Bootsy Thornton returns to Siena

Mens Sana Basket informs you that the club has signed Bootsy Thornton through the end of the season.


Born in Baltimore on July 30, 1977, the player spent the last three seasons in Turkey with Efes Pilsen, to whom he was linked by a very generous contract. The player satisfactorily dissolved the agreement with the Turkish club, thus creating the circumstances where he could reach an agreement with Mens Sana Basket.

Bootsy’s first words were, “I’m very linked to the club and the city. My hope has always been to return to Siena.” 

Bootsy Thornton began playing basketball at Dunbar High School in Florida before proceeding to Tallahassee Junior College at age 19. He’s chosen by the prestigious St. John’s University in 1998, winning the 1999/2000 Big East Conference title and earning the title of tournament MVP. After being chosen by some minor U.S. leagues (Cba, Usbl, Ibl) in the 2000 Draft, Bootsy Thornton chooses Europe and goes to Pallacanestro Cantù in January 2001.  He spends two and half very impressive seasons in Brianza, which earn him his first call from Montepaschi Siena in 2003. The Bootsy-Mens Sana Basket match-up is immediately a success. Thanks also to his performance, they win an Italian title (2003/2004) a SuperCup (2004/2005), and qualify for a Euroleague F4 (2004) all in a two-year period. Thornton becomes a hot commodity on the international market, and switches from Siena to Fc Barcelona. After getting off to a great start, the second half of the season is conditioned by some physical problems that prohibit him from performing to the best of his ability, but don’t stop him from playing a starring role in the 2006 Euroleague F4. This gained credibility allows Bootsy to immediately find a new home in Spain for 2006/2007 at the ambitious Akasvayu Girona lead by coach Svetislav Pesic. As “specialist” (approx. 15’ court time per game), Thornton competes in the Liga ACB arriving at the quarterfinals (year average of 5.2ppg and 1.6rpg) and wins the 2007 Fiba Eurocup, closing with an average of 7.2ppg and 3.2rpg. The following season he returns to wear Montepaschi’s jersey, with whom he wins the Supercoppa and Italian National Title, and makes the Final Four in Barcelona. His performances in Europe earn him a spot on the All Euroleague Second team. The 2008/2009 season, he heads to Turkey to play for Efes Pilsen Istanbul, where he spends three seasons and wins the championship, the Turkish National Cup and the Turkish President Cup.








source : menssanabasket.it


Click here to return to the homepage.

Olympiacos to sign George Hill?

They couldn't wait for Calderon apparently.



The rumor has spread like wildfire the last few hours in Greece and it has even made its way to the other side of the Atlantic. George Hill (1.88-PG/SG) will be signing a contract with Olympiacos with a clause to leave the Greek team if the lock-out ends.

The rumor has been replicated by many Greek sites. I will not quote all of them here or who was the first one to write about it but I will quote sday.gr that says that Jose Calderon was the first player on the list but he asked for a few more days to answer. He could have been possibly waiting for offers from Spain. As Calderon didn't answer the effort was focused on Hill who could be making his Euroleague debut next week against Fenerbahce.

Hill was playing for the San Antonio Spurs last season averaging 11.7 points 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 55 games. He will be playing for Indiana once the lock-out ends.. if it ends.


Click here to return to the homepage.

Melvin Goins to play in Greece

Goins will play for KAO Dramas.


Melvin Goins(1.80-PG) will be the latest addition of A1 hopefuls KAO Dramas according to sport24.gr. The point guard of the Tennessee Volunteers will play in the same league as former teammate Scotty Hopson(2.01-SF) that plays for Kolossos Rhodes. KAO Dramas is one of the teams with the smallest budget in the league and their main goal at this stage to secure their place in next season's A1.

Goins will be in Greece tomorrow evening in order to become part of the team as soon as possible so that he gets a chance to play in this weekend's game against Aris BC. Goins will be helping veteran Sakis Karidas(1.85-PG) in the point guard position. He also confirmed himself via Twitter that he will be playing in Greece. Goins finished the season for Tennessee averaging 8.1 points 2.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 33 games.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Eric Boateng to join Peristeri in Greece

Great Britain big man Eric Boateng has signed with Greek side Peristeri B.C for the coming season.


The 6’11″, 260lb center spent last season in the NBA’s Development League, split between two teams, the Idaho Stampede and Austin Toros. He averaged 4.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 0.9 bpg in just 16 minutes per outing, with his best two outings coming in back to back performances for Idaho against Bakersfield in December where he had a 19 point-11 rebound and 16 point-13 rebound double double respectively. The Londoner also made 5 NBA appearances with Denver Nuggets in the pre-season.

Peristeri compete in Greek’s top A1 league, where they went 12-14 last season finishing in the middle of the table (7th out of 14). They are 2-0 for the 2011/12 season so far.

Boateng averaged 1.5 points and 2 rebounds per game this summer for GB at Eurobasket in Lithuania.

source : hoopfix.com


Click here to return to the homepage.

Dimitris Tsaldaris returns to Aris?

The saga might come to an end today or tomorrow.


Dimitris Tsaldaris(1.96-SG/SF) will be a much welcomed addition to the ailing roster of Aris BC giving them much needed experience and basketball IQ. Aris BC went to other extreme this season and instead of investing on players who are drained physically and emotionally, they decided to invest on college graduates with no experience of European basketball whatsoever. Although their talent cannot be denied they lack in other parts of the game that seasoned veterans do not.

Tsaldaris has played for Aris in the past for 3 seasons (2006-2009) and last season he played in Lega A1 for Dinamo Sassari. This time he wants to play in Greece and he is also going for a closed 2 season contract.

The president of Aris leaked through a close friend of his, that writes for pressaris.gr, that the deal will be sealed in Athens today when he will meet Tsaldaris' agent and possibly the player himself. This is done in order for Tsaldaris' salary to be guaranteed possibly through some of the money of the TV rights or the league sponsorship deal. Panionios was rumored earlier today to try and cut through the deal (to sign the player for themselves) although this could be a "strategy move" and nothing else..



