. Yahoo Sports noted that Garza "got right to work" while Queta and Mitchell Robinson sat, serving as a reminder to the organization not to overlook the former Iowa standout. Garza's path to Boston ran through Minnesota, where he had struggled to carve out minutes with the Timberwolves before catching on with Joe Mazzulla's system. Early preseason returns suggest the change of scenery has done him good.

The dynamic between the two is worth watching all season: Queta is the established starter flying the flag publicly, while Garza is making his case quietly on the court whenever the opportunity arises. For a Celtics team with championship expectations, having two trustworthy big men — both products of Utah State's program — is either a great insurance policy or a looming roster decision waiting to happen.

The Bigger Picture for Aggie Fans

Neither Taylor Funk (Jazz) nor Sam Merrill (Cavaliers) had notable activity during this stretch, which means the Utah State spotlight belongs entirely to Boston this week. That the Celtics are fielding two former Aggies in a frontcourt rotation they're openly bragging about is something the folks in Logan should feel good about.

The 2026-27 season tips off with Queta talking and Garza producing. For Utah State alumni tracking the NBA, there are worse problems to have.