Triple strike from KK Zagreb

Euroleague rookies invest in young talents.



KK Zagreb brought in three new players. The team has agreed on terms of contracts with Papa Dia (205-F-87), Gary McGhee (208-C-88) and Diante Garrett (193-G-88).

Papa Dia has just graduated from the Southern Methodist University. He tallied 18.3 points, 9.6 boards, 2.2 blocks and 1.8 assists per game in his senior season. Papa Dia was named All-C-USA Defensive Player of the Year. The forward participated at Pre-NBA Draft Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. His stats read 8.3 points and 7.0 boards per game there.

Gary McGhee also inked his first pro deal. The rookie comes from the University of Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old centre averaged 6.9 points, 7.7 boards and 1.3 blocks per game in his senior season. Gary McGhee also participated at Pre-NBA Draft Portsmouth Invitational tournament. His stats came up to 9.0 points, 8.5 boards and 1.0 block per game there.

Diante Garrett is another rookie who has just graduated from the Iowa State University. The 22-year-old guard posted 17.3 points, 6.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game in his senior season. Diante Garrett participated at Portsmouth Invitational Tournament registering 10.7 points, 3.0 assists, 2.3 boards and 1.3 steals per game.

source : eurobasket.com


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Bracey Wright to sign with Olimpija

His good season with Cedevita paid off.


Another player who managed to revamp his career seems to be Bracey Wright(1.91-SG). According to kosarka.si, Wright will be playing for Olimpija Lubljana next season in the Euroleague and the Adriatic League. The former NBA shooting guard had a good season in the Euroleague with Aris Thessaloniki as his first European contract and then moved on to Badalona he left halfway through the season. He then returned to Aris for a short while and since then he's played for Oostende as well.

He started the season with Paris Levallois but then moved on to Cedevita Zagreb where he played in 3 leagues(Croatia, Adriatic League, Eurocup). In the Adriatic league he averaged 11.8 points 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 11 games, in the Eurocup he averaged 16.7 points 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists and in Croatia he averaged 13.7 points 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 14 games.

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Cibona rumored to sign Goran Suton

Fresh from the grapevine..

This rumor surfaced last night (at Interbasket forum) and by now it should have made its way around most of the European sports sites. According to this Cibona Zagreb will be signing Bosnian forward/center Goran Suton(2.08-C) who played last season in Italy for Angelico Biella.

This might be a bit of an expensive contract for Cibona but the source is well informed so it could be that they're trying to base a team around him and perhaps later on sell him at a higher price. Suton averaged 9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 25 games in the LegaA1 for Biella last season.

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Picks of the day

Busy day today transfer-wise..


The first 3 announcements of sort, come from the Beobasket agency where the motto is, announce them before the press does! First announcement is for Croatian head coach Drazen Anzulovic who didn't make it with Cibona but takes up the helm at Cedevita Zagreb instead.

The other announcement has to do with one of the most underrated big men in Europe, Serbian forward/center Marko Scekic(2.07-PF/C) who will continue his career with the Italian league finalist, Cantu. Scekic was transferred from KK Buducnost for the Italian play-offs and very soon he made a difference for Cantu averaging 12.1 points 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 9 games. Scekic will be an Italy resident for the next 2 seasons.

Croatian center Luksa Andric(2.10-C) will be continuing his career with the Turkish finalist Galatasaray for the next 2 seasons as well. He averaged 9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 42 games in the Turkish league.

In France now, local shooting guard Fabien Causeur(1.93-SG) renewed his contract with Cholet until 2013, that is for another 2 seasons as it was announced today via their official website. The youngster will probably be getting some more playing in the future. This season he averaged 6.9 points 2.9 rebounds 2.4 assists in 14 in the ProA.

Efes Pilsen were quite eager to announce Dusko Savanovic(2.04-PF) but it seems that they haven't paid Valencia the buy-out clause yet. It's not a measley amount too.. it's 1.5 million euros that need to paid to the Spaniards or else they could just as easily block the transfer.