Click here to return to the homepage.

Dominic James to play for Aris in Greece

Dominic James has played in some hostile environments before, but nothing like what he encountered when he competed against Aris Basketball Club in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Now, the Richmond High School graduate will see the flip side of that coin. James said Thursday that he has given a verbal agreement to play for Aris.

"They go nuts, the crowd. It was great," said James, who turned 25 this week. "That team is one of the most reputable organizations in Europe and especially in Greece. It's an honor just to get an offer from that team."

It's the third overseas club for James since he graduated from Marquette University in 2009. He also played for teams in Turkey and Bulgaria.

Aris plays in the HEBA A1 League, also known as the Greek Basketball League, and competes in the Eurocup.

James will be leaving soon to join his new team.

"It's been an emotional rollercoaster for me," James said. "The hardest part is leaving. Once I get over there, everything settles down and it becomes easy. The hardest part is leaving my family behind and going over there by myself.

"It's great being over there, doing something I love to do, being paid for it and seeing the world at the same time."

James spent his 2009-10 season in Mersin, Turkey, before joining Lukoil Academic of Bulgaria's National Basketball League.

James is Richmond's second all-time leading scorer with 1,652 points. He scored 1,749 more playing at Marquette, where he graduated with a degree in public relations and was the Big East's Rookie of the Year for the 2005-06 season.

Playing overseas is all about making adjustments.

"Regardless of what kind of situation you're in, it's going to be new to you," James said. "There is an adjustment period you have to go through.

"It's just taking time to learn more and more about the game. There is a certain work ethic. This is my job and this is my livelihood. The hours I spend working out, the hours I spend studying the game, you've got to take it very seriously. It's just helped me grow all around, not only as a player, but as a person."

Lukoil won its league championship, and James was among his team's leaders in points, assists and steals before an injury derailed his season in late April.

He was driving baseline during a practice and jumped into the air. When he came down, it was right on the foot of a teammate.

"My teammate was 7-4, so he's got some big feet," James said. "I came down on his foot and ended up breaking (mine)."

James broke his right foot. He said it was the exact same injury as when he broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot late in the year during his senior season with Marquette.

"I broke my left one in college and my right one this time around," he said.

" ... It was a great season (in Bulgaria), very successful. I bounced back and I'm ready to go back again."

He's also ready to renew an area rivalry.

Aris plays Olympiacos on Oct. 12 in the Greek Cup quarterfinals. Olympiacos features Connersville graduate and Butler star Matt Howard.

James graduated from RHS in 2005, Howard from Connersville in 2007.

"It's going to be great. I'm very excited to play against him," James said. "He's a good guy, a high character guy. He's a competitor."

So is James, who continues to pursue his dream of one day playing in the NBA.

James had a spot on the Milwaukee Bucks Summer League roster in both 2009 and 2010.

The NBA is currently in the midst of a lockout. The league's preseason was canceled earlier this week.

"My goal remains the same," James said. "The goal is always to make it in the league. I'm still young. I'm still a young player. I'm still trying to grow.

"I'm just trying to go out there and become better each year and let everything else take care of itself. ... I'm just looking forward to the season. I have a lot of support around here, a lot of people praying for me. It's appreciated."

source : pal-item.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Tony Parker will play for Villeurbanne

A long-heard rumor came true on Wednesday when Asvel announces the arrival of point guard Tony Parker, also its general director of basketball operations.


Parker (1.83 meters, 29 years old) arrives from San Antonio of the NBA, where he has played in each of the last 10 seasons. He led the Spurs to three NBA titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007, when he was chosen as the Finals MVP.

Last season, Parker averaged 17.5 points and 6.6 assists in 78 NBA games. He has accumulated 12,481 points and 4,285 assists in 746 regular season games, as well as 2,591 points and 682 assists in 138 playoffs showdowns. Parker started his career with INSEP and also played for Paris SG before joining San Antonio. He is also a regular member of the French national team, to which he led to the EuroBasket 2011 title game this summer. Parker was EuroBasket 2011's top scorer (22.1 ppg.) and was chosen to the All-Tournament team.

source : eurocupbasketball.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Kirilenko returns to Russia and CSKA

Forward Andrei Kirilenko (30 years, 206 cm) will wear CSKA uniform again after 10-year American stint.


The contract with the Russian National Team leader, 2011 Eurobasket All-Tournament team member is signed for three years with NBA return option. The player went through medical tests in GMS Clinic yesterday and plans to practice with the team for the first time today.

Kirilenko started his pro career in Spartak St. Petersburg in age 16 and took CSKA offer a year after. He spent two years in army team, he was chosen in the first round of NBA draft and signed his first contract with Utah Jazz in 2001. He played for 10 seasons, had legendary John Stockton and Karl Malone as his teammates, was an NBA All-Star, led the league in blocked shots and was chosen to NBA All-Defensive Teams. Kirilenko led Team Russia to 2007 Eurobasket gold, taking the MVP honors and FIBA Europe Player of the Year trophy.

He helped the team to win the Eurobasket bronze in 2011 taking the All-Tournament team honors. Kirilenko contract with Jazz has expired in July and the forward signed with CSKA as a free agent. Still the conditions of the agreement allow Andrei to terminate the contract in a month after the lockout ends to sign with the NBA team. Otherwise he had to remain with CSKA until the end of the season.


source : cskabasket.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Sundiata Gaines signed with BC Armia

Again better later than never. These days the Hoop is not on top form but within the next 2 weeks things will be back to normal.



Georgian Champ BC Armia agreed on terms with New Jersey Nets PG Sundiata Gaines (186-PG-86). Former University of Georgia PG will play in Georgia until the lockout is over.

Gaines was one of the best PG on the market this summer. He turned down several offers from Euroleague teams and finally agreed with BC Armia which has a very ambitious roster on EuroChallange: Sundiata Gaines (186-PG-86) from NJ Nets, Jeremy Richardson (201-SF-84) from Valencia, Will Thomas (203-PF-86) from Oostende and Joakim Kjellbom (213-C-79) from Norrkoping.


