By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Early in the season, we’ve named VTB League the second-best domestic league in Europe and for a good reason. Not only does it feature some of Europe’s elite clubs like CSKA Moscow and Khimki Moscow Region, but also it keeps producing gems through the years. Teams like Avtodor Saratov or Parma might not star in the standings, though they have ‘fed’ European competitions with lots of talent in the past and keep doing so.
Teams’ budgets are oftentimes high, attracting many stars of the game from all sides of the world. Marquee names dominate the league, from Alexey Shved to Mike James, from Sergio Rodriguez to Jonas Jerebko. And there is more to discover if you take a closer look!
13 teams of all sorts of dynamics and with different goals share one thing in common: hidden gems. Such are the following 5+1 names on our list. Players that are having a breakthrough season, players that we will also end up seeing in the upcoming 2020 VTB League All-Star game; We’ve got them all, so let’s have a look!
Markel Starks – Avtodor Saratov – Guard
1991 – USA
A newcomer in the league, Starks is bringing in his experience to help the team overcome its struggles this season. Things don’t look that good for Avtodor at this point, though Starks has stepped up several times to save his team in tight games.
It wasn’t long ago when he won the game vs. Lokomotiv at the final buzzer with a three-point shot. In general, he’s productive on all ends of the court, with a contribution of 15.4 points, 6.4 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 33 minutes per game.
Davion Berry – Enisey – Guard
1991 – USA
Berry moved to Enisey before the start of the 2019-20 season after gaining experience in Greece, Germany and the NBA G-League. A top-notch scorer that can defy every opponent could be an accurate description for the 28-year-old guard.
Earlier in the season, he dropped 23 points against CSKA Moscow and 21 points against UNICS Kazan and is slowing making his way up to the most-discussed names of the league. Currently, he averages 18.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in nearly 32 minutes on the court.