By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
In Israel, John Holland returned to the BKT EuroCup after becoming an instant classic with Frutti Extra Bursaspor in the 2021-22 season. Last year in the EuroLeague, the 34-year-old forward had 3.6 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game with Crvena Zvezda.
Previously, the red-and-white team brought in Kyle Alexander from Valencia to say goodbye to Chinanu Onuaku, who officially moved to Joventut Badalona. They will face each other in Group A, alongside Cedevita Olimpija, Paris Basketball, Umana Reyer Venice, BC Wolves, Besiktas, Veolia Hamburg Towers, Prometey, and London Lions.
Elsewhere, former EuroCup veteran Justin Cobbs returns to the European competition to sign a one-year contract with Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana after spending the 2022-23 season in Japan with Alvark Tokyo, averaging 14.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game.
Three big moves for U-BT Cluj-Napoca
Moreover, after bringing in Mareks Mejeris from Hapoel Jerusalem, U-BT Cluj-Napoca officially adds two important pieces for its backcourt in the BKT EuroCup in Bryce Jones and DJ Seeley.
In the latest Basketball Champions League campaign with Limoges CSP, the 28-year-old American playmaker, who worked out this summer for the Utah Jazz as well, had 12.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. DJ Seeley, instead, last played in the EuroLeague with Bayern Munich, posting up 6.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game with 95.7% at the line.
Last year, U-BT Cluj-Napoca won the championship in Romania but didn’t manage to qualify for the 7DAYS EuroCup Playoffs, ending Group A in 9th place. This season, the black-and-white team will play in Group B with Dreamland Gran Canaria, Buducnost VOLI, ratiopharm Ulm, JL Bourg, Turk Telekom, 7bet-Lietkabelis, Aris, Dolomiti Energia Trento, and Slask Wroclaw.
But that’s not all, as the Romanian champions have also added Fenerbahce forward Jarell Eddie. The 32-year-old has NBA experience with the Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls. In Europe, he has played for SIG Strasbourg, Murcia, San Pablo Burgos, and Konyaspor. During his time as a Fenerbahce player, he made 32 appearances in the EuroLeague and shot an impressive 45 percent from three-point range.
Pierre Pelos officially joins the reigning champions
After announcing the addition of Ethan Happ, Gran Canaria reinforced itself with another new player coming to the reigning EuroCup champions. Through a video on social media, the Spanish side announced the arrival of Pierre Pelos, who last played for JL Bourg-en-Bresse.
In the 2022-23 EuroCup campaign, losing at the Eightfinals against Promitheas, he put up 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, shooting with crazy percentages: 63.8% from two, 49.0% from beyond the arc, and 87.5% at the charity stripe.
Coming back to JL Bourg-en-Bresse in 2019, the 30-year-old big man already played with the red-and-white side in the 2016-17 season. Among other teams, he also played for Pau-Lacq-Orthez, Saint-Chamond, and Provence. This will be his first experience outside of France.
PHOTO CREDIT: Basketball Champions League