Lietuvos Rytas signed Sherron Collins

After Khalid El-Amin’s season was declared to be over, Lietuvos Rytas’ searches for a new point guard began.


Reportedly, the search is over as the Lithuanian champions inked Sherron Collins , formerly from the Kansas Jayhawks, on Friday. The 23-year-old American point guard started the season with the Charlotte Bobcats and played 16 games in the NBA before moving to the D-League. Collins averaged only 1.1 points and 0.5 assists for the Bobcats, but the statistics, as could be expected, got a noticeable bump, when the guard moved the Maine Red Claws, where he collected 12 points and 3.2 assists per game.

At his time in the NCAA with the Jayhawks, Collins was averaging 15.5 points and 4.5 assists, with his best season being the 2008-09 campaign where the guard was scoring 19 points per game and dishing out an additional 5 assists.

source : lithuaniabasketball.com


Click here to return to the homepage.

Serge Ibaka could get Spanish passport

Serge Ibaka may join Spain in EuroBasket 2011 if there are no setbacks in his process of nationalization.


Ibaka was born in the Congo, but filled out an affidavit requesting a Spanish passport.

If Ibaka is naturalized, it will impact Nikola Mirotic, as FIBA allows only one citizen by choice. Mirotic is set for the Under-20 Championship in Bilbao, though he has played high level basketball for Real Madrid and is currently projected as the ninth overall selection in RealGM's latest mock draft.

source : realgm.com


Click here to return to the homepage.

CSKA announced Sani Becirovic

Slovenian guard Sani Becirovic (29 years, 195 cm) signed the contract with CSKA until the end of the season with club's option for one more year.


The agreement became official after medical exams today. Becirovic will start practicing with the team tonight.

Becirovic started playing basketball at KK Bistrica. He signed his first important contract when he was 18 becoming Olimpija Ljubljana player. His career was difficult: he played for different clubs in Italy, Greece and Slovenia, he missed 2002-03 season to injury which did not prevent him from being drafted by NBA club. His accolades include U18 (1998) and U20 (2000) European Championship MVP titles, 2007 Euroleague win with Panathinaikos, multiple national championships medals. The Slovenian National Team guard participated in the Eurobaskets three times, played in 2010 World Championship. Sani started current season in Turk Telecom (20 pames, 13.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals).

Jonas Kazlauskas , CSKA Head Coach:
When I started to work with the team the injuries and illnesses were my nightmare. That is why we wanted to strengthen the roster. We need the player who can help us on the pick-n-rolls offensively, who can find the shooters on their spots. Finally, the team needs more competition inside. In my opinion the club like CSKA should have at least 14 active players. I think that Becirovic is the best option for us to improve. He is not young, he does not need to be teached much, he is ready to play. Sani is the 'two' who can play 'one'. I know him well for his play for Slovenian National Team, I remember him from his playing days in Panathinaikos.

Sani Becirovic :
I am happy and excited. Everything happened so quick that I did not have time to realize what's going on. I had to do all the paperwork needed and fly to Moscow. I hope to help the team to reach all its goals.

source : http://www.cskabasket.com/news/?a=news&id=9516&lang=en

Click here to return to the homepage.

Valencia interesed in Mantzaris too

It seems there is another Spanish team that wants the Greek prospect.


A couple of weeks ago there was a Greek publication about a possible interest from Bilbao in Vangelis Mantzaris(1.95-PG), one of the new rising stars of Greek League and subsequently of the Greek National Team in the years to come. Mantzaris is continuing his breakout season with Peristeri in Greece but the contract that the team unilaterally activated is coming to its end.

There is a law in the Greek League that says that the teams can unilaterally sign a contract for a maximum of 3 years without the player's consent when they reach the age of 18, subject to terms and conditions. This contract will expire this summer and Mantzaris has yet to sign a new one with Peristeri. According to superbasket.gr, there is another team interested in him now and Valencia as well as Bilbao have set sights on the young star. Mantzaris has averaged so far 8.2 points 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 20 games in the Greek A1 league.

Click here to return to the homepage.

BC Khimki announced Rimas Kurtinaitis

BC Khimki and a well-known Lithuanian specialist Rimas Kurtinaitis signed an agreement to the end of the 2010/11 season, with a possible prolongation for another year.


The new coach will join the team in Tallinn, where the yellow-blue will go on Tuesday. The interim head coach Oleg Meleschenko has left the club.

Victor Bychkov, BC Khimki General Manager:

— Because of the fact our team can not reach its proper level, and also as a result of painful defeats from direct competitors in the fight for the PBL Championship medals — UNICS and CSKA Moscow, we have made a difficult decision: to part with Oleg Meleschenko, an interim head coach. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to Oleg, who spent several good seasons within the club's coaching staff and who at a difficult time was not afraid to take on the duties of a head coach. We wish Meleschenko good luck and hope that his career will continue to emerge successfully. 


A new BC Khimki head coach will be a well-known Lithuanian specialist, an Olympic champion — Rimas Kurtinaitis. In 2009 Lietuvos Rytas with Kurtinaitis won the European Cup, defeated BC Khimki in the final — it was one of the most painful defeats in our history. Rimas is a very hard-working coach. Moreover the very tasks before the team have not been removed — it's still a good performance in the final of VTB United League, as well as in the PBL Championship which ensures the entrance to Euroleague. We hope that together with Rimas we will achieve all the goals. 


souce : bckhimki.ru


Click here to return to the homepage.

Varese kept Simonas Serapinas

Cimberio Varese announced signing of Simonas Serapinas (197-F-82) for rest of the season.


The player successfully passed tryout period securing a deal after just four days. At the same time, Varese parted ways with Damien Ryan (193-G-79).

Simonas Serapinas started the previous season in Azovmash in Ukraine. In February 2010 he moved to Neptunas averaging 10.0 points, 5.9 boards, 1.9 assists per game in LKL. Simonas Serapinas also played in Atletas, Alytus, Nevezis, Zalgiris as well as in Aris in Greece and Prokom in Poland.  


source : eurobasket.com

Click here to return to the homepage.

Darryl Middleton signed with Valencia

The legend returns!


Valencia announced via their official website the signing of veteran Darryl Middleton(2.04-PF/C) for the next 2 months. Middleton is still going at 44 years of age and Svetislav Pesic called on him once again for help. He played under Pesic in Girona back in season 2006-2007 before Girona went bankrupt and plunged into the semi-pro leagues.

Middleton has had a great career in Europe and mainly in the ACB having played for Girona, Badalona, San Fernando, Barcelona and also Panathinaikos in Greece. He helped Girona in the last few years to climb up the leagues again and currently they are in LEB Gold. This season he averaged 8.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 27 games so far. He also holds a Spanish passport and he is the oldest pro basketball player in Spain at the moment.

Click here to return to the homepage.