By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Joel Soriano signed a contract with Valencia for the remainder of the 2024-25 season and with an option for the next season.
The Oranges announced the deal on Thursday.
Expanding his career overseas, the former St. John’s standout is set for action in the bottom end of the 2024-25 Regular Season and the 2025 Playoffs of Spain’s Liga Endesa.
If the remains for the 2025-26 season, he will also debut at the European continental level with current club projections on the BKT EuroCup, the second tier of Euroleague Basketball.
Per the press release: “Valencia Basket has reached an agreement for American center Joel Soriano (2.08m, Yonkers (New York), January 30, 2000, 25 years old) to join our men’s first team to complement and expand our inside game. Soriano begins a new phase as a player for the remainder of the current season, which could extend into next season.
After completing his collegiate career at the prestigious St. John’s University last summer, Soriano began his first professional experience in the G League this season with the Greensboro Swarm, although he had been playing in the Puerto Rican league with the Santeros de Aguada since April. He has been one of the most outstanding players in the Caribbean competition since his arrival, averaging 16.9 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks.
Our men’s first team’s sporting director, Luis Arbalejo, praised this addition, noting, “Joel has a great challenge ahead of him. We’re aware that his adaptation won’t be easy. He comes from playing in the G League and the Puerto Rican League, and the ACB is a much more complex competition at all levels. He’s a rookie player; it will be his first experience in Europe, and he’ll help the team in the final weeks of competition. We have some players with injuries, especially in the center positions, and having him as a reinforcement will help us.””
Photo Credit: YouTube