By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Getting ready for Group E of the 2022-23 Basketball Champions League Regular Season, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg made a late adjustment to the squad.
After Markell Johnson failed medicals at the top of the training camp, the German team parted ways with the 23-year-old American guard and picked up Billy Garrett Jr. to replace him at the wing positions.
Garrett, 27, will debut in the BCL and in European club continental competitions in general. Since coming out of DePaul and turning pro, he made his way to four NBA games with the New York Knicks and spent a couple of seasons in the G League with affiliate Westchester Knicks before expanding his career overseas. Over the last three years, he made stops in France, Greece, and Poland, apart from a 13-game stint at the Lakeland Magic in the 2020-21 G League season.
At the team coached by Josh King, he will join forces with Jonathan Baehre, Jhonathan Dunn, Eddy Edigin, Ronnie Harrell, Justin Johnson, Jacob Patrick, Johannes Patrick, Yorman Polas Bartolo, Jeff Roberson, Nico Santana Mojica, and Ben Shungu. Heading to the next edition of the Champions League, the German side will collide with Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem, Darussafaka, and one more team coming out of September’s Qualifying Rounds.
VEF Riga will be in Group F alongside Baxi Manresa, Limoges CSP, and a team surviving the Qualifiers. The Latvian club recently confirmed retaining center Ilja Gromovs for the next season. More players officially placed in the squad are Artis Ate, Rihards Berkolds, Roberts Berzins, Gerry Blakes, Nysier Brooks, Daniel Hamilton, Peteris Pinnis, Alberts Putans, and Vitaliy Zotov.