In this edition of the Weekly Roundup we've got signings all over Europe, with some guys leaving for greener pastures in other countries and others changing teams in the country they played in last year. On to the roundup!
JaJuan Johnson is going to Russia, signing with Lokomotiv Kuban for next season. Johnson comes to Lokomotiv from Turkey, where he spent last season with Darussafaka Dogus in the Turkish Basketball Super League. He averaged 14.9 points and 5.8 rebounds in the BSL, as well as a 13.9 points per game clip in Eurocup play while leading Darussafaka to the Eurocup championship.
He joins a Lokomotiv side that went 17-7 in the VTB United League and lost in the quarterfinal round of the VTB playoffs. After spending the first few seasons of his career in the U.S., the 2011 Big Ten Player of the Year has carved out his own niche abroad, being named to the All-Eurocup Second Team in 2018. Johnson has played in Russia before, suiting up for Krasny Oktyabr in 2015.
Maccabi Haifa in Israel have signed Keron DeShields for next season. DeShields comes to Haifa after playing for four teams in three countries last season. First he was with Jaszberenyi KSE in Hungary; then he moved to Debreceni Egyetem, also in Hungary, in January 2018. After playing a few games with them, DeShields had a change of scenery when he signed with Hapoel Afula in Israel. He then finished the season with Rethymno BC in Greece. Though he played for a number of teams last year his production was always steady, as he averaged 13.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game for the entire season. Haifa have seen better days since they won the Winner League in 2013; the team is now playing in the National League, Israel's second division. DeShields' scoring and playmaking abilities should go a long way toward helping this team get back to the top division in Israel.
Charles Jackson has signed in Germany. Jackson inked with Telekom Baskets Bonn in Germany's Basketball Bundesliga, joining the top division in the country after spending this past season in Turkey with Bandirma Kirmizi in the Turkish Basketball League. In 34 games, he averaged 13.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for Bandirma as they finished with an 18-16 record and a berth in the TBL playoffs.
He will join a Telekom Baskets Bonn team that went 21-13 in the BBL regular season, advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2018 playoffs. Jackson has played in Turkey the past two seasons (for two different teams) after starting his career in New Zealand in 2015.
ESSM Le Portel have announced the signing of Darrell Williams for next season. Williams comes to Le Portel from Yesilgiresun Belediye in Turkey, where he averaged 9.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game as Yesilgiresun finished toward the bottom of the standings in the Turkish Basketball Super League with a 9-21 record.
He joins a Le Portel team that finished in the middle of the pack in the LNB Pro A last season with a 16-18 record. Williams has also spent time in Belgium, Serbia and Israel before signing in Turkey last season.
Point guard Aaron Craft is headed to Montenegro. The former Ohio State star signed today to move to Buducnost Voli in Montenegro, one of only two teams from the country that compete in the regional Adriatic League. This signing comes days after the end of the LNB Pro A season in France, where Craft's team, AS Monaco Basket, lost in the Finals to Le Mans Sarthe Basket, three games to two.
Buducnost recently won the 2018 Adriatic League championship, which gave them the right to compete in the Euroleague next season for the first time in 16 years. Craft competed in European competition last year with Monaco, averaging 6.3 points and 3.8 assists per game in the Basketball Champions League. He was also named the LNB Pro A Defensive Player of the Year on a Monaco team that finished the regular season in first place.
Kenny Gabriel is returning to Turkey. The former Auburn player signed with Turk Telekom BK in the Turkish Basketball League for next season - his first in Turkey since playing for Pinar Karsiyaka from 2014 to 2016. He spent the past two seasons in Greece with Panathinaikos where he won back-to-back Greek League titles, as well as the Greek Cup in 2017.
He joins a Turk Telekom side that is itching to go back to the top division, going 29-5 this season to finish in first place in the TBL and receive a promotion to the Turkish Basketball Super League. Gabriel will hope to replicate the game that turned him into a Turkish Super League All-Star in 2016. |