Click here to return to the homepage.

Eurobasket 2011 special by greekbasketball.gr

Better late than never.

This is a collaborated effort by all the bloggers at Greekbasketball.gr but mostly Greek Hoopz and Greekbball about this year's Eurobasket 2011 contest. Most of it is in Greek so if you're not familiar with the language I do apologise. The comment about the Great Britain National Team by yours truly can be found in page 32. Enjoy!




The full document can be downloaded here.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Will Thomas to play for BC Armia

Another experienced player for the Army club.


Army Sport Klub Tbilisi added another experienced forward to their team and this time it's Will Thomas(2.03-PF) previously of Oostende in Belgium. Thomas has been playing for the last 3 seasons in Belgium after he graduated from George Mason University in 2008.

His Eurochallenge experience will be valuable to Armia as he averaged 12.1 points and 6.6 rebounds in 17 games for Oostende. He also averaged 11 points and 5.5 rebounds in the Belgian League.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Jeremy Richardson and the rumors of the day

These just came in!


Jeremy Richardson(previously of Valencia) signed for Georgian Champion BC Armia which will compete on EuroChallange in Group B. They signed earlier All-EuroChallange Honorable Mention C Joakim Kjellbom.

They are also very close to 2010 MVP of Belgian League Will Thomas (Oostende) at the PF and Sundiata Gaines at the PG (New Jersey Nets) with an NBA option until lockout is over.


Click here to return to the homepage.

Mantzaris to Bilbao and then on loan to Aris

He needs playing time.


These days there isn't much time for any articles so I'll be as brief as I can but I'll also try to explain things in detail at the same time. There were previous reports that Vangelis Mantzaris(1.95-PG) had attracted interest from many teams and one of them was Bilbao. It seems now that he will be signing a multi-season deal with Bilbao that could possibly be announced this Monday according to basketblog.gr

Mantzaris' intention is to get some more playing time but he has the luxury of picking a team that can play in the Eurocup as well these days and his choice is most probably Aris (unless something really unexpected happens). Mantzaris spoke to Kostas Sloukas(1.98-PG/SG) who also played for Aris on-loan last season and the head coach of Aris told him that he will be enjoying a starting-five position should he choose to play for them. Mantzaris was recently the final cut from the final squad of the Greek National Team which is a testament to his skill level at the young age of 21.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Adrian Oliver to play for Aris?

Fresh from his Twitter account.


Adrian Oliver(1.93-SG) said in his Twitter account just 4 hours ago:
Signed a contract to play this lockout season in Greece. Thank you all for the good wishes. Leave in about a week so gettin everything...

In a previous article it was indicated that Oliver could be playing for Aris BC in Thessaloniki Greece and that makes him Aris' 4th college boy to be added in the roster if it's actually them he signed with. This is a radical turn for Aris signing already 4 college boys and possibly a 5th one in the next few days or even hours. The roster needs to be completed by the end of this month so the preparation stage can begin. Oliver's name comes up today again in today's edition of Athlitika Nea.

Perhaps there will be an announcement earlier today.Many thanks to the mysterious Mr. Pek for the heads up this morning.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Casspi could play with Parker in France

The San Antonio Spurs would undoubtedly prefer to see them playing together in South Texas, but the prospect of Tony Parker and longtime Spurs favorite Omri Casspi teaming up in France is very much alive.


Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com on Monday that Casspi is giving strong consideration to signing with ASVEL in France's top division.

That's the same ASVEL club which claims Parker as a co-owner and as its vice president of basketball operations.

It initially appeared that Casspi -- after being dealt from Sacramento to Cleveland on June 30 in the final trade consummated in the NBA before the start of the July 1 lockout -- was a lock to play for perennial Euroleague power Maccabi Tel-Aviv in his native Israel in the event of the lockout bleeding into November or December.

But David Pick of Eurobasket.com reported earlier Monday that Casspi and Maccabi officials, after a sitdown, have mutually agreed that they would not be able to reach contract terms that both sides can stomach.

France isn't the only destination that Casspi -- coveted by the Spurs since he was drafted No. 23 overall by the Kings in 2009 -- is considering as a lockout alternative. Various reports in the Israeli media say he's drawn interest from clubs in Russia and Spain.

But ASVEL, situatated in the Lyon suburb of Villeurbanne, does have one clear advantage: Casspi and Parker share the same agent. They're both represented by CAA's Steven Heumann.

Last week in London on duty with the French national team, Parker told ESPN.com contributor Ian Whittell that he will play in his native France if he plays anywhere other than the NBA this season as opposed to seizing upon the interest Parker has generated from teams in China.

"My agent talked about China a little bit," Parker told Whittell. "... I'm not going to take any decision until the end of September, after the European Championships. I want to see if I'm healthy, if I'm hurt and by then we will also know a lot more what is happening with the situation of the lockout. 


"If I play [abroad], I will definitely play in France, for my fans, for my team ASVEL." 

As for the prospect of Casspi ultimately winding up alongside Parker in the French League, one source close to the situation said it really "might happen."

Casspi is currently nursing a injured left knee that threatens to knock him out of the European Championships (EuroBasket) later this month in Lithuania. Israel's only NBA player told reporters over the weekend that "right now my leg is in a bad state."

source : espn.com


Click here to return to the homepage.

Prokom announced Alonzo Gee

An NBAer for Prokom.


Asseco Prokom Gdynia informs that the agreement with former Clevland Cavaliers player, Alonzo Gee has been reached. Born in 1987 in Florida, American is 198cm high and graduated from Alabama university. He can play as guard or forward. In his season with Clevland Cavaliers he averaged: 7.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 0.8 apg.

source : asseco.prokom.pl

Click here to return to the homepage.

Adrian Oliver considers offer from Greece

He's got another offer from Spain.


Adrian Oliver(1.93-SG) had a great final season with San Jose State and now he is weighing his options about the next step in his career. He's been constantly asking on Twitter whether he should go to play in Greece. He did mention he had another offer from Spain but the money was better in Greece, however odd this may sound.

Today Adrian Oliver's name came up in Athlitika Nea, a newspaper affiliated to Aris BC where it highlights Oliver as potential candidate for Aris. Could that be a coincidence or could there be more teams involved. Oliver displayed his wide array of scoring methods this past season averaging 24.3 points 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in a total of 31 games.


Click here to return to the homepage.

Brady Morningstar agreed terms with AGOR

Former Kansas University basketball guard Brady Morningstar will begin his professional career on the Greek Island of Crete, fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.


The 6-foot-4 Lawrence native announced Sunday that he’d reached agreement on a one-year contract with A.G.O. Rethymno, which plays in Greece’s top league. Terms were not disclosed. Morningstar’s new team reached the finals of the Greek Cup in 2006-07.

“I’m excited to start a new chapter of basketball in my life,” the former Free State High standout said. “In terms of standard of living, I think it’s a great place to play. Until I go over there, I won’t know exactly what the competition is like. Right now, I’m excited for a new journey.”

Morningstar, 25, averaged 7.1 points, 3.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds a game last season for KU (35-3).

Will he miss KU and the fans?

“Always, always,” he said. “There’s so much love and so much support.”

source : ljworld.com


Click here to return to the homepage.

Sergio Kerusch for 3 seasons in Aris

The 3rd college boy of Aris.



Sergio Kerusch is the latest transfer of ARIS BC, he has signed a three-year contract and will hold a European spot in the team as his father is German. Kerusch is 1,95m tall and he plays forward but he can also be helpful as shooting guard. His passion and insistence are his great characteristics that allow him to score and gain many offensive and defensive rebounds.

Who is who:
Sergio Kerusch was born on June 1st 1989 in Memphis, Tennessee. He studied in Western Kentucky University with which he played in NCAA.

2008-09: Western Kentucky University (NCAA): 34 games, 24,7min, 11,2 ppg (44,6% fgp, 25,0% 3pt, 63,7% ft) and 7,4 rpg.
2009-10: Western Kentucky University (NCAA): 20 games, 28,9 min, 14,3 ppg (45,3% fgp, 35,5% 3pt, 61,7% ft) and 7,2 rpg.
2010-11: Western Kentucky University (NCAA): 32 games, 31,0 min, 15,6 ppg (48,5% fgp, 30,7% 3pt, 64,4% ft) and 7,9 rpg.


source : arisbc.gr

Click here to return to the homepage.

Maroussi made offer to Scotty Hopson?

With what money?


According to basketblog.gr, Maroussi seem to have made an offer to Scotty Hopson(2.01-SF). This is all well and good but in Maroussi they have no money, no administration, no head coach (not even an assistant coach anymore) and lots of debts.. The former president and major shareholder of the team has stepped back and left em to their own devices still repaying debts of the last 3 years. It will be difficult for Maroussi as their fans are numbered in the hundreds and that's a very optimistic estimation.

Perhaps this will be a good chance for Scotty Hopson to get some good stats in a pro league like the A1 if he is willing to play for free for one season or if he is a patient man. He forfeited his last season in college to enter the draft by hiring an agent. Hopson was one of the few players that missed out this summer in the 2011 Draft when his name wasn't called, to the dismay and surprise of many people.In his junior and last season he averaged 17 points 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in a total of 32 games.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Rumors about Aris and Corey Stokes

One of the best shooters of the NCAA to land in Greece?


According to Aris-affiliated newspaper Athlitika Nea, the latest target of the Greek team is college sharp-shooter Corey Stokes(1.95-SG). It says that Aris and Stokes are in advanced talks and if there is a deal it might even be finalised today. If Stokes signs he will be the 3rd college signing for Aris after Dan Mavraides(1.93-PG/SG) and Sam Muldrow(2.06-PF).

Stokes was one of the top scorers of Villanova for the past 4 seasons and he is mostly known for his shooting ability behind the arc. This past season he shot 89 out of 206 three pointers(43.2%) ranking him 15th in the nation. Stokes' great season with Villanova was marred by an incident that resulted into a bar brawl and that ended up with Stokes being arrested. During the past season he averaged 14.9 points 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in a total of 29 games for the Villanova Wildcats.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Goudelock is considering 2 offers from Europe

The long range bomber is coming to Europe.


Lakers draftee Andrew Goudelock could be the next 2011 second-round pick to sign overseas. Agent Austin Walton told HoopsHype his client is looking at two offers from Germany and Spain - both with NBA outs.

“One is a Eurocup team in Germany and the other an ACB club,” Walton said. “We are seriously considering both offers. We are working the final stages of negotiation with both clubs.”

For the record, the three German teams competing in Eurocup next year are Bayern Munich, Alba Berlin and Skyliners Frankfurt.

source : blogs.hoopshype.com


Click here to return to the homepage.

Tyrel Reed signed with Pepinster

Burlington native/Kansas University graduate Tyrel Reed will begin his professional basketball career far from home.


The 6-foot-3 combo guard on Wednesday agreed to a one-year contract with VOO Verviers-Pepinster, a member of the Ethias League in Verviers, Belgium. Terms were not disclosed.

“I’m just excited to begin this adventure,” said Reed, who along with wife Jessica, heads overseas this weekend for training camp and the start of a season that runs through May, 2012.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Reed added. “It’s not like I’m making NBA money. I don’t really know all the particulars (of salary). Regardless of money, I’m excited to know I will be able to play professional basketball. There are a lot of nerves right now. I guess you could say I’m a rookie not knowing what to expect over there — different language, different country, driving a stick shift. Little things you kind of worry about. You know basketball is still going to be the same.”

Reed noted that former KU/Gonzaga guard Micah Downs started his pro career with VOO Verviers-Pepinster. Americans currently on the team include former South Carolina guard Devan Downey, Richmond center Dan Geriot and Vanderbilt guard Jermaine Beal.

“It is a stable country, stable team. It’s a really good league,” Reed said. “There’s a lot of great basketball in Belgium. A lot of good players have played there and moved on to other jobs in Europe. I’m ready to make the most of it.”

