By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With the Basketball Champions League Qualifiers inching closer, Ironi Hai Motors Ness Ziona tabbed 27-year-old Vincent Edwards, the 52nd pick of the 2018 NBA draft.
The newcomer is the son of Bill Edwards, a Wright State product and former star in Europe. Following two games played in the NBA with the Houston Rockets and several G League campaigns, the former Purdue standout opted to use overseas options last summer. Landed by BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque, he produced 8.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per contest in France’s Betclic Elite LNB Pro A.
Up next is helping the Israeli club in the Qualifiers of the BCL and later domestic and continental challenges. Confirmed new teammates are Dusty Hannahs, Yair Kravits, Tomer Levinson, Ben Moshe, and Itay Segev along with team captain Jerome Meyinsse.
Beliauskas signs with PAOK, Ahmad joins Oostende, and more
Direct entries to the Regular Season include several busy teams looking to complete their respective rosters.
PAOK mateco signed Laurynas Beliauskas to a one-year contract. A veteran of 29 BCL games as a member of Neptunas, the 26-year-old guard entered the Thessaloniki outfit joining Nikos Arsenopoulos, Skyler Flatten, Elvar Mar Fridriksson, Michael Gilmore, Andrew Harrison, Vangelis Margaritis, Jamuni McNeace, Stavros Schizas, Aristotelis Sotiriou, Michalis Tsairelis, and Nikos Tsiakmas.
A newcomer to the Champions League, Khalil Ahmad emerged for Filou Oostende. The team coached by Dario Gjergja already attached Haris Bratanovic, Servaas Buysschaert, Simon Buysse, Pierre-Antoine Gillet, Damien Jefferson, Patrick McCaw, Joppe Mennes, Xander Pintelon, Sam Van Rossom, and Matteo Verstraete to the 2023-24 squad.
In the latest move for Promitheas, the team based in Patras retained Anthony Cowan Jr. for the next season. Incoming Linos Chrysikopoulos, Chris Coffey, Jaime Echenique, Hunter Hale, Antonis Koniaris, Arturs Kurucs, and Deshawn Stephens were confirmed earlier in the offseason.
Elsewhere, Oskaras Pleikys penned a multiyear contract with Rytas, adding depth to the roster. The 22-year-old center joined R.J. Cole, Javin DeLaurier, Martynas Echodas, Justin Gorham, Gytis Masiulis, Margiris Normantas, Gytis Radzevicius, Lukas Uleckas, and Arnas Velicka on the roster.
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