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



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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

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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.

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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:

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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


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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




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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

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