Basket rumors

Maccabi Tel Aviv signs Oz Blayzer

Maccabi Tel Aviv has signed Oz Blazer for the coming season. The 27-year-old Israeli forward (1.99m) has faced the Yellows in the Final Four wearing the Maccabi Rishon LeZion uniform for the past two years and will now wear the champion’s uniform after seven seasons in the Israeli league.

“I want to welcome Oz Blayzer to Maccabi Tel Aviv. He is one more quality player that will give great solutions to our team and will be part of our family”, Coach Giannis Sfairopoulos told maccabi.co.il. “Oz is an Israeli player who proved that he is ready for the next step and that’s why we wanted to bring him to our club”.

“I am happy and excited to come to Maccabi Tel Aviv”, Oz Blayzer admitted in his response to the club’s official website. “I am ready for the new challenge, to prove my place and fight for the team. There is no Israeli player who grew up here and does not know the meaning of a club like Maccabi. I’m already waiting to start and meet all the players and team. The thing I’m most looking forward to, and even already imagine it happening, is the return of the fans to the arenas and to meet the fans as a Maccabi player in the arena”.

Oz Blayzer, born in December 1992, is considered a strong and experienced forward who knows how to handle the ball and also score beyond the arc (43% and 41% from 3pt respectively in the last two seasons in the playoffs). He knows most of the current roster well and played with some of the players in the Israeli national team.

During the last season, Blayzer played with Rishon LeZion five times against Maccabi. In the first round in the city of wine he scored 11 points, in the second in our arena he finished with 11, in the third he provided 16 and 8 rebounds and in the fourth 11 and 5 rebounds. In the last final four final Blayzer scored 13 Points (3 of 5 from three) in 25 minutes of play.

Blazer grew up in Kfar Tavor (northern Israel) and grew up in the youth department of Hapoel Gilboa\Maayanot. In 2011 he was added to the senior team of Hapoel Afula. He then moved to Bnei Herzliya and was selected as the season revelation in 2013/14. After another season at the HaYovel Hall he moved to Maccabi Haifa, played three seasons in the green uniform and then moved to Rishon LeZion in the summer of 2018.

Last season Oz was a key part in Guy Goodes’ machine. With the vice champions he averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals and assists in 26.9 minutes per game during the regular season. In the playoffs he provided 11.3 points with 85% for 2pt and 41% for 3pt, along with 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 25.8 minutes per game.

In the last playoff in the league, Blayzer was ranked 10th among the Israelis in the efficiency index, seventh in the 3pt percentage, 11 in rebounds and 11 in the plus-minus index. In the Rishon LeZion uniform in the EuroCup, he took part in ten games, started in five of them and provided 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. His highlight game was against Ulm with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 20 Eff.

Fonte: Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Rasta Vechta extends Josh Young until 2022

Rasta Vechta announced the extension of Josh Young’s contract until 2022.
The pointguard played 4 of the last 5 seasons with the German club.

Last year he averaged 12.8 points, 3.4 assist and 1 steals per game between BBL and BCL, shooting 45% from the field, 41% from long range and 76% from the foul line.

Golan Gutt returns to Maccabi Rishon

Golan Gutt signed a one-year contract with Maccabi Rishon.
The guard previously played for the Israeli team in the 2015/16 season.
Last year Gutt averaged 9.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game for Ironi Nes Ziona.

BAXI Manresa, William Magarity part ways

BAXI Manresa and William Magarity have reached an agreement to end the player’s contract with the club.
Last year the Swedish big man averaged over 7 points and 3 rebounds per game between ACB and BCL.

Ratiopharm Ulm officially sign Aric Holman

Aric Holman (23) moves from the NBA G-League to Ulm and signs a contract until 2021.
The versatile big man out of Mississipi State spent his rookie season in G league, averaging 9.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Texas Legends.

Milenko Tepic signs with KK Mega Bemax

Milenko Tepic signed a one-year contract with KK Mega Bemax, the serbian team announced.
The veteran swingman spent last season between Italy (just 3 games for Varese) and Greece, where he averaged 4.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.9 assist for Iraklis BC.

