By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Rytas signed both R.J. Cole and Arnas Velicka to contracts for the next season with options for an additional season. Cole and Velicka will debut in the Champions League’s Regular Season, but the latter actually logged three games played in the 2022 Qualifiers as a member of Niners Chemnitz. Javin DeLaurier, Justin Gorham, Margiris Normantas, and Gytis Radzevicius are also confirmed on the 2023-24 roster of the Vilnius outfit.
Refusing to slow down at 39, Vassilis Xanthopoulos reunited with Peristeri bwin committing to a sixth individual campaign in the BCL, following the third run with AEK last season. Nemanja Dangubic, Jaylen Hands, Joe Ragland, Kenny Williams, Elijah Mitrou-Long, Nate Renfro, and Trevor Thompson have been placed on the roster for head coach Vassilis Spanoulis earlier in the offseason.
Coming off a product campaign with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and with the experience of ten games played in the BCL, Jhonathan Dunn became the latest addition to Poland champion King Wilki Morskie Szczecin. His new teammates stretch to Kacper Borowski, Zac Cuthbertson, Artur Labinowicz, Filip Matczak, Andrzej Mazurczak, Tony Meier, Michal Nowakowski, Morris Udeze, and Maciej Zmudzki.
Moving to Pinar Karsiyaka, the Izmir outfit announced the addition of 23-year-old center Hakan Sayili, a veteran of 15 games played in the BCL between Darussafaka Lassa and Besiktas Icrypex. His new team has punched in Thomas Akyazili, Jaylon Brown, Vitto Brown, Mert Celep, Ali Efe Baris, Furkan Haltali, Deniz Kilicli, Kelan Martin, Errick McCollum, Kenan Sipahi, and Ergi Tirpanci for the next season.
Jeff Roberson stays at Ludwigsburg, David McCormack lands in Istanbul
Ludwigsburg kept former Vanderbilt standout Jeff Roberson adding to the squad currently consisting of Jonathan Bahre, Desure Buie, Elijah Childs, Eddy Edigin Jr., Jayvon Graves, Deion Hammond, Jaren Lewis, Jacob Patrick, Johannes Patrick, and Yorman Polas Bartolo, Roberson inked a contract lasting through the next season with an option for the 2024-25 campaign, the team announced.
A newcomer to FIBA Europe’s top-tier club continental competition, David McCormack joined Darussafaka. The 2022 NCAA champion with Kansas followed Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Kyle Allman Jr., Berk Demir, Mason Jones, Ridvan Oncel, Todd Withers, and Mushin Yasar on the list of offseason signings for the Istanbul outfit. Also, Can Korkmaz re-upped for the 2023-24 season.
Experienced floor general Marcis Vitols returned to VEF Riga for a second spell, following the 2020-21 season. BCL experience includes five appearances at the Vefins and stretches to six more attached to stints with Kalev/Cramo and Ventspils. The previous additions to the Latvian club were Dairis Bertans and Maris Gulbis.
Signings for Qualifiers teams
Senegalese center Fadilou Seck added depth to the Qualifiers bid of Happy Casa Brindisi. Also, 18-year-old Niccolo Malaventura signed a two-year contract with the Italian club. Brindisi will start the Qualifiers with a matchup opposite CSM CSU Oradea.
Telenet Giants Antwerp retained captain Jean-Marc Mwema for the next season. Elsewhere in the Qualifiers, Michigan State product Gabe Brown moved to Openjobmetis Varese, and former Nevada standout D.J. Fenner was picked up by Heroes Den Bosch.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL