By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After his short-term deal, Maurice Ndour has penned a contract to remain a member of Rytas until the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, the team announced Thursday.
Ndour, 29, is going through his second stint at the team based in the capital and largest city of Lithuania.
Generating 12.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks over four appearances in the Basketball Champions League Regular Season, he helped his side advance directly to the Round of 16 as the Group H winner ahead of back-to-back champion Hereda San Pablo Burgos. The team coached by Giedrius Zibenas is placed in Group L along with Falco Szombathely awaiting two more opponents coming out of the Play-Ins, Lenovo Tenerife or Pinar Karsiyaka, and SIG Strasbourg or PAOK mateco.
An impressive turnaround for both Rytas and Ndour himself after being forced to an early exit in the debut BCL season, 2020-21. The Lithuanian club had finished fourth in Group E of the Regular Season and was eliminated.
At the domestic level, the former Ohio standout’s all-around contribution amounts to 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 0.7 steals per contest over six appearances in Lithuania’s LKL. Rytas currently sits second at 13-1, half a game behind Zalgiris carrying a 14-1 record.
The Senegalese international, former player of the New York Knicks, Real Madrid, Valencia and UNICS Kazan, previously spent most of his 2020-21 campaign at Vilnius before moving to China to play for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls in the CBA.
Earlier stops produced 32 games played in the NBA, 32 more in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, and 30 in the 7DAYS EuroCup.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League