By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Approaching tipoff in the Qualification Rounds and from there to the Regular Season of the 2024-25 installment of the Basketball Champions League, multiple teams welcomed more new players.
After debuting in European club continental competitions through the BKT EuroCup with Veolia Towers Hamburg last season, Cal Poly Pomona product Will Christmas moved to the BCL and Niners Chemnitz. Completing the squad, the 27-year-old forward joined Roman Bedime, Eddy Edigin Jr., Jeff Garrett, Jaron Johnson, DeAndre Lansdowne, Olivier Nkamhoua, C.J. Penha Jr., Jonas Richter, Nicholas Tischler, and Aher Uguak. The FIBA Europe Cup champions will play in Group G against BAXI Manresa, Bertram Derthona Tortona, and one more team out of the Qualification Rounds.
Hoping to enter Group G, Benfica strengthened its Qualifiers bid with 32-year-old Tyler Stone, a veteran of 14 BCL appearances with Happy Casa Brindisi in the 2019-20 season. Jose Barbosa, Makrem Ben Romdhane, Betinho Gomes, Aaron Broussard, Nico Carvacho, Trey Drechsel, Eduardo Francisco, Diogo Gameiro, Ahmaad Rorie, Daniel Relvao, and Jose Silva were previously confirmed for the next season.
Teyvon Myers joins King Szczecin
A Champions League rookie packing Europe Cup experience with Porto, 30-year-old Teyvon Myers penned a one-year contract with King Wilki Morskie Szczecin. He is teaming up with Kacper Borowski, Chad Brown, Aleksander Dziewa, Mateusz Kostrzewski, Filip Matczak, Andrzej Mazurczak, Tony Meier, Kassim Nicholson, Szymon Wojcik, James Woodard, and Przemyslaw Zolnierewicz.
Hoping to join Szczecin, Unicaja, and Filou Oostende in Group B via the Qualifiers in Antalya, Heroes Den Bosch secured the services of 18-year-old Mal Syla. Xavier Cork, Le’tre Darthard, Menno Dijkstra, Justin Kier, Troy Koehler, Luuk van Bree, and Samuell Williamson were already in.
Another Group B candidate, the Caledonia Gladiators added 23-year-olds Toto Fagbenle and Isaiah Hill. Fahro Alihodzic, Trevond Barnes, Kyle Jimenez, Fraser Malcolm, and Patrick Whelan were already placed on the roster for head coach Gareth Murray.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net