League Lookout: betFIRST BNXT League 22/23
Image: imago images / Bildbyran
Top Signings - The Dutch Teams
And we are back with part two of our BNXT League preview. This time, we are taking a closer look at the Dutch clubs in the competition.
ZZ Leiden
The reigning champions saw their roster (and even their coaching staff) depleted by bigger budget teams, mainly from BBL Germany. Nevertheless, they will try to reload and not rebuild. Experienced new Head Coach Doug Spradley brought in a bunch of promising new faces. Athletic swingman Deion Hammond should establish himself among the league's top scorers. He is deadly in transition and can fill it up from the perimeter. Big man Tommy Rutherford's game might not be pretty, but it has proven very efficient at his last stop in SBL Switzerland. He is almost ambidextrous around the rim. Stretch big Erikas Venskus continues the tradition of Lithuanian prospects landing with the club.
Heroes Den Bosch
Head Coach Erik Braal once again managed to put together a solid mix of youth and experience. The most intriguing new names are Australian pass-first PG Emmett Naar who is starting his European adventure at age 28 and combo guard Kobe Webster, who was more of a role player at high major NCAA1 school Nebraska but showed at his previous stop Eastern Illinois that he can make an impact both on and off the ball. The newcomer with the highest ceiling might be former Morgan State PF and Dutch national Lagio Grantsaan. He can face up, shoot the three or roll to the rim and also is a competent high post passer. Former Latvian top prospect Verners Kohs is a sharpshooting big who complements what already is an embarrassment of riches at the forward positions.
Landstede Hammers Zwolle
In Ryan Davis and Sukhmail Mathon, Hammers are adding two reigning NCAA1 Conference Players of the Year (AEC and Patriot League, respectively) to their frontcourt. While Davis provides the stretch dimension, Mathon is an old school post-up pivot. Having to guard both will strike fear into opposing bigs. However, they are not particularly quick or mobile, so the duo could make them somewhat vulnerable defensively. Swedish combo Felix Terins (pictured above) is a real sniper and was instrumental in Norrköping's title win in Basketligan. Sharpshooting combo forward Taren Sullivan would have been a solid fit, but left before the season even begins.
Donar Groningen
Groningen opted for experience mainly. Shooting guard Vernon Taylor is 35 and has seen it all in an eleven-year overseas career. Last season, he averaged 15/4/4 with good percentages in Switzerland. Scoring point guard Charles Callison looked capable in BBL Germany last season where he helped turn around s.oliver Wuerzburg's fortunes. He is quite explosive and more slasher than shooter.
Feyenoord Rotterdam
The "little brother" of the Dutch soccer giant went all upside when it comes to their import player acquisitions. Explosive combo guard Shavar Reynolds might be the most intriguing of the rookie crop and comes without a major weakness in his game. Wing scorer Stacey Beckton and combo forward sniper Trey Diggs also look like solid pickups once they get used to the European style of play. All three seem to be suited for an up-and-down system emphasizing on transition.
Best of the Rest
Aris Leeuwaarden strengthened their roster with Canadian combo guard Keevan Veinot, who averaged 20/6/4 in USports competition, athletic wing Cameron Satterwhite, who can catch fire from beyond the arc, and versatile Icelandic forward Kristinn Palsson. Yoast United brought in wing scorer Vince Cole, who averaged 15 ppg and shot 39% from three at Coastal Carolina, and PF/C Spencer Levi, who is one of the top pro prospects coming from the NCAA2 ranks. He is a big-time athlete with a monster motor who needs to polish his game some. Apollo Amsterdam are betting on an uber-athletic small college wing in Kester Ofoegbu.
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