According to local media, it seems that Zack Wright (188-G-85, college: Central Mo.) is close to become a Bosnian. Reportedly, Bosnian Basketball Federation would like to have Wright at point guard and ‘transfer’ is already in the process. It is important to say that nothing is officially conformed by the BBF, nor by the player. Zack Wright is currently a member of Cibona Zagreb. He joined them in March from AGO Rethymno. Wright appeared 12 times in Croatian league so far averaging 7.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists. Cibona is at the top of the standings with 12-0 record and they secured the first place before the Playoffs. Zack Wright had 13.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 4.1 apg for 22 games in Greece. Last season he spent with Limoges. Zach Wright also has experience from Le Mans, Chalon and Braunschweig.
Source: EUROBASKET
Player of the Year: Darryl Watkins (211-C-84) of Etha
Guard of the Year: Wiliam Hatcher (188-PG-84) of Keravnos
Shooting Guard of the Year: Vujadin Subotic (198-G-81) of AEK
Small Forward of the Year: Marcus Moore (198-G-80) of Keravnos
Power Forward of the Year: Troy Gillenwater (205-F-88) of Apollon
Center of the Year: Darryl Watkins (211-C-84) of Etha
Rookie of the Year: Giorgos Stylianou (201-F/C-94) of AEL
Newcomer of the year: Christos Loizidis (207-C-91) of AEL
Most Improved Player of the Year: Iakovos Panteli (187-G-85) of AEK
Co-Bosman Player of the Year: Thomas Massamba (185-PG-85) of Etha
Co-Bosman Player of the Year: Vujadin Subotic (198-G-81) of AEK
Import Player of the Year: Darryl Watkins (211-C-84) of Etha
Domestic Player of the Year: Iakovos Panteli (187-G-85) of AEK
Defensive Player of the Year: Iakovos Panteli (187-G-85) of AEK
Co-Coach of the Year: Antonis Konstantinides of Etha
Co-Coach of the Year: Panagiotis Yiannaras of Keravnos
1st Team
PG: Wiliam Hatcher (188-84) of Keravnos
G: Vujadin Subotic (198-81) of AEK
G: Marcus Moore (198-80) of Keravnos
F: Troy Gillenwater (205-88) of Apollon
C: Darryl Watkins (211-84) of Etha
2nd Team
PG: Thomas Massamba (185-85) of Etha
G/F: Charron Fisher (193-85) of AEK
F/G: Winsome Frazier (193-82) of Keravnos
F: Strahinja Dragicevic (203-86) of Keravnos
C/F: Aleksandar Damjanovic (206-73) of ENAD
Honorable Mention
Devron Bostick (196-G-88) of Omonia
Vukasin Mandic (200-F/G-82) of APOEL
Benjamin Raymond (198-G/F-87) of Apollon
Lamar Karim (178-PG-83) of AEK
Georgios Palalas (185-PG-81) of AEL
Ales Chan (216-C-80) of Keravnos
Michael Cuffee (193-F-83) of APOEL
Darryl Watkins (211-C-84) of Etha
Giorgos Anastasiadis (194-SF-77) of Etha
All-Domestic Players Team
G: Iakovos Panteli (187-85) of AEK
G/F: Nikos Papadopoulos (197-81) of Omonia
SF: Giorgos Anastasiadis (194-77) of Etha
C: Panagiotis Trisokkas (206-80) of Keravnos
C: JoJo Garcia (206-75) of AEK
All-Imports Team
PG: Wiliam Hatcher (188-84) of Keravnos
G/F: Charron Fisher (193-85) of AEK
G: Marcus Moore (198-80) of Keravnos
F: Troy Gillenwater (205-88) of Apollon
C: Darryl Watkins (211-84) of Etha
All-Bosmans Team
PG: Thomas Massamba (185-85) of Etha
G: Vujadin Subotic (198-81) of AEK
PF: Dejan Cup (202-83) of Etha
F/C: Lewis Sims (203-73) of APOEL
C/F: Aleksandar Damjanovic (206-73) of ENAD
All-Defensive Team
Iakovos Panteli (187-G-85) of AEK
Thomas Massamba (185-PG-85) of Etha
Feliks Kojadinovic (197-G-79) of Keravnos
Troy Gillenwater (205-F-88) of Apollon
Darryl Watkins (211-C-84) of Etha
All-Newcomers Team
Stefanos Iliadis (186-PG-94) of Apollon
Simos Antoniou (198-G-94) of AEL
Marios Georgiou (200-F-91) of AEL
Giorgos Stylianou (201-F/C-94) of AEL
Merkouris Panagi (193-F/C-95) of AEL
Source: EUROBASKET
Israel’s B.C. Habikaa announced the signing of the New Mexico State Alumnus Troy Gillenwater (Agency: Rize Management) for the rest of the season, in replace of Rashaun Freeman, who suffered a season ending wrist injury.
Freeman recorded averages of 17ppg, 7rpg and 1aspg before fracturing his wrist during a domestic league game. An injury that sent him back to the United States, early than expected. Gillenwater, a 2011 All-WAC 1st team member, left N.Mexico St. as a junior, yet saved his eligibility for the NBA Draft.
With averages of 19ppg, 6.3rpg and 1bpg in college, Troy was projected to bloom into a late second round pick. However, the low ranking and the NBA Lockout sent Gillenwater abroad to earn a living, increase his knowledge of the game and prepare for the upcoming draft, which according to sources close to player, he plans on attending.
If Gillenwater, should pass his Sunday morning physical, he’ll attend the team’s evening road game against favorites Hapoel Jerusalem.
Source: David Pick, EUROBASKET
Josh Akognon will sign with the Canton Charge of the D-League.
Akognon spent this past season in the Chinese Basketball Association.
Source: Marc Stein/ESPN (via Twitter)
KK Cibona signed US guard Zack Wright (188-G-85, college: Central Mo.) (Rize Management-Scott Nichols). Wright played this season for Greek team A.G.O Rethymno, had 21 appearance in Greek A1 League, averaging 13.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 4.0apg, 2.4spg. As a student he played for UALR and Cent.Missouri St. and proffesionally he played for Spot Up Medien Baskets Braunschweig, ES Chalon-Sur-Saone , Le Mans Sarthe Basket and Limoges CSP Elite. In 2009. he played in French ProA All Star game.
Source: Dani Erceg, EUROBASKET
Mention the name Ekene Ibekwe to any die-hard Toronto Raptors fan and they’ll recount how he was taken off the court at Cox Pavilion on a stretcher and rushed to UMC Medical Center during the Las Vegas Summer League in 2009.
Ibekwe was injured trying to make a game-saving block against then Phoenix Suns point guard Goran Dragic who drove the lane in the final seconds. Ibekwe blocked the shot and crashed to the floor over Dragic, nailing his chin on the hardwood.
The Raptors got the 74-73 win that day.
The former Maryland Terrapins’ power forward survived the fall and suffered two sprained wrists and six stitches to his chin.
Three years later, Ekene Ibekwe remains strong at heart in full survival mode overseas playing everywhere from Israel, France, Turkey, Iran and today in Germany where he roams the low blocks for BBC Bayreuth in Germany’s premiere Beko BBL.
Read more
Source: Wendell Maxey, Ridiculous Upside
A few weeks ago, BBC Bayreuth basketball freaks may have been dreaming of Kevin Durant matching the 50 points of Deron Williams in a beko BBL game, meeting the NBA superstar in the city and holding a you tube moment forever, or examining his athletic moves and then making a fool of themselves trying to copy him, but since Durant never arrived, the basketball life in the Bavarian city that gave the world the musical composer has returned back to normal. However the team has showed that they dont really need an NBA superstar as the team continues to play super basketball ever since Danny Gibson returned and new coach Marc Van Den Berg took the helm as the team has cut down their points allowed from 83 to 66.
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Source: Miles Schmidt-Scheuber, EUROBASKET
LAS CRUCES – Troy Gillenwater still has high hopes for the New Mexico State men’s basketball team.
“I think the sky is the limit for this year,” said Gillenwater, who left Las Cruces after three years to pursue a professional career. “Wendell (McKines) had a great summer and Hamidu (Rahman) got better and there a lot of young guys. We lose me and Gordo (Castillo) but we still have the core of the team with Wendell, Hamidu and Hernst (Laroche) who have all been to the NCAA Tournament. Those guys know what it takes to get back.”
Gillenwater will have to keep up with the Aggies from overseas this year.
Gillenwater signed earlier this week with a Top 5 Cyprus League club Apollon Limassol. He said he leaves for Cyprus on Sept. 10 and league play starts later this month.
“I’m excited about getting out there and getting back playing,” said Gillenwater, who left college averaging 15.2 points per game. “It’s going to be a little different than playing at New Mexico State. It’s going to be a culture change but I’m just adapting and hoping to play the best I can.”
NMSU announced that Gillenwater was forgoing his senior season in May. In June, Gillenwater took his name out of the NBA Draft prior to the NBA’s withdrawal deadline but after the NCAA’s early deadline in May – a decision that kept Gillenwater eligible for next year’s draft.
“This is just a big year,” Gillenwater said. “I can go over there and better myself as a player and come back into the 2012 draft and hopefully get drafted, which has been the goal since Day 1. I have just been working out and trying to prepare myself. I’m playing against grown men. There are a lot of older guys and I know it will be more physical.”
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Troy Gillenwater has signed with Apollon of Cyprus, his agent Scott Nichols has confirmed.
Gillenwater will be a candidate for the 2012 NBA Draft.
Gillnwater declared for the 2011 NBA Draft, but eventually withdrew. He led New Mexico State in scoring at 18.9 points per game.
Source: RealGM Wiretap
Andre Owens (193-G-80, college: Houston) and Akida McLain (206-F-86, college: Indiana, PA) are new members of the Bulgarian powerhouse Lukoil Akademik.
Andre Owens heads to Lukoil from Donetsk, where he finished 2010/11. He had 9.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 1.9 apg for them in 23 Ukrainian league games. He helped them reach Playoff Finals. Owens started last season with Manresa and later moved to Granada. He received Bulgarian citizenship in 2009.
Akida McLain also arrives to Lukoil from Ukraine. He had 13 ppg and 5.8 rpg for Khimik in 13 league games. McLain shined with Cypriot Hasapis Omonia Nicosia before his move to Khimik. He had 16 ppg and 6.9 rpg in 14 league games. It was his first season as a pro.
Source: EUROBASKET
