By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Five more European players completed the necessary process intending to test NBA waters. Among them Davidson junior Jon Axel Gudmundsson. The 22-year-old Icelandic point guard was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and was included in the conference’s first team after his 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per 2018-19 NCAA contest.
Young Lithuanian Gytis Masiulis is on loan from Zalgiris Kaunas to Neptunas Klaipeda. After participating 13 EuroLeague games last year, he averaged 6.8 points and 3.1 boards in the Basketball Champions League 2018-19 season with Neptunas. In his 29 LKL appearances so far he posted 9.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per contest.
Another BCL player that entered the NBA draft is Vrenz Blejenbergh of the Telenet Giants Antwerp, hosts of the 2019 Final Four. In seven BCL appearances he averaged 0.9 points, 1.3 rebounds, 0.3 steals and 0.3 assists. He also has 1.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game in the EuroMillions Basketball League.
Alike Masiulis, Arnas Velicka, 19, is on a loan assignment from Zalgiris. The young Lithuanian point guard is with Estonian Tartu Ulikool/Rock this year averaging 19.2 points, 5.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League.
Another Zalgiris loanee Matas Jogela submitted his paperwork ahead of the NBA draft as well. The 20-year-old Lithuanian guard is averaging 7.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per LKL match this season with Dzukija.
Fellow Europeans Iggy Brazdeikis, Neemias Queta, Derrik Smits, Deividas Sirvydis and Yovel Zoosman have already declared for the NBA draft, which will be held on June 20th at Brooklyn. All early entrants can withdraw their name for consideration any time before the final declaration date.
Photo Credit: Davidson