Groningen signs Aleksandre Merkviladze

Donar Groningen (DBL) signed 24-year old Georgian international forward Aleksandre Merkviladze (204cm-102kg-2002, college: LMU, agency: Octagon Europe) for upcoming 2026-27 season. He played last season at Coretec Oostende in Belgian Pro Basketball League. He managed to play in three leagues last year. The team played in three different competitions (!!!) that year, and he was exposed to basketball on different levels. In 7 Pro Basketball League games he had 4.3ppg and 2.7rpg. Merkviladze helped them to make it to the Belgian League final. He also played 1 game in Basketball Champions League where he recorded 4 points and 2 rebounds. And finally he contributed to 23 games in BNXT League where he averaged 7.6ppg and 4.1rpg. Merkviladze contributed to his team ending the regular season as at the second position in the league. The other team he played shortly was Aris Betsson Thessaloniki (GBL) in Greek league.
He has been also a member of the Georgian international program for some years. Merkviladze played for the Georgian senior team this year and previously for the Under 16 National Team back in 2018.
He was voted to All-WCC Honorable Mention in 2024 at his college time.
Merkviladze is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league on the market.
He graduated from Loyola Marymount University in 2025 and it will be his second season as a professional player. Merkviladze played also for California State University Northridge for one year.

Donar Groningen roster for 2026-27:

Siem Uijtendaal
Aleksandre Merkviladze
Oshean Brathwaite
Bryan Antoine
Kevon Godwin
Jalen DeLoach
Jacob Crews
Michael McCalister
Brandon Bergsma
Dola Adebayo