Estra Pistoia Basket 2000 signs Michael Forrest

A.S. Estra Pistoia Basket 2000 announces that it has reached a one-year agreement with American point guard Michael Forrest. Born in Pompano Beach, Florida, where Ron Rowan himself lives, on December 2, 1999, 185 cm by 79 kg, he took his first steps in one of the city’s high schools, Blanche Ely, showing such excellent things that he earned the attention of the Florida Atlantic Owls college, with whose uniform he played for five seasons.

In his rookie year, in the 2018/19 NCAA Championship, he took the court 33 times with an average usage of 28.4 minutes, scoring 8.5 points and 3 assists with 37% from 2 and 76% at the free throw line. From there, his numbers continued to grow and for three years he shared the locker room with another of the newly-acquired red-and-whites, Latvian Karlis Silins: the most important figures came between the 2020/21 and 21/22 seasons where he averaged 13.2 points with 36% from 3 and 86% at the free-throw line. The 2022/23 season was his last university season played with a slightly lower minutes (20.8′ average) finishing, however, with 40% from 2 and 75% at the free throw line. A player who, however, is in the history of the College of Florida being the first in 3-point shots made and the second all-time in points scored (over 1600).

After finishing his career in the NCAA, last season he decided to embark on an adventure in Europe, being one of the main protagonists with the BBC Monthey-Chablais jersey in the Swiss A Series: in 32 games played between the regular season and the playoffs, he produced an average of 18.9 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, shooting 45% from 2 and over 80% at the free throw line. On 29 occasions he went into double figures with a record 32 points scored in a single match.

“I’m coming to a league like the LBA, which is a great league and in which many great players play – says Michael Forrest after signing the contract that binds him to Pistoia Basket until 30 June 2025 – and, for me, being able to be part of the new roster of Estra Pistoia is definitely a great opportunity: in addition, I see that I’m coming to a beautiful city, rich in history and culture. I’m back from an important season played in Monthey, Switzerland, and my goal is to win as many games as possible. I have already spoken to President Ron Rowan and I have faith in him: he knows exactly what he is doing and he will certainly help the club to achieve victories and goals”.