He expects to be used at both shooting guard and point guard.

“I don’t think I’m set at anything. It’s kind of how KU is,” Reed said. “A guard is a guard, the one and the two. That’s the mind-set I’m going to have.”

There is some positive karma as he and his wife begin this new adventure.

“My team has a blue bird (as mascot). I don’t know what kind of bird it is,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t think it’s a Jayhawk, but like my sister said, maybe I’m stuck on teams that have birds as their mascot, I don’t know.”

source : kusports.com



Click here to return to the homepage.

Keith Benson joins Dinamo Sassari

A "steal" for Sassari.



Banco di Sardegna Sassari announced the agreement with Keith Benson (210-C-88), a big man who impressed a lot during his college career, spent with Oakland.

Benson, who has been drafted by Atlanta Hawks (number 48 of second round) averaged 17.9 ppg and 10.1 rpd during his senior year (17.3 ppg and 10.5 rpg during the third college year). Benson is also an incredible shot blocker. His nickname is 'Kito'. This deal increases the ambition of Dinamo Sassari and is an interesting addition for Italian Serie A   


source : eurobasket.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Jamie Vanderbeken to play in Greece?

Only a rumor at this stage.


According to basketblog.gr, Jamie Vanderbeken(2.11-SF/PF) will be playing in Greece for Maroussi next season. The talented shooting forward has a UK passport and that is a valuable commodity in the European transfer market. Maroussi on the other hand are not what you'd call a model team. They are being plagued by many debts as many other Greek teams and a lack of people to manage the club, let alone players.

At the moment they don't even have a coach but the consensus is that Sotiris Manolopoulos, who was assistant last season will be the head coach this season. As for Jamie Vanderbeken, he comes from the Iowa State Cyclones where he was shooting behind the arc with 42.5% accuracy(65/153). He averaged 11.1 points 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in a total of 29 games.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Aris BC announced Dan Mavraides for 3 seasons

A quality investment for Aris BC.


Just when you thought that nothing was moving in Aris, Dan Mavraides(1.93-PG/SG) was announced via the team's official site and the deal is valid for 3 seasons. It is noted in the announcement that Mavraides returned his signed contract to the team's offices and the final clause for the contract to be valid is that he gets his Greek passport. It's also noted that this is more a typicality as Mavraides' father is Greek. This upcoming season he will be playing in the Greek A1 league and also the Eurocup.

In this way Mavraides will take up the position of a Greek player thus allowing the team to sign 3 more American players. Mavraides took advantage of his Greek heritage by signing a 3 season contract which means that they're expecting him to grow into the team and become a major contributor. The captain of the Princeton Tigers played a big role in transforming the team into a winner in the Ivy League reaching the March Madness and raising the hopes of their fans after 6 years. Princeton lost to semifinalist Kentucky in a heartbreaking game where Mavraides led his team to what would have been a major upset for the Wildcats and a triumpant victory for the outsiders. Mavraides averaged 12.7 points 4.6 rebounds 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game in a total of 32 games contributing in defense, playmaking and scoring for his team.

Here are the highlights from his senior season:

Click here to return to the homepage.

Maccabi to replace Jeremy Pargo

Pargo Says He’s Not Returning; Maccabi: “It’s a breach of contract.”


Jeremy Pargo has announced to the team’s management that he does not intend to report to training camp next month. The club’s response: “This is a breach of the duly signed contract between the player and the club. We take exception to his behavior.”

Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv’s player Jeremy Pargo has informed the team through his agent that he wishes to be released from the two-year contract with the club that he signed just last May; he intends to play instead in the NBA.

Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv has conveyed to the player that in light of the NBA lockout and fact that he does not and will not have a guaranteed contract with any NBA team for the coming season, the announcement by his agent is a violation of the contract between Pargo and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv.

In spite of that, Pargo has expressed his intention of remaining in the U.S. and awaiting an end to the strike.

Maccabi’s management has conveyed to Pargo and his agent that it takes exception to his behavior and views the player as responsible for any damage caused to Maccabi by his breach of contract. Maccabi intends to take all appropriate action to protect its rights in the matter.

Following the player’s announcement and in reliance thereon, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv will use any means necessary to strengthen its roster for the coming season.

source : maccabi.co.il


Click here to return to the homepage.

Theo Papaloukas Signs with Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv

That was a bit unexpected.


Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv is proud to announce that it has signed Greek superstar Theodoros Papaloukas (2.00, 34) for one season. Papaloukas led CSKA Moscow to two European Championships and the Greek National Team to second place in the world.


Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv is proud to announce that it has signed Greek superstar Theodoros Papaloukas (2.00, 34) for one season. The guard joins the ranks of summer 2011 signees Shawn James, Devin Smith, Jon Scheyer, Yogev Ohayon, and Jordan Farmar.

Papaloukas is considered one of the best European players of all time. He runs a tight game and is a true leader at the point guard position – where at 2.00 (6’ 7”) he comes in at the tall end of the range – a cool-headed winner with the kind of on-court vision coaches dream of.

In 2008 Papaloukas was chosen one of the 35 All-Time Greatest Players of the Euroleague, and in 2010 he joined the ranks of the Euroleague 2001 – 2010 All-Decade Team (along with former Maccabi players Nikola Vujčić, Anthony Parker and Šarūnas Jasikevičius, among others). So far, he has played in the Euroleague for 10 seasons – 215 games – and tops the Euroleague list of all-time assists with 907 as well as all-time number of steals with 315.

In all of his years playing, Papaloukas has come off the bench; he loves to come into the game and be a force for change, especially when it comes to making critical decisions at the moment of truth. He has won the Euroleague title twice while playing for CSKA Moscow (defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv both times, in 2006 and 2008). He has played in the Euroleague Final Four a record 8 consecutive years (6 with CSKA, 2 with Olympiacos).

source : maccabi.co.il




Click here to return to the homepage.

Olimpija announced Danny Green

With an NBA-out clause.


