MKS Dabrowa Gornicza in Poland has signed forward Cleveland Melvin for next season, Ballers Abroad has learned. Melvin split time last season between two countries, starting with Cibona Zagreb in Croatia before moving to Hapoel Gilboa Galil in December. The DePaul grad had a more productive season with Cibona than with Gilboa, averaging 10.4 points per game in the Adriatic League compared to a paltry 4.5 points per game in limited action in Israel. He joins a Gornicza team that went 20-12 last season and advanced to the semifinals of the Polish league playoffs.
Levallois Metropolitans have announced their signing of big man Julian Wright, according to Sportando and several outlets. Wright spent last season in Italy with Grissin Bon Reggio Emilia, where he averaged 12.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game across all competitions for the club as his team went 13-17 and did not qualify for the Serie A playoffs. The team also played in the EuroCup, where Wright averaged an impressive 13.6 points per game as Reggio Emilia advanced to the semifinals of the EuroCup playoffs.
The former Kansas Jayhawk joins a Levallois side that narrowly missed the playoffs in France's LNB Pro A league after finishing the regular season with a 16-18 record. Wright has also played in Israel, Russia, Greece and Turkey.
Shooting guard Kyle Gibson is reportedly close to signing with Besiktas Sompo Japan in the Turkish Basketball Super League according to Eurohoops and other outlets. Gibson played last season with Buducnost Voli in the Adriatic League, where he averaged 12.3 points and 2.1 assists per game for the Montenegrin team as they finished 17-5 in the regular season and won the Adriatic League championship.
If Gibson were to join Besiktas he would be the second American to sign for the Turkish power this offseason, the first being Joe Alexander earlier this summer. Besiktas had success in the regular season last year, finishing in fourth place with a 20-10 record, but lost in the quarterfinals of the BSL playoffs to Banvit BK. Gibson would be playing in Turkey for the first time in his career after stops in the NBA G League, Italy, Belgium and France.
Shooting guard Jeremy Chappell is the newest player for Happy Casa Brindisi in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A after signing with the club earlier today. Chappell also played in Italy last year, suiting up for Red October Cantu, where he averaged 11.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as his team finished 16-14 and advanced to the Serie A playoffs.
The 31-year-old from Robert Morris joins a Brindisi team that struggled in Italy last season, going 9-21 and finishing in the lower half of the league standings. Chappell has also played in Poland, Ukraine, Russia ad Turkey during his career, winning the Turkish Cup with Banvit BK in 2017.
In this week's Weekly Roundup, we've got tons of for former NBA players signing overseas contracts and becoming #BallersAbroad.
Brandon Thomas has signed with Giessen 46ers in the Basketball Bundesliga in Germany according to Sportando and several outlets. Thomas is reportedly filling in for the injured David Bell, who could miss up to four months of action. Thomas spent last season in Argentina with Club de Regatas Corrientes, where he averaged 7.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per game for Regatas as the team went 16-22 and advanced to the Round of 16 in the LigaA playoffs. Thomas joins a Giessen team that finished last season with a 16-18 record and missed the BBL playoffs.
The UMass grad has played experience in Germany, having also suited up for Basketball Lowen Braunschweig, Bayern Munich and the Artland Dragons, most recently with the Artland Dragons from 2013-2015. he will be entering his tenth season of professional hoops this fall.
Shawn Jones is the latest player for Hapoel Holon after signing a contract with the Israeli team earlier today. Jones arrives from Italy, where he spent last season with Banco di Sardegna Sassari in Lega Basket Serie A, averaging 10.0 points and 6.6 rebounds per game across all competitions.
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