The past year consider being the most successful, basketball wise, for the Cypriot players playing abroad as most of them are the stars in their teams, having the leading role in many categories and contribute to the best feasible way for the success and the positive results.
The past year consider being the most successful, basketball wise, for the Cypriot players playing abroad as most of them are the stars in their teams, having the leading role in many categories and contribute to the best feasible way for the success and the positive results. Eurobasket.com is presenting today the top eight Cypriot players playing abroad starting from the Greek league A1, where Cyprus is represented by just one player, Prodromos Nikolaidis (201-F-78) is the key player for his team Trikalla 2000, as he is the leading scorer (other than Americans) and everybody in Trikalla knows that a possible productive day of Nikolaidis means another victory for their team which is currently in the unfortunate last position in the league with the poor record of 2-10. Nikolaidis had many offers this summer after his excellent presentation last season but he preferred to go to Trikalla even though he knew about the difficulties of the newcomers in one of the most difficult leagues in the world. Nikolaidis is a steady value in the Greek league as his eight seasons in A1 finds him averaging double digits 13.5 points per game. A2 league is represented by three Cypriot players who consider being among the top performers in the A2 league, being key players in their teams and among the top in the league. Starting from Aristides Koronides (188-G-82) who is currently having his best season in Greece (after four years) being currently the hero in Patras and leading his team to the one win after the other, he is currently the third scorer in the league (Behind Koutroulias and Kakiouzis, two veterans in the specific division). Aris is having the most mature season of his career, as he is also the leading passer in the league and among the top point guards in A2. It is most certain that the good years are still coming for the Cypriot guard. Vasilis Kounas (195-G-84) is the second player whos currently having his best season in the Greek league with ICBS, Vassilis is the leading scorer of the international College and among the top 15 scorers in the league. IT seems that his injuries are now history ad that he is back to action more ready than ever. The presentation of his best friend in the same team, Andreas Sizopoulos (189-G-83) seems that helped both of them, lets not forget that these two players were team-mates in Apoel and since then, they became very good friends as they know each others game with closed eyes. Andreas Sizopoulos after his very good presentation in the Second division with Near East (he helped his team to win the championship and the promotion in A2). Sizopoulos had many injuries last season but it seems that he is back in action and with his presentation ICBS is looking towards more wins, Sizopoulos is among the top 20 leading scorers in the league even though he started quite slow, the last weeks is proving more and more that he is creating an amazing duet with Kounas. Second Division league is represented by two Cypriot players, Iraklis Pittakas (194-F-84) is among the silent players of the team Anagennisi Floga but is among the steadiest in performance and full of real meaning, no wonder why he has been in the same team the last four years. Iraklis is the sixth player in the roster and his acting mostly as the added value in the team. Panagiotis Barlas (193-G-76) is the second player playing in the second division, Panagiotis is having after many years a very good season in OFI, the Cretan team is among the favorites to be promoted and one of the reasons is Barlas, the experience point guard is among the top 20 leading scorers and his experience is helping his team to achieve its goals. Panagiotis is among the top point guards in the league as he is also among the leading figures in the assists and in steals. Stamatis Makris (186-G-89) is the one of two players representing Cyprus in the NCAA courts. The talented point guard has moved from his colleges team, Auburn tigers, as he got red shirted. The talented point guard joined forces with JSU (Jacksonville State University) a team in NCAA 1. Nikos Stylianou (200-F-88), the son of the legendary Costas Stylianou (great career in the Greek and Cyprus courts and ex assistant coach in BMC AEK Larnakas), got transferred this year in a much better college as he left NJCAA and team Navarro in order to join West Texas A&M University. Nikos stats in Navarro were very good as he had 8.4ppg, 6.3rpg, 1.3spg and 1.5apg. West Texas is an NCAA 2 team. It is worth mentioned that Nikos's stats are very good these first three months in his new team as he is in the starting five team.
