By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Breakthrough of the Year in Lithuania’s Betsafe LKL, Ignas Sargiunas signed a two-year contract with an option for an additional season to join league champion and Basketball Champions League participant, Rytas. Earning an upgrade to the top-tier club continental competition of FIBA Europe, the 24-year-old guard tallied 12.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game with Neptunas last season. Experienced guard Martynas Paliukenas was the first summer signing for the Vilnius outfit.
From Rytas to Bertram Derthona Tortona, Justin Gorham remains in the BCL. The 25-year-old American power forward, a veteran of nine appearances in the Champions League with his previous team, emerged as the third new signing for the Italian club, following Tommy Kuhse and Christian Vital. After college basketball with Houston and Towson, Gorham focused on overseas options, playing for Telekom Baskets Bonn and Hapoel Gilboa Galil, before landing in the capital of Lithuania.
Placed in the First Team of the 2023-24 edition of Israel’s Ligat Winner, Roi Huber moved from Hapoel Nofar Galil Elion to Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan. The third newcomer after Drew Crawford and Amin Stevens, the 27-year-old guard signed a two-year contract. Coming back from the 2023-24 squad, Adam Ariel, Kendale McCullum, and Itay Moshkovitz committed for another season. Between earlier spells at UNET Holon and Hapoel Eilat, Huber played in nine BCL games.
Two more returning players for Tenerife
La Laguna Tenerife re-signed Bruno Fitipaldo for two more seasons with the new contract including an option for an additional season. At the Canary Islands, he contributed to the 2022 BCL title and was named MVP in the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup triumph. Combined with stints with Sidigas Avellino and Hereda San Pablo Burgos, his experience in the Champions League amounts to 95 appearances, six games shy of all-time leader and teammate Tim Abromaitis.
Besides the 32-year-old combo guard, the two-time champions also announced a one-year contract extension for 29-year-old Ilimane Diop. The native of Dakar, representing Spain at the international level, has made his way to 30 BCL games, including eight since joining Tenerife in January. Another recent move regarding Txus Vidorreta’s frontline, Giorgi Shermadini committed for a sixth year in a row at San Cristobal de La Laguna.
Moves in Greece
The next loan assignment for Neoklis Avdalas will be with Peristeri bwin, per Eurohoops sources. The 18-year-old combo guard is among the most promising prospects in Greece. Loaned by Panathinaikos Aktor to the team coached by Giorgos Limniatis, he will debut in the Champions League.
Another Greek team directly entering the 2024-25 Regular Season, Kolossos H Hotels extended the contract of 27-year-old forward Nikos Kamarianos until the end of the 2025-26 season. Opening the offseason, former EuroLeague champion, Giorgos Sigalas was hired as the new head coach.
Reinforcements for the Qualifiers
After handing the head-coaching role to Massimo Cancellieri and opening summer signings with Frank Bartley IV, PAOK mateco inked Kostas Papadakis to a one-year contract. Playing for AEK, the 26-year-old guard logged 13 appearances in the 2022-23 installment of the Champions League.
Also preparing for the Qualification Rounds, Sweden champion Norrkoping Dolphins reunited with 33-year-old Swedish forward Pierre Hampton, ten years after their split. He joined Sebastian Forsling, Adam Ramstedt, Tim Schuberg, and Marcus Tyus on the 2024-25 roster.
Swedish point guard Felix Terins switched from the Dolphins to the Slovakia champion Levicki Patrioti. The first newcomer met David Abrham, Boris Bojanovsky, Alex Krajcovic, Lukas Kulcar, Patrik Pazicky, and Samuel Solcansky on the 2024-25 roster.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL