By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Players are always searching ways to skyrocket their career, to make a name for themselves. Various routes have been chosen, but the VTB United League proves once again its a unique land of opportunity for the players with a scoring touch not widely recognized. Eurohoops’ look at the ten players with the most points scored since the beginning of the 2018-19 Regular Season mostly pops up prolific scorers from teams that won’t contend for the Championship.
Trae Golden
Coming from: Finland, Cyprus, Italy, France
2018-19 VTB Stats: 17 points, 7.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 0.7 steals
Avtodor Saratov is gunning for a playoffs spot and has two out of three top scorers of the season. Former Tennessee and Georgia Tech guard Trae Golden is currently sitting in first place. After leaving behind his NCAA years, he played in Finland and in Italy’s second division, but went on with Le Portel last year and landed a spot in Russian club’s roster this season.
Golden, 27, is having a remarkable campaign averaging 17 points per contest. He’s been in double-digits in 18 out of his 20 VTB matches dropping out of the zone twice in his first three appearances. He apparently needed an adjustment period, but has been consistent since with his personal-best 26 points coming on January 5th against Tsmoki-Minsk. His 7.7 dimes per game prove he’s not all about pouring points.
Jalen Reynolds
Coming from: Italy, Spain
2018-19 VTB Stats: 17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1,5 assists, 1,5 steals, 0.4 blocks
Xavier alumni Jalen Reynolds finished the 2017-18 season with FC Barcelona Lassa, but opted to join Zenit Saint-Petersburg this season. He started his professional career in Italy’s second division, but quickly got the call from top tier Pallacanestro Reggiana before his short ACB stop and his move to the VTB United League.
It was certainly the right choice considering he’s second among players in total points scored and in points per contest. His highlight jams are included in his 17.7 points per match and played their part in Zenit Saint-Petersburg’s 12-7 W-L record. He might be bound for bigger competitions, but for the moment desires the best possible outcome for his team this season.
Perrin Buford
Coming from: Italy, Australia, Turkey, Puerto Rico
2018-19 VTB Stats: 16.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.9 blocks
Avtodor Saratov’s second scoring weapon is Perrin Buford. He went undrafted in 2016 following his Motlow State CC (2012–2013), Southwest Tennessee CC (2013–2014) and Middle Tennessee (2014–2016) NCAA campaigns. He since played in Italy’s second division, Puerto Rico, Australia and Turkey, before showing his stuff in a big way in the VTB.
He went off for thirty points twice this season, once in his third VTB game in late October and once in early March. His 333 points in total account for 16.7 per game and allow Avtodor to be one win behind the playoffs zone. His contribution to the Russian club extends to rebounding and creating plays for his teammates as his 7.1 and 2.1 averages prove.
Anthony Clemmons
Coming from: Austria
2018-19 VTB Stats: 16.4 points, 5.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals
Breakout seasons are common for players on a rise and this is the case for Anthony Clemmons. The 24-year-old point guard joined Astana before the 2017-18 season after starting his professional career in Austria. He since received Kazakhstani citizenship and emerged as his team’s top offensive weapon.
Clemmons played four NCAA seasons with Iowa improving steadily throughout his college career. He continued with 18.3 points per game with BC Vienna, but his 16.4 points per match this season in the much more competitive VTB is attracting attention on him. It’s no surprise Astana is sitting in fifth place of the standings.
J.J. O’Brien
Coming from: NBA/G League
2018-19 VTB Stats: 14.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1.2 steals
J.J. O’Brien took part in one NBA game with the Utah Jazz, before deciding the VTB is the place to be. With the G League essentially being his only professional experience after his NCAA career with Utah and San Diego State, he joined Astana last summer and has since proven his scoring touch.
The 26-year-old American swingman is fifth in total points scored and tenth in points per game. He is particularly consistent ranging from 9 to his personal-best 25 points in seventeen out of his twenty 2018-19 VTB appearances. His biggest game yet was on December 23rd when he secured the win against Kalev/Cramo Tallinn with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Chavaughn Lewis
Coming from: Lithuania, Poland
2018-19 VTB Stats: 15.8 points, 4.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals
Marist alumni Chavaughn Lewis comes in sixth in total points scored. Much like the players above him in the scoring table, his professional experience is limited to clubs under the radar. He played in Lithuania and Poland before signing with Kalev/Cramo Tallinn last summer.
He’s coming off 18.6 points per contest with Start Lublin in the 2017-18 season, before building up his scoring attitude with 15.7 points per VTB game. Lewis is one of the main reasons the Estonian side is gunning for a playoffs campaign. He’s scored in double-digits sixteen times so far playing in 18 out of the 20 games of the season.
Jordan Mickey
Coming from: NBA/G League
2018-19 VTB Stats: 15.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1,6 blocks, 1 steal, 0.8 assists
Jordan Mickey’s breakout campaign extends to Khimki Moscow Region’s EuroLeague season. However, his VTB run is equally impressive. He’s already scored 276 points, 15.3 per contest, covering for injured Alexey Shved for the majority of the 2018-19 season.
Before joining Khimki, he took part in 38 NBA games, but mostly showed his stuff in the G League with his 20.8 per game with the Maine Red Claws during the 2016-17 season being his top highlight. With that said, he’s now launching a very promising European career.
John Roberson
Coming from: Slovenia, Switzerland, Sweden, Hungary, France
2018-19 VTB Stats: 14.4 points, 5.5 assists, 1.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals
John Roberson is on a unique journey that has led him to Siberia. He proved his scoring value in Slovenia, Switzerland and Hungary before landing a spot in France’s top division. After three campaigns in the Jeep Elite the time came for him to play in the VTB with Enisey Krasnoyarsk.
He’s averaging 14.4 points enough for the eighth spot in total points scored during the VTB United League 2018-19 Regular Season. Enisey has only won four out of its nineteen games, but would likely be further down the standings without the Texas Tech alumni. His top performance was on November 18th with 25 points and nine dimes in the win over Stelmet Enea Zielona Gora.
Geoffrey Grosselle
Coming from: Germany
2018-19 VTB Stats: 13.4 points, 6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.7 assists
Taking notes with players making a name for themselves in the VTB United League. Astana’s Geoffrey Grosselle is one of them. The former Creighton center played his two first professional seasons in easyCredit BBL averaging about 11 points per contest and opted to sign with the club from Kazakhstan last summer.
He’s since played in all twenty games of the 2018-19 season scoring in double-digits seventeen times and sinking 13.4 points per match. He’s a force to be reckoned with in the paint, even against the toughest VTB competition. His breakout season adds on Astana’s surprise package.
Branko Mirkovic
Coming from: Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Belarus, Romania
2018-19 VTB Stats: 13.2 points, 5.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals
Tenth place belongs to experienced Branko Mirkovic. The 36-year-old Serbian-Bulgarian point guard has shown his stuff all around Europe since 2003, but has been with Kalev/Cramo Tallinn the past three seasons.
He’s already proven his scoring touch with the Estonian side, but this year hopes to compete in the VTB playoffs for the first time. His 264 points in twenty games prove he definitely has the desire to achieve this goal.