Avery Johnson admitted that he hadnt seen Tornike Shengelia, the 6-10 Georgian forward the Nets took with the 54th pick in the NBA Draft last week, before they brought their summer league team to the PNY Center in East Rutherford on Thursday.
I didnt have a chance to see him when I was overseas last year, but our (foreign scouts) watch 500 guys on tape, the coach said today, after the morning session of Day 2 of the four-day camp that precedes the teams leaving for the Orlando Pro Summer League, which starts Monday.
I want to try to impress you and tell you that I watched all 500, but I watched 250, Johnson said with a laugh. But he wasnt one of the guys. Johnson, though, has been impressed by Shengelia in the first two practices of the camp.
I like what Ive seen, Johnson said. Hes crafty; he knows how to play. Our game has gone more to that type of European spread offense pick and roll, with one big guy, spacing the perimeter so he knows that style of basketball.
Shengelia, who introduces himself as Toko, showed a ton of energy in the portion of scrimmage that was viewed by reporters today. He hustled on defense (at one point pinning MarShon Brooks in the corner and harassing him the entire length of the floor), showed himself to be a clever passer, and hit a couple of wide open 20-foot jumpers when left unguarded. He also ran the floor, finished a nice alley-oop layup off a pass from Taurean Green and generally impressed all except himself.
I did not do my best Im not satisfied, he said. But I want to get better, so Im going to try to get better. Shengelia, 20, averaged 8.9 points and 5.2 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game last season in 20 games for Belgacom Spirou, of the Belgian league. On draft night, Nets GM
Billy King had said he would most likely leave Shengelia and the Nets other European draft pick, 6-10 Ilkan Karaman of Turkey in Europe this season to continue to develop. But Shengelia, who has a year left on his contract with Belgacom Spirou has other ideas. He came over to Newark for the draft, talked his way onto the Nets summer league team, and has been consistent in saying he wants to try to make the team this year.
It might not be a bad plan. The Nets have plenty of roster spots that are open right now, and Shengelia has already made a positive impression on Johnson that could possibly earn him one in training camp.
I think the initial thought was to draft and keep him overseas, but things could change, depending on our roster, Johnson said. Well have five games to look at him in Orlando, but hes playing like a man that doesnt want to go back over there.
Manuchar Markoishvili brings the trophy from Turkey - Jun 16, 2013
POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET NEWS
follow us on
Manuchar Markoishvili (196-SF-86) brings the trophy from Turkey as his Galatasaray triumphs at 2012/2013 season as they won the Final series against Banvit 4-1. Galatasaray added 76:58 win in Game 4 and became the Champions. The game was mostly controlled by Galatasaray. Banvit BK managed to win fourth quarter 21-14. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. The best player for the winners was the former international swingman Cenk Akyol who scored 22 points [read more]
Manuchar Markoishvili (196-SF-86) brings the trophy from Turkey as his Galatasaray triumphs at 2012/2013 season as they won the Final series against Banvit 4-1. Galatasaray added 76:58 win in Game 4 and became the Champions. The game was mostly controlled by Galatasaray. Banvit BK managed to win fourth quarter 21-14. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. The best player for the winners was the former international swingman Cenk Akyol who scored 22 points. Carlos Arroyo chipped in 15 points and 8 assists. Serkan Erdogan produced 11 points and 5 assists and Serbian center Vladimir Stimac added 9 points and 10 rebounds respectively for the guests. Manuchar Markoishvili averaged 9.4 points per game in Turkey. In EuroCup after 3 games his stats read 12.0ppg, 1.3rpg.
KS Rosasport Radom (TBL) signed 29-year old American center Kirk Archibeque (205-113kg-84, college: Fort Lewis). He just played at MIA Academy in Georgian Superleague. In 29 games he was fourth best scorer with impressive 18.1ppg and averaged 11.4rpg (also #4 in the league) and 2.2apg this season. He helped them to win the league title and the cup. A very impressive season as he was voted Eurobasket [read more]
KS Rosasport Radom (TBL) signed 29-year old American center Kirk Archibeque (205-113kg-84, college: Fort Lewis). He just played at MIA Academy in Georgian Superleague. In 29 games he was fourth best scorer with impressive 18.1ppg and averaged 11.4rpg (also #4 in the league) and 2.2apg this season. He helped them to win the league title and the cup. A very impressive season as he was voted Eurobasket.com All-Georgian League Newcomer of the Year, named to 1st Team and named to All-Imports Team.