Last but certainly not least Pete Mickeal(1.98-SF) is back with a vengeance, also with a 2-season extension on his contract but we knew that was coming anyway.

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Gist and Bogdanovic to sign with Fenerbahce

Another double whammy!


James Gist(2.06-PF/C) and Bojan Bogdanovic(2.00-SG/SF) will be the 2 new additions of Turkish champions Fenerbahce according to milliyet.com. Gist comes from a good season at Partizan Belgrade where he won the Adriatic League and also the Serbian League averaging 11.4 points and 6.9 rebounds in 14 games in the Euroleague and also 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 23 games in the Adriatic League.

Bojan Bogdanovic has had his last season with Cibona and now he's got the transfer he wanted to a wealthier and more powerful club. He is also a member of the Croatian National Team. He averaged 18 points and 3.5 rebounds in 10 games in the Euroleague and also 18.9 points 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 24 games in the Adriatic League.

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Jasmin Repesa the new coach of Real Madrid?

For 3 seasons too..


According to Spanish portal as.com, the new head coach of Real Madrid will be Jasmin Repesa. Repesa comes from Benetton Treviso where he ended his run in the semifinals beaten by Siena. Repesa will be reportedly taking up the helm of Real Madrid for the next 3 seasons and he has already visited Madrid and went to meet the players and check out the team's facilities.

Repesa is mostly known for his time in Virtus Roma and Fortitudo Bologna and as a head coach of the Croatian National Team the last few years. He has won a few national champhionships but no international titles. This move hasn't been met well with the fans but the administration of the team were quite eager to end the head coach issue sooner rather than later. Repesa should be announced by the official site of Real Madrid very soon.

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Bauermann scouting for.. Bagaric

He came to see first hand.

Dirk Bauermann was spotted in Maroussi according to basketnet.gr and he didn't come just to see the game but to check out the veteran giant Dalibor Bagaric(2.17-C). Bagaric found his niche in Maroussi and revamped his career with some impressive figures in Greece and that didn't go unnoticed. Rumor has it that he rejected offers from Spanish teams to stay in Maroussi but it's very unlikely he will be there next season as well.

Maroussi is a little miracle in itself this season where the team was systematically led to extinction by the unwillingness of its former administration to participate but it was rescued at the very last moment and they put together a rag tag team of former veterans, young hopefuls and unknown players to the European crowds. One of these veterans was Bagaric who found himself comfortably tall amongst the lacking front-lines of the rest of the Greek teams. It seems that the recession did actually favor him. The article implies that Bagaric is a potential target for next season's Bayern Munich and their BBL debut. Bagaric has averaged so far 12 points 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 17 games in Greece.

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Zvonko Buljan to sign with Paok

Paok strengthening the front-line for the play-offs.



In Paok they see it as a great opportunity to secure the 3rd place in the regular season which will give them very good chances to secure the 3rd place in the play-offs as well. So they decided to add another player to their front-line and according to sportnet.gr it will be Croatian prospect Zvonko Buljan(2.06-PF/C) who started the season in Cyprus.

Buljan graduated in 2010 from the Texas Cristian University where he played for the Frogs. In his first pro season he played for Apoel in Cyprus and also in the Eurochallenge. He averaged 10.8 points and 7.7 rebounds in 6 games in the Eurochallenge and also 11.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 12 games in Cyprus.He should be arriving in Greece tomorrow.

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NBA teams interested in Stanko Barac

You can never have enough 7-footers.


Stanko Barac(2.17-C) spoke to acb.com and said that although he has a contract with Baskonia in 2015 there is interest from teams from the NBA franchise as well. This means that the Croatian center might be leaving Baskonia in the summer for an NBA team. This is not news as Barac was selected by the Miami Heat as the 39th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft and was traded to the Indiana Pacers.

Last season he signed his 3-season extension with Baskonia but as always in these cases there is an NBA-out clause in his contract. If this happens Baskonia will be losing a 3rd big man to an NBA team after Scola and Splitter but obviously Barac is not of the same caliber. So far he has averaged 11.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in 20 games in the Euroleague and also 11.2 points and 6.9 rebounds in the ACB in 25 games.

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Zalgiris moved Delas to Siauliai

Mario Delas (208-F/C-90) is no longer a member of Cibona.


The 20-year-old Croatian moved to Lithuanian outfit Siauliai. Delas is originally a player of Zalgiris Kaunas and he was sent on loan to Cibona. Siauliai also got young center on loan and he will play for them until the end of 2010/11 season.

Mario Delas appeared 6 times for Cibona in Euroleague averaging 4.3 points and 3.2 rebounds. In Adriatic league he had 3 ppg and 2.1 rpg for 7 games.


source : eurobasket.com

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Maroussi announced Dailbor Bagaric

They're in desperate need for results.


It seems that the addition of Lance Allred(2.11-C) didn't produce the desired results so in Maroussi they decided to sign another big man and this time its Croatian veteran Dalibor Bagaric(2.17-C) who is called upon to rescue Maroussi. It was announced via the team's official website that Bagaric will be arriving to Greece on Sunday so he will not make it for the game against Panathinaikos.

Bagaric has played in Greece before and it was back in season 2003-2004 when he played for Olympiakos. Before that he played for 3 seasons for the Chicago Bulls that was the highlight of his career. He has also played for Fortitudo, Girona and Cibona in the past and this season he started playing for KK Dubrava Zagreb in Croatia averaging 13.6 points 11.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 5 games. Bagaric is quite a gamble for Maroussi as he is known for his fiery personality that could upset balances in the team.. unless of course there aren't any already. Time will tell..

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Kolossos in talks with Jurica Golemac

Time to bring in some experience into the team.


One might say that the team of Kolossos Rhodes is too young for its own good. So Jamine Peterson(2.03-SF/PF) was internally replaced by Steve Panos(2.05-PF/C) and now another player could soon be added to their roster according to sport.gr. This time it might be Slovenian veteran Jurica Golemac(2.09-PF/C). Golemac started the season in KK Zadar but left shortly thereafter due to problems in his relationship with head coach Daniel Jusup.

Golemac has also played in Greece for Panellinios and Panathinaikos so he has experience playing in the Greek league which means that he will not need any adjustment time. He averaged 8.3 points 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 4 games in KK Zadar.

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KK Zagreb to bring in Rancic and Gilder

2 new additions for KK Zagreb


KK Zadar will be adding 2 new players according to tportal.hr.

Damir Rancic(1.98-SG/SF) recently left Panellinios but he won't stay without a job for very long. The Croatian swingman will be playing for KK Zagreb in order to help them in the Adriatic League and the FIBA Eurochallenge. Rancic left Panellinios citing personal reasons and he will be returning to more familiar grounds with KK Zagreb. Rancic has been around a lot and he has played for KK Split, Cibona Zagreb, BC Kyiv, Olimpija Ljubljana, KK Zadar and Panellinios but he also played for them in the past as well.

Trey Gilder on the other hand hasn't played in Europe before but he has played very briefly for the Memphis Grizzlies and also in the NBDL for Colorado, Maine and most recently for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds averaging 14 points and 5.9 rebounds in 10 games.


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Gordan Giricek to return to Cibona?

Some much needed experience for Cibona.


According to jutarnji.hr, Gordan Giricek(2.01-SG/SF) could return to Cibona Zagreb, the club that he started his career in. Giricek, like many others before him might go down the sentimental route and in the twilight of his career play again for the team that made him the international star that he was in his prime.

The article said that Giricek had an unofficial conversation with coach Zdravko Radulović about joining the ranks  of Cibona to help them with his experience. The bad financial condition of Cibona forced them to create a team of youngsters with a lot of talent but not much experience between them. And this is where Giricek could help with a vast career in the Euroleague and the NBA. He was rumored to join KK Zadar earlier this summer but that never went through. Developments on this should manifest within the next few days. Cibona have a heavy schedule playing both in the Adriatic League and the Euroleague so Giricek's addition could be invaluable.

