By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard Yogi Ferrell greeted the 7DAYS EuroCup with a remarkable performance in Round 6, although his team lost to Virtus Segafredo Bologna 104-101.
Ferrell’s debut was a success from first sight and he has not been the only one in the history of the competition to turn heads in his first appearance.
Eurohoops presents five plus one of the most impactful debut performances in 7DAYS EuroCup history, all the way back from the inaugural 2002-03 season to this very day.
1. Priest Lauderdale
Lukoil Academic – 2003-04 RS Round 1
34 points, 17 rebounds, 55 PIR vs. KK Zagreb
One of the tallest players to have stepped foot on a European basketball court at 2.24 meters, Priest Lauderdale marked his name in the EuroCup history books from the get-go. To date, his 55 PIR sits atop the all-time single-game index rating table, tied with Loukas Mavrokefalidis. The Greek big man only tied this record 11 seasons later in a game against Krasny Oktyabr Volgograd.
2. Raymar Morgan
Ratiopharm Ulm – 2015-16 RS Round 1
22 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 41 PIR vs. Umana Reyer Venice
Raymar Morgan more than rose to the challenge in his first-ever continental experience with Ulm. He produced a double-double to help his team trash Reyer Venice in the season-opener. Ulm didn’t get past the Last 32 round that season, though his play elevated Morgan to the highest levels of centers in Europe.
3. Jamie Arnold
Krka Novo Mesto – 2002-03 RS Round 1
29 points, 8 rebounds, 40 PIR vs. Darussafaka Istanbul
Krka was the first-ever winner on opening night for the ULEB Cup in 2002. As if that wasn’t enough for history, this feat was accompanied by a tenacious debut performance. Jamie Arnold set the bar high from Round 1 with a 29-point effort against Darussafaka Istanbul. He would become the top scorer of the inaugural season and lead Krka to its sole finals presence.
4. Jonathan Motley
Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar – 2021-22 RS Round 1
29 points, 8 rebounds, 39 PIR vs. MoraBanc Andorra
Perhaps the most impactful player this season, Motley roared over Andorra in the season-opener to give us a taste of what’s to come. After stints in the NBA, G-League, and the Korean League, the 1995-born big man chose Lokomotiv for his European debut and immediately became one of the team’s strongest assets. Motley tied Derrick Brown for the highest PIR ever by a Lokomotiv player in EuroCup in his debut and also Jimmy Baron for the fourth-most points scored in a game for the club.
5. Yogi Ferrell
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana – 2021-22 RS Round 6
24 points, 11 assists, 38 PIR vs. Virtus Segafredo Bologna
Ferrell, 28, landed in Europe this summer to join Panathinaikos OPAP Athens. After a short-lived stint with the Greens in the EuroLeague, the American guard switched sides to make his EuroCup debut with Cedevita on December 8. Ferrell was most productive in the first half and put up a double-double performance, although his tremendous work was overshadowed by Virtus’s depth and quality. Still in his rookie European season, we can expect lots of spectacular games from the talented player.
6. Devin Booker
FC Bayern Munich – 2016-17 RS Round 1
27 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 38 PIR vs. Zenit St Petersburg
After spending several seasons in France, Booker’s move to Germany signaled the start of an era for Bayern. In the 2016-17 season, they made it to the quarterfinals and the next year they made it through to the semifinals. Up to this day, Booker’s 27-point effort against Zenit remains his all-time best career performance.
Photo: EuroCup