It is actually his come back to Poland. The most of last season he spent at Stelmet Zielona Gora. In 33 TBL games he had 10.9ppg and 8.0rpg. The other Polish team Archibeque played for was LKS Sphinx in 2011/2012 season (16.7ppg, 10.2rpg (#4 in the league) and 1.5apg) and Polpharma in 2010/2011 (9.1ppg and 6.2rpg
Georgi Tsintsadze selected the top Georgian playing abroad in last week's games - Jun 5, 2013
POSTED BY:
EUROBASKET CENTER
follow us on
Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Georgians who are currently playing abroad. This week's number one is an international point guard Georgi Tsintsadze (192-86), who plays in the Ukrainian Superleague. He could not help Budivelnyk (28-11) in their last game. Despite Tsintsadze's very good performance the league leader Budivelnyk was edged 96-95 on the road by the lower-ranked (#3) Azovmash.
[read more]
Traditionally, every week we bring you a list of the top performances of Georgians who are currently playing abroad.
#1. This week's number one is an international point guard Georgi Tsintsadze (192-86, currently plays in Ukraine), who plays in the Ukrainian Superleague. He could not help Budivelnyk (28-11) in their last game. Despite Tsintsadze's very good performance the league leader Budivelnyk was edged 96-95 on the road by the lower-ranked (#3) Azovmash.
He was the second best scorer with 15 points. Tsintsadze also added 5 rebounds and dished 9 assists in 30 minutes on the court.
It's Tsintsadze's first season with the team.
This year he averages: 9.1ppg, 3.0rpg, 4.2apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 44.7%, 3FGP: 34.2% and FT: 76.6% in the 54 games he played so far.
Tsintsadze is currently a member of the Georgian senior national team.
#2. Second place goes to an international small forward Viktor Sanikidze (203-86, currently plays in Italy), who plays in the Italian SerieA. He was not able to help Montepaschi Siena (18-12) in their last game on Monday. Despite Sanikidze's good performance Montepaschi Siena was defeated 71-67 in Varese by the leading Cimberio.
He recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting 11 rebounds. Sanikidze also added and 3 steals.
Sanikidze's overall stats this season are: 5.8ppg, 5.0rpg, 3FGP: 39.2% and FT: 64.4%.
He is in the roster of the Georgian senior national team.
#3. The Georgian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international small forward Manuchar Markoishvili (196-86, currently plays in Turkey). Markoishvili led Galatasaray to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Banvit BK (25-5) 79-62 in the Turkish TBL on Wednesday night.
He recorded 13 points in 28 minutes.
It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Galatasaray Medical Park Istanbul (27-3) is placed first in the TBL.
It was his team's 17th consecutive victory in a row.
This year Markoishvili's overall stats are: 9.5ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.1apg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 51.4%, 3FGP: 38.0% and FT: 82.1% in the 19 games.
He is also a member of the Georgian senior national team.
#4. Center Giorgi Shermadini (216-89, currently plays in Greece) managed to help Olympiacos S.F.P. Pireus to win against the fifth-ranked AGOR (17-9) 80-67 in the Greek A1 in Monday night's game.
Shermadini scored only 2 points.
Olympiacos S.F.P. Pireus (25-1) is placed first in the A1.
It was his team's 12th consecutive victory in a row.
Shermadini's total stats this season are: 4.5ppg and 2.1rpg.
He is also Georgian national team player.
One more player who has never been selected to any of national teams, but has Georgian passport:
#1.Will Thomas (203-PF-86, currently plays in Turkey), who plays in the Turkish TBL could not help Karsiyaka (23-7) to beat Galatasaray (27-3). Thomas did not have that impressive stats last Thursday.
He scored only 3 points in 29 minutes.
Karsiyaka was edged 79-77 at home by the leading Galatasaray.
Thomas has relatively good stats this year: 11.2ppg, 4.8rpg and 1.2apg in the 30 games he played so far.
He is a naturalized American.
Thomas used to play for Army Sport Klub Tbilisi in Georgian league.
Copyright (c) 1998-2013 Eurobasket Inc. Disclaimer
WARNING:
Do not copy, redistribute, publish or otherwise exploit information that you download from the site !
Do not encumber, license, modify, publish, sell, transfer or transmit, or in any way exploit, any of the
content of the site, nor will you attempt to do so.
