By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Trevion Williams, Gabe Olaseni, T.J. Shorts II, Isiaha Mike, and Matt Morgan were named to the All-EuroCup First Team.
Euroleague Basketball revealed the standouts for the 2023-24 edition of BKT EuroCup on Monday.
Per the press release: “The countdown to the 2024 BKT EuroCup Finals is underway. However, before a champion is crowned, it is only fitting to stop and salute the standout performers who made the 2023-24 season a resounding success. The five players selected to the All-EuroCup First Team through voting by fans, media, head coaches and team captains are all first-time honorees who led their respective teams into the BKT EuroCup Playoffs.
T.J. Shorts, Paris Basketball
Few EuroCup players have ever had the team and individual success that T.J. Shorts has enjoyed. In his first season in the competition, Shorts leads the 2023-24 EuroCup in assists (7.5 apg.), two-point shots made (5.9) and PIR (23.4), while ranking second in scoring (18.0 ppg.) and fourth in steals (2.0 spg.). He was the MVP of Rounds 1, 10 and 12, the quarterfinals and the semifinals. Shorts recorded five points-and-assists double-doubles this season. He is leading Paris to record-setting numbers, as well as a 20-1 record entering the EuroCup Finals. Paris is averaging 98.4 points per game and has a PIR average of 116.0, each of which are on course to become new competition records. Kudos to Shorts on a one-of-a-kind season!
Trevion Williams, ratiopharm Ulm
In his first EuroCup season, Trevion Williams established himself among the best centers in the competition. He led the EuroCup in total rebounds with 10.8 per game. He needed just 18 games to record 12 double-doubles, which tied Vladimir Golubovic (2013-14) for the most by any player in a single EuroCup season. Williams also ranked in the top 20 in points (14.8 ppg.) and assists (4.3 apg,), leading all centers in the latter category. That led to Williams ranking second in the competition in average PIR with 22.1. He also earned Round 3 co-MVP honors with a PIR of 31. Williams amassed a PIR of 20 or more in 12 out of 18 games this season.
Gabe Olaseni, London Lions
Gabe Olaseni helped London reach the EuroCup semifinals, thus achieving the biggest success ever for any British basketball team in European competition. Olaseni ranked fifth in the competition with an average PIR of 20.1. He was also in the top 10 in average points (15.5) and rebounds (7.4). Olaseni was London’s most reliable player; he scored in double figures in 19 of his 21 appearances! He posted five double-doubles this season for London, too. Olaseni ranked fourth in free throw attempts (5.4 per game) and made 78.9% of his attempts, and was second in two-point shots made per game (5.6), with a solid percentage (64.1% 2FG), too.
Isiaha Mike, Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse
On a team without superstars, Isiaha Mike became Bourg’s most consistent and reliable player all season, leading the club to a first-place finish in Group B and to the EuroCup Finals. Mike led Bourg in both PIR (14.0) and points (12.8) per game in the team’s most successful EuroCup season. He was also among Bourg’s leaders in average rebounds (4.2 rpg.) and steals (1.6 spg.), ranking 10th overall in the latter. Mike stepped up when his team needed him, posting better numbers in the playoffs. Mike upped his numbers to 15.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 21.3 PIR in the quarterfinals and semifinals. He has now become the first-ever All-EuroCup selection from Bourg.
Matt Morgan, London Lions
Matt Morgan made sure to fill the baskets in his first-ever EuroCup season. He ranked fifth in scoring in the EuroCup with 16.5 points per game. Morgan scored at least 20 points in nine of his 22 appearances. He proved to be more than a scorer, too, as Morgan was among London’s top three in average PIR (18.0) and assists (3.9). In just his second game ever in the competition, Morgan earned MVP of the Round honors with a PIR of 30. He was one of three players to earn MVP of the Round honors more than once this season: Morgan shared the honor with T.J. Shorts in Round 10, too.”
Nadir Hifi, Patrick Richard, Deividas Sirvydis, Andres Feliz, and Emanuel Cate fit in the All-EuroCup Second Team.
Per the press release: “The five players selected to the All-EuroCup Second Team through voting by fans, media, head coaches and team captains are all first-time honorees who led their respective teams into the BKT EuroCup Playoffs.
Andres Feliz, Joventut Badalona
His third EuroCup campaign was the best yet for Joventut guard Andres Feliz. The 26-year-old ranked sixth in the EuroCup this season in assists (5.1 apg.) and third in steals (2.1 spg.). He also led Joventut in scoring (14.7 ppg.) and was second in rebounds (4.7 rpg.). Feliz was at his best in the eighthfinals when he led Joventut to a 79-88 road win at ratiopharm Ulm with 28 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. His 12 baskets made in that game tied for the most by any player in a game this season and helped Feliz earn the Eighthfinals MVP honor.
Patrick Richard, U-BT Cluj-Napoca
Cluj captain Patrick Richard was among the most dangerous sixth men in the EuroCup this season. He was near the top of the team in scoring (11.4 ppg.), assists (3.8 apg.) and PIR (13.1) in helping Cluj finish second in Group B and reach the EuroCup Quarterfinals for the first time. Richard was one of only two players to shoot at least 68.8% on two-pointers and 42.0% on threes. The 34-year-old, who is in his fifth season with Cluj, is the fifth oldest All-EuroCup selection in the past decade.
Emanuel Cate, U-BT Cluj-Napoca
One of the most consistent players for Cluj, Emanuel Cate was a force in the paint. He posted 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds during Cluj’s 13-win regular season. Cate was among the team leaders in PIR (11.6), total two-pointers made (66) and accuracy (66.0%). He posted PIRs in double figures in all but five regular-season games. Cate had his best game in Round 17 with a club record and a career-high 38 PIR in a key win at Gran Canaria. He received MVP of the Round honors for that performance.
Nadir Hifi, Paris Basketball
Nadir Hifi broke out as one of the top young players in Europe in his debut season in the competition. Going into the 2024 BKT EuroCup Finals with Paris, he ranks fourth in the competition in scoring (16.9 ppg.), second in three-pointers made (52), and fourth in free-throw accuracy (95.3%). His 30.6 points per 40 minutes were by far the best of all EuroCup players this season. Hifi has made multiple three-pointers in all but four games. He has scored more than 10 points in 20 of his 21 appearances and had at least 20 seven times, all off the bench.
Deividas Sirvydis, 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys
The leading scorer in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup was Deividas Sirvydis of Lietkabelis with 18.9 points per game. He scored at least 20 points in nine of his 16 appearances in this, his fourth season in the competition. Sirvydis knocked down an average of 2.8 three-pointers per game, which was the second-most in the EuroCup, and did so with 42.3% accuracy. He led Lietkabelis with an average PIR of 17.8 and was third on the team with 4.4 rebounds. Sirvydis becomes the first Lietkabelis player ever named to an All-EuroCup team.”