By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A new face in the Basketball Champions League, Derrick Walton Jr. signed with Hapoel Netanel Holon, the team announced on Wednesday.
“The signing reinforces the depth and professionalism of the squad ahead of many challenges in the upcoming season,” mentioned head coach Danny Franco on the 30-year-old point guard, “We desire to present the best possible lineup for any challenge presented at any given time, and the addition of Derrick is another step in that direction.”
The former Michigan standout played in 45 NBA games from 2017 to 2022 and also made his way to 25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons. Over the last three years, his career has focused on Australasia’s NBL and China’s CBA, including an NBL championship combined with a Most Valuable Player nod as a Sydney Kings player during the 2022-23 journey.
Oostende, Mersin, Pelister
Elsewhere in FIBA Europe’s top-tier club continental competition, a lasting original heading a tenth consecutive year in the league, Filou Oostende, penned 18-year-old Daan Pieters to his first professional contract on Wednesday. Entering the senior squad, the Youth BCL participant signed a four-year contract.
In Group G with Oostende, defending champion Unicaja, and fellow newcomer Karditsa Iaponiki, Turkish outfit Mersin MSK, announced a one-year contract extension with 17-year-old Anil Alyanak on Wednesday and continued on Thursday by securing the services of 21-year-old Kuzey Livaneli.
Heading to a Qualification tournament with an opportunity to join Hapoel Holon, Joventut Badalona, and Cholet in Group C, Pelister Bitola added 21-year-old Andrej Mitrevski and 29-year-old Austin Price, a veteran of two Qualifiers campaigns with Heroes Den Bosch.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net