By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Among new faces on the way to the 2024-25 edition of BKT EuroCup, 27-year-old Kaiser Gates penned a one-year contract with Joventut Badalona. During his first overseas experience, the Xavier alum played in the 2021-22 installment of the Basketball Champions League with Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem before focusing his career on the G League over the next two years. Besides averaging 11.7 points per contest with the Long Island Nets, he made one appearance in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season with the New Orleans Pelicans. Earlier in the offseason, Badalona signed Devon Dotson, Adam Hanga, Artem Pustovyi, Kassius Robertson, and Keye van der Vuurst de Vries.
Bouncing back in the EuroCup, Omer Can Ilyasoglu inked a one-year contract with Bahcesehir Koleji. A two-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion with Anadolu Efes, the 23-year-old combo guard made his way to four EuroCup games as a member of Frutti Extra Bursaspor. Last season, he played for Mega MIS. Back in Istanbul, he will team up with Egehan Arna, Axel Bouteille, Tyler Cavanaugh, Furkan Haltali, Sehmus Hazer, C. J. Massinburg, Tai Odiase, Mateusz Ponitka, Marko Simonovic, Jaleen Smith, and Tony Taylor.
After playing six NBA games with the Sacramento Kings last season, 26-year-old combo guard Jordan Ford returned to Europe following a brief stay with Peristeri in 2021 and joined Dolomiti Energia Trento to debut in the EuroCup. Denis Badalau, Jordan Bayehe, Myles Cale, Selom Mawugbe, and Andrea Pecchia were earlier additions to the team coached by Paolo Galbiati.
A two-year contract extension for team captain Bar Timor complemented a strong summer for Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv. Besides also re-signing Yonatan Rabinowitz, the Israeli club picked up Ben Bentil, Patrick Beverley, Oz Blayzer, Marcus Foster, Johnathan Motley, Guy Palatin, Joe Ragland, Miron Ruina, Ish Wainright, and Noam Yaacov during the offseason.
Umana Reyer Venice completed the 2024-25 squad with 32-year-old Xavier Munford. Coming in with 48 games played in the EuroCup, he will join forces with Davide Casarin, Tyler Ennis, Juan Fernandez, Giga Janelidze, Mfiondu Kabengele, Alessandro Lever, Davide Moretti, Jordan Parks, Aamir Simms, Amedeo Tessitori, Carl Wheatle, and Kyle Wiltjer.
Aris keeps Bochoridis, Wolves add Andrews
Elsewhere in the EuroCup field, Aris Midea penned 21-year-old Mike Miles Jr. and re-signed 30-year-old Lefteris Bochoridis for the next season. Similarly, the team based in Thessaloniki has retained Vassilis Toliopoulos. And also secured the services of Manos Chatzidakis, David DeJulius, Giorgos Giouzelis, Nate Laszewski, Lefteris Mantzoukas, and Landers Nolley II.
Meanwhile, Wolves Twinsbet added 31-year-old Andrew Andrews and extended the contract of 28-year-old Tre’Shawn Thurman for the next season. Earlier moves saw Daniel Baslyk, Marek Blazevic, Anthony Cowan Jr., and Matas Jogela enter the roster for new head coach Alessandro Magro.
Moving his talents to the second-tier club continental competition of Euroleague Basketball, 24-year-old Trey McGowens penned a one-year contract with Trefl Sopot. The Polish club previously added Bartosz Jankowski and kept Aaron Best.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL