By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After two productive campaigns in the BKT EuroCup with 7bet-Lietkabelis, 26-year-old Serbian forward/center Nikola Popovic moved to the Basketball Champions League and Falco Szombathely. A former Boston College standout, he spent the last two years with the team based in Panevezys. Making his way to 22 EuroCup appearances, he tallied 9.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per contest, including 10.3 points per game last season. He is the first newcomer for the team coached by Milos Konakov.
Penning one-year contracts, Noah Kirkwood, Khalid Moore, and Marcus Santos-Silva emerged as the latest signings for Saint-Quentin. The 24-year-old forward played 15 games in the 2023-24 edition of the BCL with Telekom Baskets Bonn, but 23-year-old Moore and 27-year-old Santos-Silva will debut in the league. Mohamed Diakite and Giovan Oniangue previously joined the French club. Also, captain William Pfister, Lucas Boucaud, Dominik Olejniczak, Loic Schwartz, and Nolan Traore inked contract extensions.
A few weeks after surgery on the middle finger of his left hand, 35-year-old Andrea Zerini inked a two-year contract extension with Bertram Derthona Tortona. The experienced forward/center is a veteran of 32 games in the Champions League, including six with his current club last season. Earlier in the offseason, the team based in Tortona added Justin Gorham, Tommy Kuhse and Christian Vital.
Lluis Costa inked a 2+1 contract to join La Laguna Tenerife and elevate to the BCL at 31. Also, 21-year-old Konstantin Kostadinov was named as a member of the 2024-25 roster. Earlier in the offseason, Ilimane Diop and Bruno Fitipaldo signed contract extensions. Marcelinho Huertas and Giorgi Shermadini have committed to sticking around for the next season as well.
PAOK double stands out in Qualifiers moves
On the Qualification Rounds front, 26-year-old Shavar Reynolds Jr. joined PAOK mateco on a one-year contract. Reuniting with the Thessaloniki outfit, 32-year-old Dimitris Katsivelis, a veteran of 36 appearances in the Champions League, signed a one-year contract. Frank Bartley IV and Kostas Papadakis were previously added for the team coached by Massimo Cancellieri.
Former BCL champion in the Qualifiers, Bonn inked Phlandrous Fleming Jr. to a one-year contract. The 25-year-old guard is teaming up with Angelo Allegri, Jonathan Bahre, Sam Griesel, Thomas Kennedy, Darius McGhee, Janne Mueller, Till Pape, Rivaldo Soares, and Lars Thiemann.
Coming out of the Lindenwood Lions, 23-year-old Keenon Cole will start his professional career with the Norrkoping Dolphins, champions of Sweden. New teammates feature Nathan Dawit, Sebastian Forsling, Pierre Hampton, Adam Ramstedt, Tim Schuberg, and Marcus Tyus.
At Kalev/Cramo, 22-year-old Leemet Bockler inked a 1+1 contract extension to place alongside Gregor Kuuba and Hugo Toom on the tentative 2024-25 roster for head coach Heiko Rannula.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net