Gabriel Olaseni reportedly signing with Büyükçekmece

Gabriel Olaseni reached an agreement with Büyükçekmece, Levent Yavuz reports.

The big man out of Iowa spent last year with Frutti Extra Bursaspor, averaging 10.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

London Lions ink Kingsley Okoroh

The London Lions have added immense size to their roster with young Brit, Kingsley Okoroh standing at 7ft 1”.

The former Derby Trailblazer and GB International is trying to find a home that suits his style after a super college career at University of California. Graduating in 2018, Kingsley left his college, third all time in blocked shots and in the top 10 in the Pac 10 Conference with 201 career blocks. He averaged 6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in his final year.

Since college, the big man had a season in Leb Gold in Spain, with the Araberri club, playing 18 minutes a game and returning 6 points and 5 boards. After that the 19/20 season saw an inability to stick, now he has been tracked down by the Lions with a role to play.

Lions boss Vince Macaulay commented, “This is going to be interesting with Kingsley. He is so big and yet athletic with a nice soft touch, I believe in the right role he could be a key piece, he showed how smart he is at Cal University I think as with a lot of British players, he is a late starter and a late bloomer and we could see him really come to the fore with the number of games we will have to play this season – he is certainly going to cause a problem for many teams.”

Okoroh was delighted to be in London, “I’m happy to be a part of the London Lions organisation, we are trying to do something special this season and I’m glad to be a part of that! We have a strong talented group of players who are all ready to challenge for titles.”

Fans will get to see the team for the first time on the 15th of September, when Basketball Champions League opponents, Neptunas Klaipeda will be the visitors

Tickets and details of television coverage will come out nearer the date as we follow Government guidelines on indoor sports.

Fonte: London Lions.

Demetrius Denzel-Dyson joins Kataja Basket

Demetrius Denzel-Dyson signed with Kataja Basket, the finnish team announced.
The swingman spent last year between the G League and the Lithuanian division.

Aaron Valdes signs with Maccabi Haifa

Aaron Valdes is a new player of Maccabi Haifa, the Israeli team announced.

The guard spent last season in the Mexican LNBP, where he averaged 12.9 points and 1.6 steals for the Leandores de Durango.

Frutti Extra Bursaspor: Tutku Açık is the new coach

Tutku Açık has been named the new head coach of Frutti Extra Bursaspor.
Last season Acik has been assistant coach for the Turkish team.

This year Bursaspor will play in EuroCup and BSL.

Pierre Jackson joins Panathinaikos

Panathinaikos OPAP announces the one-year agreement with Pierre Jackson.

Pierre Jackson (born August 29, 1991) is an American professional basketball player who played college basketball for the College of Southern Idaho and Baylor University in which he was one of the top college players in the 2012–13 season.

Jackson attended Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas. Following a standout career, where he led the state of Nevada in assists as a senior, he went to the College of Southern Idaho (CSI). At CSI, Jackson led the Golden Eagles to a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship in 2011, earning tournament MVP honors. He averaged 18.6 points and 4.4 assists per game in 2010–11 and was named a first-team All-American and the NJCAA Player of the Year at the conclusion of the season.

After concluding his junior college career, Jackson moved to Baylor to complete his college career. He had a strong junior campaign for the Bears, averaging 13.8 points and 5.9 assists in the 2011–12 season.

Jackson returned to Baylor for his senior season in 2012–13. He was named the Big 12 preseason Player of the Year and was named to the preseason watch lists for the Wooden[4] and Naismith national player of the year awards.

On April 4, 2013, Jackson ended his college career with a championship win over Iowa at the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). As a senior, he averaged 19.8 points and 7.1 assists per game.

Jackson was selected with the 42nd overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. On July 12, 2013, his draft rights were traded, along with Jrue Holiday, to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Nerlens Noel.

On July 27, 2013, Jackson signed a one-year deal with ASVEL Villeurbanne of the LNB Pro A. However, he left the team in September 2013 before appearing in a game for them.

On November 1, 2013, Jackson was selected with the fourth overall pick in the 2013 NBA D-League draft by the Idaho Stampede.

