By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With head coach Ibon Navarro and most of the players on the 2022-23 squad coming back for the 2023-24 season, explosive guard Tyson Carter surfaced as the next similar case.
Carter, 25, will play two more years as a member of the team based in Malaga but with no further attachments to Zenit, after being loaned from the Saint Petersburg club last season, Unicaja announced Wednesday. Heading to the 2023-24 editions of the Basketball Champions League and domestic competitions in Spain, the rest of the roster consists of Jonathan Barreiro, Alberto Diaz, Nihad Djedovic, Tyler Kalinoski, David Kravish, Augusto Lima, Dylan Osetkowski, Kendrick Perry, Yankuba Sima, Mario Saint-Supery, Kameron Taylor, and Will Thomas.
Defending BCL champion Telekom Baskets Bonn inked Nebraska product Glynn Watson Jr. to a one-year contract. The newcomer to European club continental competitions joins Tyreese Blunt, Leon Bulic, Brian Fobbs, Harald Frey, Sam Griesel, Thomas Kennedy, Noah Kirkwood, Florian Koch, Till Pape, Christian Sengfelder, and Benedikt Turudic on the roster for head coach Roel Moors.
Alex Lopez returns to Tenerife, PAOK scores double
Reuniting with Lenovo Tenerife two years after departing, Alex Lopez penned a one-year contract. Nearing completion, the roster carries Tim Abromaitis, Elgin Cook, Aaron Doornekamp, Jaime Fernandez, Bruno Fitipaldo, Fran Guerra, Marcelinho Huertas, Dusan Ristic, Sasu Salin, Joan Sastre, Giorgi Shermadini, and Edgar Vicedo.
Olympiacos youth product Nikos Arsenopoulos and 22-year-old Aristotelis Sotiriou are both set to debut in the BCL via PAOK mateco. They placed alongside Skyler Flatten, Elvar Mar Fridriksson, Michael Gilmore, Andrew Harrison, Vangelis Margaritis, Jamuni McNeace, Michalis Tsairelis, and Nikos Tsiakmas.
Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari did not recruit a new player but named Stefano Gentile as the new captain in the aftermath of the retirement of longtime leader Jack Devecchi.
Lukas Palyza boosts the Gladiators
Experienced Czech forward Lukas Palyza was added to the roster of the Caledonia Gladiators. Alongside new teammates at the Glasgow outfit, the mission is to survive the Pre-Qualifier versus Fribourg Olympic and also top CBet, Ironi Hai Motors Ness Ziona, Karhu, Legia Warsaw, Monbus Obradoiro, Mornar Barsko zlato, and SIG Strasbourg to reach the Regular Season.
In more Qualifiers moves, Kalev/Cramo re-upped captain Martin Dorbek and acquired Mihkel Kirves, while CSM CSU Oradea tabbed both Toddrick Gotcher and Nijal Pearson. Also, Telenet Giants Antwerp picked up rookie Justice Sueing, BG Gottingen strengthened with rookie Umoja Gibson, the Norrkoping Dolphins added Kaiden Rice, and Levicki Patrioti re-signed David Abrham.
The Qualifiers will be held in late September, in Antalya, Turkey. The Regular Season follows with Gameday 1 scheduled to start on 17 October.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League