By Semih Tuna/ info@eurohoops.net
Two incoming players for Galatasaray Ekmas, Ebuka Izundu and David Efianayi will soon be placed on the roster for the 2024-25 season.
Izundu, 27, is finalizing a deal with Galata for the next season, per Eurohoops sources.
The Nigerian center averaged 9.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.4 steals, 0.4 blocks, and 0.3 assists per contest across all competitions in the 2023-24 season with EWE Baskets Oldenburg. After completing his NCAA career with Miami in 2021, Izundu went from Spain and France to three years in Serbia with FMP and from there to Oldenburg. With his new side projected to compete in the 2024-25 edition of the Basketball Champions League, he is a veteran of 12 games played between Oldenburg, FMP Meridian, and SIG Strasbourg.
Efianayi, 28, is signing with the Lions, as confirmed by Eurohoops. In his fifth overseas campaign, after coming out of Gardner–Webb, he joined Aliaga Petkimspor. Averaging 19.8 points per contest, he ranked second on the scoring list of the 2023-24 edition of the Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi. In addition, he tallied 4.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game over 30 appearances.
His previous professional experience went from Denmark to France and Israel. Besides a second season in the top-tier division of Turkiye, he logged two BCL appearances in the 2019 Qualification Rounds with the Bakken Bears. He added 11 games played in the FIBA Europe Cup up to the early conclusion of the 2019-20 installment due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Yagiz Sabuncuoglu first reported his move to Galatasaray.
In 2023-24, Galata reached the Round of 16 of the Champions League. Falling one win shy of a ticket to the Quarterfinals from Group J signaled the ending of the continental campaign. At the domestic level, an elimination at the hands of Pinar Karsiyaka finished the league and cup exhibitions in the Quarterfinals.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League