By George Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
The Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teams are getting ready for the upcoming season, and many organizations have already made many moves in the off-season and the summer window. Thus, the rosters for many teams have been almost completed, and EuroLeague fans are having their discussions and debates based on their first impressions.
As it happens every year, it is fascinating to present the players, who are rookies in Europe’s best competition, regardless of age and experience.
Eurohoops singled out the ten most essential rookies for the upcoming season.
Alec Peters (CSKA Moscow)
D.O.B.: 13 April 1995
Height: 206 cm
Position: F
Alec Peters was drafted as the 54th pick of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, and a year later he decided to join CSKA Moscow. Peters, 23 is expected to help the ‘Army Team’ significantly in an effort to achieve the ultimate goal, which is to win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague competition.
The American forward played 20 NBA games with Arizona’s team last year and has characteristics that head coach Dimitris Itoudis can utilize for the sake of his team. He can score from deep, post up smaller defenders, but can also facilitate the offense.
The 23-year old had an impressive game last season with the Suns, scoring 36 points (eight three-pointers) against the Dallas Mavericks.
Shavon Shields (Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz)
D.O.B.: 5 April 1994
Height: 201 cm
Position: G/F
Shavon Shields is a talented scorer that will definitely help Baskonia‘s team with this skills offensively. The 24-year old had an incredible season last year with Trento, and will now have to take the step forward in order to be equally effective in the EuroLeague competition.
Last season, Shields averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, and was one of the most significant players of the team, leading his squad to the Italian League finals. Shields can penetrate excellent around the basket and is also an excellent mid-range shooter. The question is how can he step up from the 7DAYS EuroCup competition to the EuroLeague.
Tyler Ennis (Fenerbahce Istanbul)
D.O.B.: 24 August 1994
Height: 191 cm
Position: G
In the last couple of years, many players decide to leave the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague competition and continue their career in the NBA. This off-season, however, many players decided to do the exact opposite and join Europe’s best competition. One of them was Tyler Ennis.
After Fenerbahce lost Brad Wannamaker to the Boston Celtics, Obradovic‘s team pursued Tyler Ennis into joining the 2017 EuroLeague champs. The 23-year old eventually signed with the Turkish side and next to Kostas Sloukas, they could become the best backcourt duo in Europe.
Ennis is an excellent playmaker, can create for his teammates, loves to play the pick and roll game and plays with energy on the defensive side of the court.
Johnny O’Bryant (Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv)
D.O.B.: 1 June 1993
Height: 206 cm
Position: F/C
Just like Tyler Ennis, Johnny O’Bryant also decided to join Europe’s best competition and leave the NBA. Along with Alex Tyus, the 25-year old ex-NBAer wants to cover the center position. O’Bryant’s skill set is unique. Standing at 206 cm, he can score the basketball in various ways from inside the paint, but also uses his athleticism when receiving the basketball near the basket.
The opponents, however, will also have to follow and defend O’Bryant many times away from the paint, making him a tough player to defend. In the 2017-2018 NBA season, he averaged 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per contest.
Jordan Mickey (Khimki Moscow region)
D.O.B.: 9 July 1994
Height: 203 cm
Position: F/C
Head coach Georgios Bartzokas is known for his excellent ability to select foreign players, and Jordan Mickey is a great pick up for the Russian team.
Mickey, 24 played in 23 games with the Miami Heat last season and averaged 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He is expected to help Khimki in the rebounding department as well as in scoring down low and affecting the paint positively. His presence will also be seen on defense.
If the former NBAer has a great relationship with his teammates, Khimki will benefit as a team.
Nigel Williams-Goss (Olympiacos Piraeus)
D.O.B: 16 September 1994
Height: 191 cm
Position: G
Under head coach David Blatt, Olympiacos Piraeus is ready to begin a new chapter. Nigel Williams-Goss is one of the players that Blatt hopes will lead this team next to Vassilis Spanoulis. The ‘reds’ hope that he will continue to grow as a player and have a significant impact on the Greek team.
Williams-Goss competed in last season’s 7DAYS EuroCup competition with Partizan Belgrade and had an impressive year. He put up 17.0 points (50% 3FG) and 6.7 assists per game. Williams-Goss’ ambitions reach the NBA and Olympiacos could be a stepping stone in his success. He can score off the dribble, drive the lane to the basket, but also get to the free-throw line.
Kyle Kuric (FC Barcelona Lassa)
D.O.B.: 25 August 1989
Height: 193 cm
Position: G
European fans are well aware of the American player who has an incredible and unique shot, but also the European experience needed that will help him adapt to the needs of FC Barcelona Lassa.
At the age of 29, Kyle Kuric is preparing for his EuroLeague debut. Barcelona’s guard is a real life fighter, as he managed to defeat the odds a couple of years ago and beat cancer.
With Zenit’s jersey, Kuric managed to score an average of 15.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 19 EuroCup games.
Amedeo Della Valle (Olimpia Exchange Armani Milan)
D.O.B.: 11 Απριλίου 1993
Height: 193 cm
Position: G
With hard work and patience, Amedeo Della Valle is now part of a EuroLeague team. At 25 years of age, Della Valle wants to prove that he has the skills to play at the highest European level. It is interesting to note that Milan’s team has made some significant moves this off-season, signing Mike James, Dairis Bertans, and Nemanja Nedovic.
Della Valle is coming off an excellent EuroCup season last year, being one of the best players in the competition. The 25-year old averaged 17.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game, proving that he certainly can score the basketball and create for himself.
Earl Clark (Buducnost VOLI)
D.O.B.: 17 January 1988
Height: 208 cm
Position: F
For the past two years, Earl Clark played for Besiktas in the Turkish League and the Basketball Champions League competition. In the 2018 off-season, he decided to join Buducnost VOLI and thus play in the EuroLeague. The 30-year old American forward will use his NBA experience to his favor (has played in 261 NBA games), for his first year in Europe’s best competition.
In 16 Champions League games last year, Clark averaged 13.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. At 30 years of age, Clark will be the oldest EuroLeague rookie. His presence in Montenegro can be considered a luxury for Buducnost.
Zach LeDay (Olympiacos Piraeus)
D.O.B.: 30 May 1994
Height: 201 cm
Position: F/C
Along with Nigel Williams-Goss, Zach LeDay is another player that could help David Blatt’s new team. Few are the ones who followed LeDay and his journey before signing with Olympiacos, but in the 2018-2019 season, he will play a critical role for Olympiacos. In fact, Nikola Milutinov and LeDay will be the two players that will share minutes in the front-court positions.
At 24 years of age, LeDay is ready to face his biggest challenge yet, the EuroLeague competition. The American is coming off an excellent season in Israel, with Hapoel Gilboa Galil’s jersey, averaging 19.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, while shooting an impressive 37% from beyond the arc. His energy, athleticism and rebounding skills on both ends of the court, can help Olympiacos.
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