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Damir Rancic to leave Panellinios

He is citing personal reasons.


The Croatian swingman Damir Rancic(1.98-SG/SF) is leaving the team of Panionios and returning back to Croatia according to basketnet.gr. The player said that his departure has to do with personal reasons and today he said his goodbyes to his teammates and let them know that he won't be playing with them anymore.

Coach Skourtopoulos will be looking for his replacement in the European market. Rancic averaged 4.7 points in 3 games for Panellinios.

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Baskonia renewed Barac for 3 more seasons

The announcement came today from the official site of the team.


Stanko Barac renewed three more years with Saski Baskonia.


02/11/2010
The Croatian center Stanko Barac has renewed his contract with Saski Baskonia for three more seasons. Barac, with one year left on his contract, will end his commitment to Baskonia after the end of season 2014/15. In the five games he has played the Caja Laboral this season, Barac averaged 7 rebounds and 11.6 points in 25.4 minutes of play. In the Euroleague the Croatian center has played two games with averages of 14.5 points and 7 rebounds in 25.4 minutes of play.

source : baskonia.com


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Efes Pilsen signed Nikola Vujcic

Desperate situations require desperate measures.


Efes Pilsen needed a center desperately, so they went ahead and signed Nikola Vujcic(2.11-C). The Croatian veteran has been one of the best centers in the Euroleague throughout his career but the last 2 seasons showcased a slow and cumbersome player who didn't live up to his former glory.

The fans of Efes Pilsen weren't too happy about this choice either that contains a great amount of risk. Vujcic started the season in the club where he started his career, KK Split, playing for free in order to stay fit. The deal was announced by the official website of Efes Pilsen and it's valid until the end of the season. He played 2 games for KK Split averaging 17 points and 6 rebounds.

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Trent Plaisted returns to Croatia

It was meant to be this time in the NBA.. back to Croatia now.


Trent Plaisted(2.11-C) had his breakout season when he played for KK Zadar in the Adriatic League in season 2009-2010. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 2008 and was drafted by as number 46 overall the same year. After being waived by the Philadelphia 76ers, he is heading back to Europe now and this time he won't be playing for KK Zadar. He will be replacing Aaron Pettway(2.11-C) who didn't peform as expected for Cedevita according to vecernji.hr.

Plaisted played for KK Zadar last season and he averaged 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in 6 games in the Eurocup and also 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 26 games in the Adriatic League.

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KK Zagreb signed Alex Renfroe

Zagreb bagged one of the best PGs of last season from VEF Riga.

Since BC Zagreb decided not to prolong the contract with any player, who ran out of his 2009/10 deal, the need for new signings is in the center of the club's attention. On Wednesday Alex Renfoe was added to the list of new players

Renfoe is an American point-guard (190, 24), who was the MVP of the Baltic League in 2009/10 season playing for VEF Riga. 

source : adriaticbasket.info

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Mario Delas on loan to Cibona

A good chance for Delas to play at Euroleague level.


The deal was announced by the official website of Cibona Zagreb and it says that Mario Delas(2.07-PF) will be playing for them next season. The youngster comes from Zalgiris Kaunas that acquired his rights from KK Split in January of this year. Delas started the season in KK Split but he has been playing for Zalgiris since January in the Baltic League, the Euroleague and the LKL. After that season Delas will have 2 more seasons in his contract with Zalgiris.

He got lots of playing time in the LKL averaging 6.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 20 games in the LKL but playing for Cibona allows him to play in the Adriatic League and the Euroleague. Cibona on the other hand, in the midst of financial trouble will have the captain of the Croatian U-21 team to complement their frontline with the fraction of the cost. They are still looking for a point guard and a combo guard to complete their roster. They have given a deadline to an offer they made to Rok Stipcevic and the combo guard will come the American market.


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