BC Union Olimpija Ljubljana signed one-year contract with NBA-out option with former Tar Heel Danny Green. He will join Deon Thompson, his former teammate from University of North Carolina.

Green was drafted by the NBA in 2009 and played for Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs in the last two seasons. In the last season he was also part of D-League team Reno Bighorns where he averaged 20.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.


source : union.olimpija.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Casey Mitchell and Akis Kallinikidis announced by AGOR

Double whammy by the Cretan team that returns to the big league.


AGOR announced via their official website the signing of Greek veteran Akis Kallinikidis(1.97-SG/SF) and graduate scorer Casey Mitchell(1.93-SG). The deal is for one season for each player and these are the first transfers for AGOR that add experience and scoring prowess in their ranks.

Kallinikidis has played for quite a few teams in Greece and Mitchell comes from West Virginia University in the NCAA although he started at Chipola College of the NJCAA and he played for them for the first 2 seasons. His talents didn't go unnoticed by West Viriginia that brought him to the team in 2009. He averaged 13.1 points 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 30 games with West Virginia. His arguments with coach Bob Huggins cost 3 games sidelined and then he saw his playing time reduced significantly which was a serious blow to his stats. Mitchell is a valid candidate for the top scoring position of the Greek A1 league next season.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Ravern Johnson to sign with Ikaros

Another sharp-shooter in the Greek league.


According to onsports.gr, Ravern Johnson(2.01-SF) will be the next transfer of the Greek team that are playing in the big league for 2nd season in a row. According to the article Ikaros sent the contract back to Johnson to have it signed but he hasn't returned it yet. However his agent told the team that he will have signed the contract by tomorrow.

Johnson was one of the best shooters of the NCAA last season averaging 40.3% behind the arc with 83 out of 206 shots made. He graduated from Mississipi State University this summer averaging 17.6 points and 3.6 rebounds for the Bulldogs in 28 games.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Jon Dielber signed with Panionios in Greece

Jon Diebler said this morning he has signed a one-year contract to play for Panionios in the Greek A1 League this season.


The contract does not have an opt-out clause if the NBA lockout ends and the league goes back to work, he said. Diebler was a second-round selection by the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA draft in June.

"I'm there for the year," Diebler said.

"With the lockout, it put a twist on things. I'm definitely a guy who would benefit from a full (training) camp instead of a shortened one."

Diebler said he and his agent and the Blazers discussed him playing overseas during the week between the draft and the start of the lockout. "Portland's been great. They want what's best for me."

Diebler's agent, Lance Young, said Diebler's contract is for more than $100,000 and includes "up-front money." 

"Doing stuff to protect him was our main objective," Young said, "making sure when he gets there, he gets a little chunk of change once he passes his physical." While not revealing Diebler's salary, Young said it is worth "well over the $100,000 mark.

"That was kind of our objective. Most guys in their first year in Europe make $100,000 to $120,000. We wanted to make sure we could get more than that." 

Diebler said he and his wife, Caitlin, leave later this month for Athens, where Panionios is based. He is scheduled to report to training camp August 28. His former Ohio State teammate, Zisis Sarikopoulos, was a reserve for Panionios last season, but Diebler is not certain whether he will re-sign with the team.

"I wanted to play in a really good league," Diebler said. "I was not so worried about how big my contract is. I was more worried about, for a year, going to play in a really good league with good teams and play really good competition and get better.

"I also wanted to go somewhere nice and has things to do. I wanted to have a nice situation for my wife. There’s a lot of nice places around the world, but I didn’t want to go somewhere where I'd have to worry about her when I’m on the road."

Young said another objective was to find Diebler a team that will feature him.

"There were a lot of teams interested," he said. "We were trying to find right fit for him where he was playing at a high level and for a team that was looking at him as a focal point and not as a role player.

"He's been a role player at Ohio State, and he accepted that role. Now I think he wants to take a little more of an assertive role as a two-guard and prove to the Blazers that he’s going to be ready when he goes to their camp next year to be a long-time NBA player."

source : buckeyeextra.com


Click here to return to the homepage.

Skyliners announced Jon Leuer

A drafted prospect for Frankfurt.


It had been exactly 5 weeks since The Fraport Skyliners had acquired their last new player for the upcoming season with Joe Herber and the waiting for a new player seemed like an eternity, but the club announced today that Jon Leuer (208-F-89, agency: Priority Sports) will play for the team this season. Leuer is a 22 year old 208cm power forward from Long Lake Minessota. He is a solid power forward who is not so quick, but has great team mentality and defensive smartness. Knows how to score (and to gain fouls) in the low post, has a good outside shooting too.

He played high school basketball with Utah State player, Brad Brown (198-F) He was drafted recently by the by Milwaukee Bucks (NBA,2rd (40) and played at Wisconsin from 2007-2011 and in his senior year played 34 games: 18.3ppg, 7.2rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 47.0%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 84.3%. 'Joe was one of the top talents in the NCAA and is a big player that can shoot and play the post. He runs the fast break very well for his size and is smart with a high basketball IQ', stated Skyliner headcoach Muli Katzurin (agency: Avi Zilberman ). Awards/Achievements in his basketball career have been Big Ten Regular Season Champion -08, Big Ten Tournament Winner -08, NCAA Sweet 16 -08, 11, All-Big Ten Honorable Mention -10, and All-Big Ten 1st Team -11. 'Joe has a very good and consistent shot. He can move very well and can play position four and five', stated Skyliner sport director Kamil Novak

source : eurobasket.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Oldenburg announced Bobby Brown

Nice catch for Oldenburg


Oldenburg announced the signing of American combo-guard Bobby Brown(1.88-PG/SG) via their official website. Brown will be taking his unorthodox shooting style to Oldenburg where he will be playing for them until the end of next season. He comes out of a relatively good season in Europe that started in Poland with Prokom and then he moved to Aris BC in December. He has played in Germany before back in season 2007-2008 when he played for Alba Berlin.

He had workouts with the Raptors, Pacers and Lakers this summer but the NBA lockout forced him to secure a contract in Europe instead of waiting for the lockout to end. With Aris he averaged 11.4 points 2.4 rebounds and 3 assists in 30 games in the A1 league. In the Eurocup he averaged 14.2 points 2.6 rebounds and 3.3 assits in 9 games.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Von Wafer to play for Cremona

Von Wafer has agreed to a deal to play for Italian team Vanoli Cremona, according to his agent.


Wafer, an unrestricted free agent who spent the 2010-11 season with the Celtics, secured a coveted opt-out clause and will be able to return stateside should the lockout end during the international season.

Wafer averaged 3.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists over 9.5 minutes per game last season. He appeared in 58 games for Boston and seemed to be asserting himself before a late-season calf injury limited his playing time into the playoffs.

Last month, Wafer's agent, Terrance Doyle of the Veritas Venture Group, suggested his client would be interested in a return engagement with the Celtics.

"Von would love to be back [with Boston]," Doyle said of the 6-foot-5 swingman who has played for seven teams since being drafted by the Lakers in the second round (35th overall) of the 2005 draft. "He's never gotten that opportunity to go back with a team."

Wafer signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Celtics last August and fended off numerous charges at his roster spot and endured a locker room dust-up with teammate Delonte West to stick for the entire campaign. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge often voiced praise for Wafer and he would seemingly be a candidate to fill out the end of the Boston bench next season should the team need a depth swingman.

This will be Wafer's second voyage overseas. He chased an international payday following a breakout season with the Houston Rockets in 2009, but soon parted ways with Greek squad Olympiakos. After earning $915,852 on a minimum contract last season (and roughly $3 million in NBA contracts over six seasons), this overseas opportunity allows Wafer to earn some cash and keep sharp while waiting for the owners and players to work out a new collective bargaining agreement.

Venoli Cremona competes in Italy's Lega Serie A, the same highly regarded league that Celtics second-round draft pick E'Twaun Moore is set to join (Moore signed with Benetton Treviso last month).

source : espn.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Efes Anadolu announced Ersan Ilyasova

Anadolu Efes improved its frontcourt for the upcoming season by inking power forward Ersan Ilyasova to a one-year deal on Wednesday.


Ilyasova (2.07 meters, 27 years old) arrives from Milwaukee of the NBA, where he averaged 9.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in 59 NBA games last season. In his last Euroleague appearance in the 2008-09 season, Ilyasova averaged 10.5 points and 7 rebounds in 22 games with Regal FC Barcelona, helping the team to reach the Final Four and win the Spanish League title. He has also played for Tulsa in the NBA Development league, as well as for Ulker and Yesilyurt Istanbul in Turkey. Ilyasova is also a regular member of the Turkish national team. He helped Turkey to make it to the 2010 FIBA World Championships title game last summer. Ilyasobva also won silver medals at the 2003 European U-16 Championship and the 2006 European U-20 Championship. He also led Turkey to win the 2004 Albert Schweitzer Tournament, earning MVP honors.

source : euroleague.net


Click here to return to the homepage.

Paok renewed with Dante Stiggers

A bargain for Paok.


Dante Stiggers(1.88-PG/SG) was the first player that was announced by Paok BC. The deal was announced via their official website and Stiggers renewed his contract for another season. Stiggers holds a Belarusian passport that allows him to play as an EU player instead of American.

He graduated from Southern Mississippi in 2005 and since then he's played in Belarus and Cyprus. This March he joined Paok where he averaged 7.8 points 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 16 games in the Greek A1 league. He is also a member of the National Team of Belarus.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Nicolas Batum will play for Nancy during the lockout

Batum returns to France!


Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum has reached an agreement to play with French basketball club SLUC Nancy if the NBA lockout extends into the regular season, according to Julien Deschuyteneer of BasketSession.com.

He will sign an official contract with the team after a physical evaluation is performed. The Portland Trail Blazers forward will begin the season in French Pro A and the Euroleague with Nancy if an NBA lockout continues into the NBA regular season.


We knew contact discussions between the two parties were progressing, but nothing was sure yet. Especially as other clubs have expressed interest, including ASVEL according to information published in L'Equipe just ten days ago. Supporters of SLUC Nancy can therefore rest assured of one thing, that Nicolas will play for Nancy.

On Friday FIBA announced it would allow NBA players under contract to play in its leagues during the lockout, as long as they return once it's over.

Batum is currently playing for the French national team as they compete in 2011 EuroBasket. He scored 15 points in an exhibition win over Canada Thursday.


source : oregonlive.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Jeff Adrien to play for Benetton Treviso

One of the most underrated big men lands in Italy.


According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports via a source, Jeff Adrien is set to sign a one-year deal with Benetton Treviso in Italy. Spears also added that the deal allows for an out whenever the lockout ends.

Adrien was cut by the Warriors at the end of August, so he could find himself in camp with a team via an invite in hopes of making a final roster on the other side of the lockout. If not, Adrien could try the D-League route, where he played for the Erie Bayhawks and Rio Grande Valley Vipers before joining the Warriors last season.


source : espn.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Kenyon Dooling to play for Efes?

Bucks guard Keyon Dooling is nearing agreement on a contract with Efes Istanbul, the Turkish team which recently signed New Jersey Nets guard Sasha Vujacic.


Kenge Stevenson, the Dallas-based agent for Dooling, said progress is being made and a deal with Efes could be completed in the next few days.

Dooling is the first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association and has been active in the process to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. League owners imposed a lockout on July 1 when the previous CBA expired, and no real progress has been made since then.

Stevenson said Dooling would expect to play in Turkey next season even if the lockout ends and any opt-out clause would be for legal purposes. The veteran has one year and $2 million remaining on his contract with the Bucks, but Stevenson indicated he thought an agreement could be reached to allow Dooling to play in Europe in the event the lockout was settled.

The Bucks made some moves to reshape their backcourt prior to the lockout, when they acquired point guard Beno Udrih from Sacramento and Shaun Livingston from Charlotte as part of a three-team draft day trade. Udrih is expected to be the primary backup for starter Brandon Jennings and also should spend some time at shooting guard. Livingston can play both guard positions but is primarily a point guard.

