ESSM Le Portel bolstered its frontcourt with the signing of Kwan Cheatham, a 6'10'' forward in his third year of pro basketball. Cheatham arrives from Bulgaria, where he was averaging a career-high 15.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game for first-placed Levski Lukoil Sofia in Bulgaria's NBL. Prior to that, the University of Akron product spent the first two seasons of his pro career in Belgium with Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen.
Le Portel could certainly use any help they can get, as they sit in last place in France's LNB Pro A standings at 3-14. France's highest division is a big step forward for Cheatham and if he can produce here he might not only save Le Portel from relegation, but also has a chance to make major moves in the international hoops scene. He joins fellow Americans Ousman Krubally, D'Angelo Harrison and Antonio Ballard on the squad.
Diamon Simpson is returning to Israel for the sixth time in his eleven-year professional career after signing with Ironi Nahariya January 7. Simpson last played in Israel during the 2018-2019 season, averaging 10.5 points 7.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for Maccabi Rishon Lezion as he helped the team reach the Finals of the Israeli Winner League.
The long-time international veteran has played for several other teams in Israel during his career including Maccabi Ashdod, Ironi Nes Ziona and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Nahariya will be the first team Simpson plays for during the 2019/20 season after spending the summer of 2019 in the Philippines hooping for the Alaska Aces. He joins a Ironi Nahariya team that is looking to improve on a 5-9 record midway through the season, though the team is only half a game out of a playoff position.
James Nunnally is back playing for Fenerbahce after signing with the Turkish power on January 3. Nunnally arrives in Turkey from China where he played for the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association, where he averaged 22.3 points per game in 12 appearances. Last year, the UC Santa Barbara product spent time with the Houston Rockets in the NBA before moving to Olimpia Milano in January 2019. His second-half stretch was impressive, as he averaged 14.6 points per game for Milano, including a 14.1 points per game clip in Euroleague play.
However, his prior success with Fenerbahce is notable, as he was an integral part of the 2017 Euroleague championship team. He played for Fenerbahce for two seasons and was one of the most reliable three-point shooters in Europe, shooting over 50 percent from beyond the arc both seasons. The team currently sits in third place in Turkey's BSL standings at 11-3, but will need to do some work in Euroleague if they want to advance. Usually one of the top teams in the competition, they're sitting in thirteenth place right now at 6-11.
Bobby Brown is the newest player to join PAOK Thessaloniki after signing with the Greek team January 2. The 35-year-old point guard will be playing for his first team of the 2019-2020 season after splitting last year between Montenegro and China, first hooping for Mornar Bar before moving to Shanxi Zhongyu, where he averaged 25.8 points per game. However, his most recent playing experience came in The Basketball Tournament in the summer of 2019, helping lead Overseas Elite to a semifinals appearance.
Heading into his 12th pro season, the Cal State Fullerton product will play in Greece for the third time in his career (Aris Thessaloniki from 2011-2012 and Olympiacos in 2018). PAOK is in the midst of a rough season, as they not only sit in last place in their group in the Basketball Champions League at 3-6 but are in last place in the Greek League standings as well (3-10) heading into a Jan. 4 game against Aris Thessaloniki.
David Laury is the newest player at Hapoel Tel Aviv after signing with the team November 25. Laury was signed to replace Demetrius Treadwell, who is out indefinitely after breaking his leg two weeks ago. The former Iona forward started this season playing in Mexico, where he averaged 10.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for Soles de Mexicali after a summer spent playing in Puerto Rico. Laury has prior experience playing in Israel, averaging almost 19 points per game for Maccabi Ashdod in 2017. Hapoel Tel Aviv currently sits toward the bottom of the Winner League standings with a 1-4 record.
Scottie Reynolds is the newest player for SIG Basket Strasbourg in France after signing with the team November 18. Reynolds joins the club after starting the season in Greece playing for Larisa BC, where he averaged 13.5 points and 6.2 assists per game to be the team's second-leading scorer during its dismal 1-6 start.
He joins a Strasbourg team that currently sits in the middle of the standings in France's LNB Pro A with a 4-5 record after winning their last three games in a row, and will provide more depth for Strasbourg as they get deeper into the Basketball Champions League schedule. The former Villanova point guard joins fellow Americans Jerai Grant, Travis Trice and Gabe York on the team heading into their next game against Le Mans Nov. 23.
Guard Tyreek Duren is returning to Greece for the 2019-2020 season after inking with Panionios BC in the country's top division. Duren split the 2018-2019 season between Greece and Cyprus, starting the season with Kolossos H Hotels before moving to AEK Larnaca in January 2019. The former La Salle player averaged 11.7 points for all teams across all competitions as he helped lead AEK Larnaca to a Cyprus Cup finals appearance.
Duren has spent the majority of his six-year career with Larnaca and only played in five games last season in Greece, so he is still relatively new to playing in this league. The team currently sits at 2-4 in the Greek A1 League, though their two wins have come in their last three games. Duren joins fellow Americans Anthony Lee, Francois Lewis and Rickey McGill on the current roster. |