By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Jumping into the Basketball Champions League as the FIBA Europe Cup champion, Niners Chemnitz picked up Jaron Johnson to add experience. Between the late conclusion of the 2019-20 season and the 2020-21 season, the 32-year-old swingman logged nine appearances in the BCL with JDA Dijon. Teammates on the 2024-25 roster are Roman Bedime, Eddy Edigin Jr., Jeff Garrett, DeAndre Lansdowne, Olivier Nkamhoua, Jonas Richter, Nicholas Tischler, and Aher Uguak.
After starting his professional career in the G League, Au’Diese Toney used overseas options and signed with Kolossos H Hotels. The team coached by Giorgos Sigalas previously placed Sotiris Billis, Giannis Chatzinikolas, Paulius Danusevicius, Gabriel Galvanini, Andrew Goudelock, Nikos Kamarianos, Iosif Koloveros, Francis Okoro, London Perrantes, Andreas Petropoulos, Diamantis Slaftsakis, and Michalis Tsairelis on the roster for the first Champions League campaign.
In an individual debut in the top-tier club continental competition of FIBA Europe, 31-year-old Strahinja Gavrilovic moved to Igokea m:tel. Earlier signings for the Laktasi outfit went from Bryce Jones and Terrell Carter II to Sacar Anim. Dragan Milosavljevic alongside Duvnjak Faruk and Velibor Milovanovic were handed contract extensions. Also, Nenad Stefanovic was hired as the new head coach.
Vechta, VEF Riga, Wurzburg
Coming out of Eastern Kentucky, 23-year-old Isaiah Cozart emerged as the latest signing for Rasta Vechta. The team coached by Martin Schiller previously entered Tyger Campbell, Joschka Ferner, Johann Grunloh, Brandon Randolph, Ryan Schwieger, Grant Sherfield, and Luc Van Slooten into the squad.
Youngster Kristaps Soldatenoks, a regular with junior national teams of Latvia over recent years, inked a three-year contract with VEF Riga. The team coached by Martins Gulbis had already secured the services of Vyacheslav Bobrov, Harrison Cleary, Jaquan Lawrence, and Issuf Sanon.
Nearing the completion of the roster, FIT/One Wurzburg Baskets signed Tyrese Williams. The 24-year-old forward joined Fabian Bleck, Julius Bohmer, Mike Davis Jr., Robert Ford III, Owen Klassen, Bazoumana Kone, Nelson Phillips, Zac Seljaas, Max Ugrai, and Lukas Wank.
Moves for Qualifiers outfits
Preparing for the Qualification Round, Fribourg Olympic added 24-year-old Chimezie Offurum. Ugo Dassin, Massimiliano Dell’Acqua, Jonathan Kazadi, Roberto Kovac, Eric Nottage, Cheikh Sane, Matteo Smith, and Ross Williams were already in for the team coached by Thibaut Petit.
After retaining head coach Michalis Kakiouzis and captain Simon Michail, reuniting with Josh Hagins, and adding Panos Pavlidis, Keravnos announced a one-year contract extension for Jaye Crockett and Travis Taylor, and also signed Landrius Horton.
Kalev/Cramo tabbed 30-year-old Arik Smith. Leemet Bockler, Martin Dorbek, Kregor Hermet, Severi Kaukiainen, Artem Kovalov, Tanel Kurbas, Gregor Kuuba, Anrijs Miska, Kasper Suurorg, and Hugo Toom were already on the roster.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League