Dooling served as as backup at both the point guard and shooting guard positions for the Bucks last season. He played in 80 games, including 22 starts, and averaged 7.1 points and 3.0 assists.

Bucks coach Scott Skiles praised Dooling for his willingness to work on defense but the Bucks could not recapture the magic they had the previous season with Jennings and Luke Ridnour as the point guard tandem.

Dooling told me earlier this month that it was clear the Bucks didn't have him in their backcourt plans and he said he expected something would happen to change his situation.

The 31-year-old Dooling has played 11 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, New Jersey and Milwaukee.

"He likes the team situation," Stevenson said of Efes. "He's a basketball aficionado and he pays attention to basketball all over the globe."


source : jsonline.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Acie Law to play for Partizan

Perhaps he is looking for a career in Europe now.


Free agent guard Acie Law is close to signing a deal with Partizan Belgrade of Serbia, one source told HoopsHype. The contract would be for one year and would not include an opt-out clause to return to the NBA if the lockout comes to an end in the middle of the season.

Law averaged 4.2 ppg and 1.6 ppg last year playing for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors.

Partizan Belgrade is currently the strongest team in the former Yugoslavia and has produced plenty of NBA talent in the past - including players such Vlade Divac, Nenad Krstic or Predrag Drobnjak.

source : blogs.hoopshype.com

Editor's note : Partizan officially announced the player in the mean time.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Bamberg announced PJ Tucker

They replaced Kyle Hines with another tough player.


Bamberg announced P.J. Tucker(1.98-SF/PF)via their official website and he will their player until the end of the season. Tucker's last team was in Puerto Rico but he has lots of experience in Europe. He will be replacing the loss of Kyle Hines(1.98-PF/C) who went to Olympiacos and he will be adding much needed strength under the baskets. Like Hines, Tucker is also known for his impressive strength and he can cover both forward positions if need be.

Tucker's real name is actually Anthony and the P.J stands for Pop Junior. It's a nickname that his father gave to him soon after his birth and he has been carrying it ever since. He graduated from the University of Texas back in 2006, where he won numerous awards. He was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the 35th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and signed a two-year deal with them on July 26, 2006. He spent some time in the NBDL with the Colorado 14ers and was waived by the Raptors finally in 2007.

During 2007-2008 he spent his pro season overseas where he conquered the Israeli league as a player of Hapoel Holon and he was also named the MVP of the league. After that he signed with BC Donetsk but had a serious injury that sidelined him for 2 months. Nevertheless he was one the top scorers of the Ukrainian league averaging 19.4 points per game. Last season BC Donetsk had serious financial issues so he returned to Israel and Bnei Hasharon averaging 17.3 points 9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 12 games.


This past season he started playing for Aris BC averaging 12.2 points 7.4 rebounds and 2 assists in 18 games in the Greek A1 league. After that he left the team because the head coach Sharon Drucker was sacked and he had a falling out with the administration. He managed to break his contract with Aris and helped Montegranaro to stay in the LegaA1 averaging 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 3 games. He also played in Puerto Rico for Quebradillas averaging 15.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in 15 games.

Click here to return to the homepage.

Besiktas to negotiate with Kobe Bryant

LOS ANGELES -- The NBA is set to resume negotiations between owners and the players union on Monday for the first time since the lockout went into place on July 1, but one of the NBA's biggest stars has negotiations of his own planned for this weekend.


Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant will be in the nation's capital attending the World Football Challenge featuring Manchester United and F.C. Barcelona at FedEx Field on Saturday and the Mia Hamm-Nomar Garciaparra Celebrity Soccer Challenge on Sunday at Kastles Stadium.

Soccer won't be the only sport on Bryant's agenda, however, as the 15-year NBA veteran and his representatives will meet with officials from the Turkish basketball club Besiktas on Saturday, according to a Reuters report.

For more news, notes and analysis of the Lakers, check out the Land O' Lakers blog from the Kamenetzky Brothers. Blog

"At the moment there's a 50 percent chance that Kobe may come to Turkey," said Seref Yalcin, head of basketball operations for Besiktas, on Tuesday. Yalcin made the comments to reporters in Turkey, according to Reuters. "Everything will be clearer after the meeting on the 30th [of July]."

Turkish Airlines, a company Bryant serves as a pitchman for, is sponsoring both of the soccer events over the weekend and could be the key for Besiktas to potentially make an offer lucrative enough to lure the 13-time All-Star overseas during the lockout.

Turkey's NTV Spor reported last week that Besiktas' basketball funds have been tied up by the match-fixing scandal that has ripped through the Turkish soccer world, forcing Besiktas to search for outside funding to help with their pursuit of NBA players to join New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams on their team.

"Money will not be a problem," Yalcin said, according to Reuters. Yalcin later mentioned Turkish Airlines and two oil companies as potential sponsors for Bryant's contract, which is expected to exceed $500,000 a month. Sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard earlier this month that Williams' overall deal with Besiktas is worth $5 million. NTV Spor reported that Bryant's camp is seeking a monthly salary of $1 million to join Williams.

"We know that Besiktas is very much interested [in Bryant] and they've been in touch with our company as well, but we haven't started any kind of negotiations or anything like that yet," Fatma Yuceler, a spokeswoman for Turkish Airlines, told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Wednesday.

Regardless if playing basketball overseas is in Bryant's future or not, playing soccer this weekend isn't. Despite his background playing pickup soccer games as a youth in Italy, Bryant will not lace up the cleats and play in the Hamm-Garciaparra charity scrimmage on Sunday. Bryant will merely be a spectator for the game and will give his right knee, which recently endured a platelet-rich plasma therapy procedure, a rest, according to multiple sources. On Saturday he will take to the field -- after the game -- to present the "man of the match" award to the winner after the Manchester United versus FC Barcelona friendly.


source : espn.go.com

Click here to return to the homepage.