By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Approaching tipoff for the 2024-25 installment of the BKT EuroCup and domestic competitions in Greece, Aris Midea penned 26-year-old James Banks III to a one-year contract.
After completing his NCAA career split between Texas and Georgia Tech, Banks spent the 2020-21 season with Hapoel Be’er Sheva to launch his professional career, before focusing on the G League over the next three years. From the Birmingham Squadron and Texas Legends, he tallied 5.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest over 46 appearances as a member of the Maine Celtics last season.
The next assignment meets Lefteris Bochoridis, Manos Chatzidakis, David DeJulius, Giorgos Giouzelis, D’Moi Hodge, Nate Laszewski, Lefteris Mantzoukas, Landers Nolley II, Josh Roberts, Vassilis Toliopoulos, and Trey Woodbury as his new teammates.
EuroCup, Super Cup, Basket League
With Banks en route to his EuroCup debut, the team coached by Giannis Kastritis visits Umana Reyer Venice in Palasport Taliercio on September 25, in Round 1 of the Regular Season of the second-tier club continental competition of Euroleague Basketball. In Round 2, Aris will be at home against Turk Telekom on October 2.
Meanwhile, the next Super Cup champion in Greece will be crowned in Rhodes with Aris among the contenders. Panathinaikos Aktor was drawn as the opponent in the Semifinals, on September 28. Olympiacos and Peristeri Domino’s shape the second semifinal. The Final and the third-place game follow on September 29.
In the opening round of Greece’s Stoiximan Basket League Regular Season, the Thessaloniki outfit hosts AEK Betsson.