Baskonia invest in Dejan Musli

Two weeks before the  Euroleague Regular Season opens, Spanish champion Saski Baskonia has reinforced its frontcourt with the signing of Dejan Musli, one of the most prolific young big men in the world, to a five-year contract.



Musli (212, 19) was a two-time MVP of the Nike International Junior Tournament, in 2008 and 2009. His team, FMP, was crowned European junior champion at that prestigious event during the 2008 Final Four in Madrid and the 2009 Final Four in Berlin. In between winning those trophies, Musli debuted on FMP's pro team in the 2007-08 ULEB cup, as a 16-year-old. A year later, in the same competition, he averaged 3.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and .6 blocks in under 14 minutes per game.

Musli often seemed like a man among boys playing at the junior level. In one of those junior tournaments, he averages 22.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.8 rebounds against the best junior teams in Europe. Musli, who was on a 10-day tryout with Saski Baskonia last month, will be expected to bring his rebounding skills first to the club, but cannot be counted out as an impact player on both ends of the floor despite his youth


source : euroleague.net

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Turk Telekom signed Greg Stiemsma for 2 seasons

Turk Telekom announced the signing of Gregory Stiemsma (211-C-85, college: Wisconsin) for the next two years.


The American big guy is not a new face in Turkey as he was a member of Oyak Renault Bursa in the past. Actually, he spent first half of the 2008/09 season with them averaging 7.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for 17 games in TBL. It was the first year as a pro for Stiemsma.

Gregory Stiemsma spent some time during the NBA pre-season with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he was not able to secure an NBA deal as the Cavs released him few days ago. Season 2009/10, Stiemsma started with NBDL team Sioux Falls Skyforce. He appeared 47 times with them registering 9.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.2 apg and 3.7 bpg. In April, he signed a deal with the Wolves but didnt play any official game for them. As mentioned above, Gregory Stiemsma started his rookie season in Turkey. After five months he left Oyak Renault and moved to South Korea. There he joined Seoul SK Knights averaging 14.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg and 2.8 bpg for 16 games in KBL.

Gregory Stiemsma is a product of the University of Wisconsin, where he graduated in 2008. As a senior Stiemsma had 3.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 1.1 bpg for his school.


source : eurobasket.com

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Panellinios signed Andre Brown

Panellinios added size and experience to its frontline with the signing of Andre Brown to a one-year deal.


Brown (206, 29) last played in the 2010 NBA summer league for Golden State, where he averaged 5.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1 block per game. The well-traveled big man returns to Europe after playing for Turkish side Banvit in the 2008-09 season, when he posted 12.1 points and 9.6 boards in 14 appearances.

After a standout college basketball career at De Paul University, Brown has played professionally for Great Lakes in the CBA, Daegu Irions in South Korea, Roseto Basket in Italy, Buducnost Podgorica in Serbia/Montenegro, Barangay Ginebra Kings in Philippines, Sioux Falls and Austin in the NBDL, New Jersey, Atlanta, Memphis and Charlotte in the NBA, Banvit in Turkey, Zhejiang Wanma Cyclones in China, Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico and Al Jalaa Aleppo in Syria.

source : eurocupbasketball.com


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Diarra moved to Cholet after leaving Maroussi

Cholet Basket is pleased to announce the signing for a season Mamoutou Diarra (30 years - 2m00).


A new player for the backcourt of Cholet, that is approaching the first games for the Championship of France and the Euroleague. This new signing is possible through increased partnership and subscription revenue.

The French swingman has played for INSEP between 1997 and 1999 and then joined Bondy ProB.
In 2000/2001, Mamoutou agrees with Paris SG (ProA) where he stayed five seasons (10.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals average in 22 games in 2004/2005 ) and where he will play the FIBA Europe Cup three years away.

In August 2005 he signed to Chalon sur Saône , where he made two full seasons as a major player on the team (10.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 34 games to average in 2006 / 2007). He was selected for the All-Star Game French in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

In 2007/2008, Mamoutou crosses the Mediterranean and discover the Greek league with PAOK Thessaloniki. After a successful first season (11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists average in 25 games), he will leave the club during its second season in January 2009 due to financial problems with the club.

Last season, after a stint in the club DeMarcus Nelson Air Avellino in Italy, he joined the Chorale Roanne (7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists average in 9 games).  He made the last pre-season with the Greek club Maroussi who could not keep him for financial reasons.

Mamoutou was selected in France A Team with which he was a bronze medalist at the European Championships in Belgrade in 2005. He also participated in the World Championship in Japan in 2006.

He should be present in the Friday's game against Pau-Orthez, subject to qualification by the LNB.


source : cholet-basket.com

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Brown and Adeleke move to Dnipro BC

Brown is free but only for a while.


Prokom Gdynia released Canadian swingman Denham Brown(1.98-SG/SF). Brown didn't make it in Prokom and so the Polish powerhouse released him announcing it via their official website:

Asseco Prokom informs that mutual agreement was reached and ways with Canadian Denham Brown were parted.

Brown joined Nigerian center Kenny Adeleke(2.05-C) at Dnipro BC in Ukraine. The Ukrainian club announced both signings via their official website. Both players will be playing at Dnipro's first game in the VTB against Finnish champion Honka on the 6th of October.

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Shermadini to play on loan in Olimpija

It's better than being sidelined.

Giorgi Shermadini(2.16-C) will actually be the first player of Panathinaikos to play on a loan agreement for another team. The Georgian center has not convinced Zeljko Obradovic that he deserves a place in the final roster of Panathinaikos and so he will play this season for Olimpija Lubljana and Juri Zdovc according to prasinanea.gr.

The Greek site that is affiliated to Panathinaikos says that this new development might change the plans for Giorgos Bogris who is now likely to stay in Panathinaikos. However there is no shortage of centers in Panathinaikos and that yet remains to be seen.

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3 candidates to borrow Bogris from Panathinaikos

Giorgos Bogris will be playing for another Greek team next season.


Giorgos Bogris(2.09-C) didn't follow the rest of the team of Panathinaikos for the preparation and he is still in Athens waiting to find out which team will he be playing in the next season. According to prasinanea.gr, there are 3 teams that are after him. Paok, Peristeri and AEK.

Peristeri and AEK are based in Athens so the player could be close to home and he could potentially get some more playing time than what he would in Paok. It seems though that all 3 teams cannot afford any part of Bogris' contract so the decision hasn't been made yet. Bogris is part of the Greek Youth National Teams.

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