By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After scoring 18.4 points per game in the 2023-24 edition of Germany’s easyCredit BBL, 26-year-old combo guard Jhivvan Jackson is on the way to the Basketball Champions League.
Returning to Germany after displaying his talents in his home country of Puerto Rico over recent months and leading Osos de Manati to the BSN Finals, he switched from Tigers Tubingen to FIT/One Würzburg Baskets. His career will expand to the continental level through the BCL.
Following Fabian Bleck, Julius Bohmer, Mike Davis Jr., Owen Klassen, Bazoumana Kone, Mike Lewis III, Elijah Ndi, Nelson Phillips, Zac Seljaas, Hannes Steinbach, Max Ugrai, Lukas Wank and Tyrese Williams, the former UTSA standout and international player with Panama completed the 2024-25 roster of the German club.
Besides domestic action, the team coached by Saso Filipovski is heading to Regular Season Group A of the Champions League. Hapoel Netanel Holon, Igokea m;tel, and Nanterre 92 are the opponents in a battle to advance to the Round of 16.
Patrioti Levice adds Kivimaki
Finnish combo guard Aatu Kivimaki emerged as a late roster boost for Patrioti Levice. More players for head coach Michal Madzin are David Abrham, Boris Bojanovsky, Daniel Chaban, Karl Gamble, Stephon Jelks, Alex Krajcovic, Lukas Kulcar, Joel Mantynen, Ty Nichols, Patrik Pazicky, Samuel Solcansky, and Felix Terins.
Seeking a spot in Group D of the Regular Season through the Qualifiers in Antalya, the champions of Slovakia will meet Kutaisi 2010 in the Quarterfinals of a six-team tournament. ERA Nymburk, Kalev/Cramo, Keravnos, and Trepca are the remaining candidates to join Galatasaray, Promitheas, and Rasta Vechta.
Meanwhile, Kutaisi 2010 announced 22-year-old Nika Soselia as another returning player. The Georgian club previously confirmed Baqari Berekashvili Mikheil Berishvili, Beka Bekauri, Akaki Dvalishvili, Giorgi Korsantia, Giorgi Ochkhikidze, and Giorgi Sulaberidze for the next season.
Cholet is ready
Elsewhere in the FIBA Europe’s top-tier club continental competition, Cholet named Gerald Ayayi, T.J. Campbell, Nathan De Sousa, Mohamed Diawara, Jamuni McNeace, Cleveland Melvin III, Chris-Ebou Ndow, Stef Smith, Bastien Vautier, and Aaron Wheeler as members of the senior team for the next season.
The team coached by Fabrice LeFrancois must overcome Aliaga Petkimspor, Caledonia Gladiators, CSM Oradea, Heroes den Bosch, and PAOK mateco to enter Group B of the Regular Season alongside Unicaja, Filou Oostende, and King Wilki Morskie Szczecin.
C.J. Bryce signs with AEK
Another team finalizing the squad for the next season, AEK Betsson tabbed 27-year-old guard C.J. Bryce. After splitting his NCAA career between UNC Wilmington and NC State, he played in Hungary during his first professional campaign and moved to Wurzburg for the 2022-23 season. In 2023-24, he tallied 14.4 points per game with Parma in the VTB United League.
Earning an upgrade to the BCL, he teams up with Nahiem Alleyne, Giorgos Fillios, Dimitris Flionis, Grant Golden, Hunter Hale, Prentiss Hubb, Tasos Kamateros, Zois Karampelas, Giannis Kouzeloglou, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Omiros Netzipoglou, Jadyn Parker, Alfis Pilavios, and Gaios Skordilis, under head coach Dragan Sakota.
In Group E of the BCL Regular Season, AEK will face VEF Riga, Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan and one more team advancing from the Qualification Rounds, Telekom Baskets Bonn, Dinamo Banco di Sardegna Sassari, Uniclub Casino – Juventus, MoraBanc Andorra, Spartak Office Shoes or Windrose Giants Antwerp.
Photo Credit: FIBA