By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
With the 7DAYS EuroCup signing deadline now having passed, time will tell which mid-season newcomers will have the greatest ultimate impact. But already, Umana Reyer Venice, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, Virtus Segafredo Bologna, and Partizan NIS Belgrade area among several teams that have been bolstered with additions who are taking on key roles in the regular season.
Virtus’s latest signings, Tornike Shengelia and Daniel Hackett, have been the hot topic of the last few days, and undoubtedly both bring in experience and quality for Sergio Scariolo’s squad. Hackett made his debut in Round 14, tapping 8 points in the team’s key victory over Reyer Venice, while Shengelia stepped up hot in Round 15 with 14 points and 7 rebounds despite a defeat to Cedevita. With three rounds left in the regular season, both will have the chance to be incorporated into Virtus’ system well ahead of the playoffs.
However, the two veterans are not the only big mid-season additions in the competition. Six players have already had quite the impact on their respective teams when it mattered the most.
Jordan Theodore – Umana Reyer Venice
Reyer has been on the struggling end for the most part of the season, yet now not only are they playoffs-bound but could even push for home-court advantage. This drastic change has greatly to do with the signing of scoring ace Jordan Theodore. He’s the face that changed the course of the season for his team, and now leads Reyer with averages of 16.4 points, 3.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds across five games.
Yogi Ferrell – Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
Yogi Ferrell’s EuroCup debut was a revelation and even a glimpse of hope for struggling Cedevita. Ever since, the Slovenian side has managed to find its way back on top from the bottom of the Group B standings. Ferrell produces 15.7 points and 4.6 assists per game, scoring exclusively in double figures except for Round 7 (9 points vs. Reyer). His signing with Cedevita was a turnaround for both sides, after Ferrell’s stint with Panathinaikos early in the 2021-22 season was cut short.
Mathias Lessort – Partizan NIS Belgrade
Partizan made big moves in the offseason, with the names of Kevin Punter and Zach LeDay standing out, though the addition of French center Lessort was the piece of the puzzle that completed a dreamy trifecta for head coach Zeljko Obradovic. The experienced center arrived at a crucial point of the season to take some weight off LeDay’s shoulders and has scored in double figures in four of his seven games with the club, while also dominating the battle of the boards with a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game.
Kendrick Perry – Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
A loaded Buducnost squad still had room for improvement and Kendrick Perry arrived to contribute quality minutes when stars Justin Cobbs and DJ Seeley need a breather. Despite the team’s ups and downs in recent weeks, Perry has the potential to evolve even further under the guidance of head coach Aleksandar Dzikic. Despite his undersized physique, so far he’s shown that he’s a tough matchup for any EuroCup opponent and a defensive threat with 1.8 steals per game.
Sindarius Thornwell – ratiopharm Ulm
Oftentimes, players landing in Europe from the NBA don’t seem to adjust so fast and quick, though that was not the case for Ulm guard Sindarius Thornwell. The South Carolina alumnus brought four years of NBA experience to the German club and was added to the list of reliable weapons for head coach Jaka Lakovic. Ulm has gone winless since beating Virtus on January 25, and although Thornwell is far from his scoring self ever since the windows break in February, he continues to greatly contribute on the defensive end.
Anthony Clemmons – Turk Telekom Ankara
Turk Telekom is going through a rough patch with three consecutive defeats, yet they are playoffs-bound and that’s partly owed to the addition of floor general Clemmons. Although a team with frontcourt depth, Turk Telekom’s backcourt was a question at the beginning of the season. Clemmons’ performance against Partizan in Round 11 – 20 points, 8 assists, 3 rebounds, 32 PIR – not only helped assure that victory but also set the tone for the team’s playoffs pursuit.
Photo credit: EuroCup