We're in Hungary this week for BOTW, where a monster game from rookie Allerik Freeman has us taking immediate notice. Freeman dropped a smooth triple-double for Alba Fehervar in their big win over Egis Kormend in the Hungarian league, posting season highs in both rebounds and assists. Freeman has been producing as a scorer all season long, averaging 15.2 points per game in league play, but his ability to show up in other areas of the box score could be a sign that he's ready to take his game to the next level. He might not be on the Russell Westbrook watch, but any triple-double in a league like Hungary's deserves a nod for Baller of the Week.
Telenet Giants Antwerp have announced their newest signing early Jan. 15, Landen Lucas. Lucas joins the team from Estonia, where he started the season with BC Kalev/Cramo. In 15 games, which included playing in both the VTB United League and the Estonian/Lativan Basketball League, the Kansas product averaged 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in only 20 minutes of action on average.
Giants Antwerp will be the third team and the third country in Lucas' two-year career, having started his overseas career in Japan with Toyota Alvark. He joins an Antwerp team that is having a solid season in the EuroMillions Basketball League, as they sit in fourth place in the league standings with a 7-4 record.
MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany's Basketball Bundesliga has announced the signing of Marcos Knight for the rest of the 2018-2019 season. Knight joins Ludwigsburg after starting the season in Turkey with Afyon Belediye, where he'd played since 2017. This season, Knight was averaging 15.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game for Afyon in 11 games played.
After a few seasons away, the Middle Tennessee State product is returning to the country where he started his professional career, having played for various teams in Germany from 2014 to 2017. Ludwigsburg currently sits in the middle of the BBL standings with an 8-6 record but could really use some help in the Basketball Champions League, where they are in last place in their group with a 2-8 record. Knight joins five other Americans currently playing for Ludwigsburg.
AZS Koszalin has announced their signing of point guard Torey Thomas. Thomas arrives in Poland after starting the season in Tunisia, where he played for Etoile Sportive Rades in the country's top division. The Holy Cross grad is a veteran of the international scene, having played in 12 different countries since his career started in 2007.
Thomas most recently helped ADA Blois Basket 41 in France to a Pro B championship during the 2017-2018 season, providing steady minutes and a veteran presence in the backcourt for the championship-winning team. He most recently played in Poland during the 2015-2016 season, when he averaged 11.9 points per game for Rosa Radom. Koszalin could certainly use a jumpstart, as they currently sit in second-to-last place in the EBL standings with a 3-11 record.
We're in Czech Republic for Baller of the Week, where Sean O'Brien turned out an impressive performance for Turi Svitavy in their game against BK Kolin. The 24-year-old forward scored 29 points to go along with 13 rebounds and 7 assists, shooting an incredible 12-of-13 from the floor as Svitavy pulled out the 95-90 win. The Southern Illinois product more than doubled his season scoring average of 13.9 points per game as he had season highs in points and assists. Svitavy is having an impressive year in Czechia's NBL, and they currently sit i second place with a 12-5 record thanks to high-level performances from Sean O'Brien.
Ryan Boatright is the newest player at Unicaja in Spain after signing with the team January 8. Boatright comes to the team from the United States, where he started the season in the NBA G League with the Agua Caliente Clippers. He was then traded to the Texas Legends, where he averaged 6.0 points per game in four games played for the Legends, the G League affiliate of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.
The UConn product is no stranger to the international scene, however, having played in Italy, China, Croatia and Turkey in his career, most recently with Besiktas Sompo Japan in the Turkish Basketball Super League during the 2017-2018 season. Boatright joins a Unicaja team is surging in the Liga Endesa standings with a 10-5 record, but will need some more depth if they want to make a run in the Eurocup, where they are 0-1 so far in the competition.
Kendall Anthony is the newest player for BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque after signing with the French team earlier today. He most recently played in Iceland this season, where he averaged 30.6 points per game for Valur Reykjavik while leading the league in scoring and assists. Gravelines will be the sixth team that Anthony will play for in his career, having also played Turkey, the Czech Republic and Brazil after graduating from University of Richmond in 2015. Gravelines sits in seventh place in the LNB Pro A standings with a 9-6 record midway through the French season.
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