On February 3, 2014, he was named to the Futures All-Star roster for the 2014 NBA D-League All-Star Game. On February 1, 2014, he recorded a career-high 18 assists in a 127–123 win over the Los Angeles D-Fenders. On February 4, 2014, he scored 58 points against the Texas Legends, setting the D-League single-game scoring record.

On February 20, 2014, Jackson left the Idaho Stampede in order to sign in Turkey. The next day, he signed with Fenerbahçe Ülker for the rest of the 2013–14 season. On April 10, 2014, he parted ways with Fenerbahçe after just six games. He averaged 3.3 points and 1.3 assists over those six games.

On June 27, 2014, the Pelicans traded Jackson’s rights back to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Russ Smith’s draft rights. On July 1, 2014, he joined the 76ers for the 2014 NBA Summer League. In game one of the 76ers’ Orlando Summer League schedule on July 5, he ruptured his right Achilles during the first half of their 77–83 loss to the Orlando Magic. Despite the injury, he signed a one-year, partially guaranteed contract with the 76ers on July 24, 2014, only to be waived on September 30 after he was ruled out for six to 12 months.

On July 15, 2015, Jackson re-signed with the 76ers after averaging 12 points per game in two Las Vegas Summer League games. However, he was later waived by the 76ers on October 26 after appearing in three preseason games.

On January 6, 2016, Jackson was reacquired by the Idaho Stampede. He made his season debut for the Stampede three days later in a 98–92 win over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, recording six points, one rebound, two assists and one steal in 11 minutes of action off the bench. On March 4, he was traded to the Texas Legends in exchange for the returning player rights to Eric Griffin.

In July 2016, Jackson joined the Portland Trail Blazers for the 2016 NBA Summer League.

On October 18, 2016, Jackson signed a one-month deal with Croatian club Cedevita Zagreb. In his time with Cedevita, he appeared in two EuroCup games and five ABA League games.

On November 30, 2016, Jackson was reacquired by the Texas Legends. After appearing in 10 games for the Legends, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks on December 27, 2016. That night, he made his NBA debut in a 123–107 loss to the Houston Rockets, recording seven points, one rebound and two assists in 11 minutes off the bench. On January 25, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Mavericks. He made his first career start in the Mavericks’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on January 26, and recorded nine points, two rebounds and four assists in 13 minutes before leaving the game in the first half with a left hamstring strain.[41] He was subsequently waived two days later, and immediately re-joined the Legends. On February 6, 2017, he was named in the Western Conference All-Star team for the 2017 NBA D-League All-Star Game.

On July 14, 2017, Jackson signed a one-year deal, with an option for another season, with Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League and the EuroLeague. In his first Euroleague game for Maccabi, Jackson starred with 27 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds in an 88–71 win over Brose Bamberg. He was subsequently named MVP of Round 1. On March 2, 2018, Jackson participated in the Israeli League All-Star Game, where he recorded 18 points and 6 assists and was named All-Star Game MVP. That season, Jackson helped Maccabi to win the Israeli League Cup and the Israeli League Championship.

On July 4, 2018, Jackson signed with the Beijing Fly Dragons of the Chinese Basketball Association. On October 25, 2018, Jackson scored a career-high 67 points (including 10 3-pointers) and 10 assists in a 136-137 loss to the Shenzhen Leopards.

In July 2019, Jackson signed with the Shenzhen Leopards.

On January 17, 2020, Jackson was acquired by the South Bay Lakers.

Fonte: Panathinaikos.

Marko Tomas to sign with Gaziantep

Marko Tomas reached an agreement with Gaziantep Basketbol, Levent Yavuz reports.
The croatian guard spent last season with BC Igokea, where he averaged 9.6 points per game in ABA Liga.

Gipuzkoa reportedly signing Brandone Francis

Delteco Gipuzkoa reached an agreement with Brandone Francis, Chema de Lucas reports.
The former Texas Tech swingman played his rookie season with the Iowa Wolves in G League.

Happy Casa Brindisi signs Nick Perkins

Nick Perkins is a new player of Happy Casa Brindisi, the italian team announced.

The big man out of Buffalo played his rookie season in the Japanese B-League, where he averaged over 20 points and 9 rebounds per game for the Nigata Albirex.