VEF Riga tabs Rihards Berkolds

Defending champion VEF Riga (LBL) signed 20-year-old 192cm shooting guard Rihards Berkolds for the upcoming season. He played for Turiba in the RNBL for the last two years. In two games, he averaged 13.5ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.0apg, and 1.5spg last season. During the previous (2022-23) season, he played for another Latvian team, Rigas Stradina Universitate / VEF Riga.
He represented Latvia at the FIBA U20 European Championship Division B in Skopje (North Macedonia) last year. During this event, he scored an average of 4.3 ppg and had 1 rpg.
Berkolds has played ppg for five other teams: Gulbenes Buki, Gulbene, Valmiera, Gulbene, and Bball clas.
Despite his young age, he had an impressive career. He received the Eurobasket.com All-Latvian U19 League Player of the Year award and the Eurobasket.com All-Latvian U19 League Guard of the Year award in 2022.


VEF Riga roster for 2024-25:

Guards:
Gage Davis
Harrison Cleary
Issuf Sanon
Rodrigo Bumeisters

Forwards:
Maris Gulbis
Vyacheslav Bobrov
Jaquan Lawrence
Kristaps Soldatenoks

Center:
Peteris Pinnis

Coach: Martins Gulbis