Before entering the Love Island villa, Jose “Pepe” Garcia played basketball for multiple international teams.
Pepe joined Love Island USA season 7 on day nine and came in as a personal trainer. He didn’t reveal his former career until later in the season.
“I just retired. I played six years of pro basketball,” Pepe said during a June episode. “Just retired from that. Opened up a gym and an after-school program.”
Before his time in the pros, Pepe was on the basketball team at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, California, where he averaged 18.8 points per game. After graduating from high school, Pepe attended California State University, Fullerton and played basketball there.
The Love Island USA season 7 Islanders haven’t been shy about getting intimate in their shared bedroom. “We had a code name for intimacy,” star Hannah Fields told Us Weekly in an exclusive interview. “We would say, ‘How was your journey? What was this journey like?’ Huda [started it when she] said something like, ‘Oh, […]
Upon his graduation, Pepe reportedly declared for the 2021 NBA draft, but went unselected. While he didn’t get chosen by an NBA team, Pepe opted to play basketball internationally. He had multiple stints in Mexico and Spain.
After retiring from the sport in 2023, Pepe decided to change careers and become a fitness coach. That same year, he opened his gym, Pro Gainz Training. The business is still operating.
Keep scrolling for a full breakdown of Pepe’s basketball career:
California State University, Fullerton
Pepe was a guard for the Titans from 2017 to 2019. Across his two seasons, he played for a total of nine minutes and earned an average of 3.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and a field goal percentage of 33.3.
Fuerza Regia de Monterrey
After going unselected in the 2021 NBA draft, Pepe joined Mexico’s professional basketball league (Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional) for Fuerza Regia in Monterrey for the 2021-2022 season. According to Proballers, Pepe averaged 5.6 points and one assist. During Pepe’s time with Fuerza Regia, they made a playoff appearance.
Toros de Nuevo Laredo
Pepe joined the Toros de Nuevo Laredo in Torreon, Mexico, in January 2022.
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“Mexico Part II,” he captioned an Instagram post announcing his new team.
CD Enrique Soler Melilla
Following his time in Mexico, Pepe joined a level three team in Melilla, Spain, named CD Enrique Soler Melilla. The athlete was on Melilla during the 2022-2023 season, where he appeared in 11 games. He averaged five points, 33 percent shooting, one rebound, one assist and one turnover. Pepe retired from the team in 2023.
“Had a great time in Melilla …” he wrote via Instagram in April 2023. “Glad to have met the guys on this team and everyone involved in the organization.”