Cassius Winston poured in 35 points - 20 of them coming in the final 10:25 minutes - in helping Jerusalem break away from Neptunas Klaipeda 110-93 for a 5-2 record in Group A. 

Winston’s 35-point explosion carries Jerusalem to fourth straight win 

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem relied on its offense - especially a career-night from Cassius Winston - to extend its winning streak to four games in the BKT EuroCup.

Winston poured in 35 points - 20 of them coming in the final 10:25 minutes - in helping Jerusalem break away from Neptunas Klaipeda 110-93 for a 5-2 record in Group A.

“Shout-out to the coach and my teammates for the ultimate faith to go out there and be myself and just make plays for the team, whichever way I can, whether that be scoring or passing,” said Winston, who made 12 of 16 shots - 5 of 8 from long range - and 6 of 8 free throws for his 35 points.

"They give me great responsibility and I love it. In games like this, I just go out there and try my best to help the team win.”

Winston added 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 block for a PIR of 37. 

“On offense, we always find a way to score. And Cassius was amazing,” said Jerusalem head coach Yonathan Alon.

Winston easily set a career mark in points and PIR in the EuroCup - his previous bests being 13 points and a PIR of 14. But the 27-year-old guard also blew away his best marks from his one season in the EuroLeague. Winston poured in 23 points for FC Bayern Munich against Maccabi Tel Aviv on December 2, 2022, and his top PIR was 28 for Bayern versus EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on October 20, 2022.

Jerusalem, as usual, got a superb showing from Jared Harper, who collected 21 points and 8 assists, while Anthony Lamb had 17 points and 8 rebounds and Austin Wiley totaled 10 points and 9 rebounds.

The issue for Alon was his defense, which gave up 56 points in the first half and then allowed 27 points in the third quarter before finally stepping up in the fourth quarter with 10 points.

“My players decided they only wanted to play defense for 14 minutes,” Alon said. “We need to learn from this. Not every game will be like this. But we have the character and we find the way to win. So I am happy about it.”

<center>
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The feelings were the same for his Neptunas counterpart Gediminas Petrauskas.

“The bench in the end probably got tired. We had some injuries today. I am really happy with the offense. Ninety-three points was good, but unfortunately, on defense, we could not get the stops,” the Neptunas playcaller said.

Neptunas was without leader Arnas Velicka and center James Karnik, who recently left the club, but it still managed to build a 14-point lead in the third quarter, going ahead 64-78 after a 2-13 run.

Jerusalem eventually wore down Neptunas with a 17-0 run spanning the final two quarters, with Winston accounting for 12 points in the decisive run.

Neptunas was unable to win a fourth straight game and fell to 3-4 despite Zane Waterman (18 points) and Arnas Berucka (17) both setting career highs in points in the loss.

Game News

Cassius Winston set a career high as Jerusalem relied on offense

Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem v Neptunas Klaipeda (2025-11-11T19:30:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse earned its third road win of the season on Tuesday night, defeating ratiopharm ulm 64–96 in Round 7 to improve to 6–1 in Group B. Adam Mokoka made sure his return to Ratiopharm Arena ended with the same team result as his previous visit – but with a completely different individual performance.

Adam Mokoka turns Ulm nightmare into a dream performance

[Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/cosea-jl-bourg-en-bresse/bou/) earned its third road win of the season on Tuesday night, defeating [ratiopharm ulm](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/ratiopharm-ulm/ulm/) 64–96 in Round 7 to improve to 6–1 in Group B. [Adam Mokoka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/adam-mokoka/012698/) made sure his return to Ratiopharm Arena ended with the same team result as his previous visit – but with a completely different individual performance.

The last time he played in Ulm, on January 17, 2024, while with U-BT Cluj-Napoca, nothing went right for him. He missed all five of his shots, committed a turnover and a foul, and had two of his attempts blocked, finishing with a PIR of -9 in under 12 minutes. Despite his struggles, Cluj still won the game 81–85, thanks to 27 points from club legend Patrick Richard.

Cluj didn’t return to Ulm for the 2024–25 campaign, but Mokoka did – this time with Bourg, having joined the team this past summer. When the schedule was released, he probably circled this date in red.

ratiopharm ulm-Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse | Round 7 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

Mokoka made an immediate impact, finding [Kevin Kokila](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kevin-kokila/011837/) for a backdoor layup and adding a dunk during an early 0–9 run. He later finished a fast-break layup to make it 7–15, flexing his biceps as Ulm called a timeout. You could tell that his previous Ulm performance was still in the back of his mind, and this time his energy was contagious. [Both Gach](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/both-gach/013900/) and [Antony Labanca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/antony-labanca/005266/) hit twice from downtown, and [Darius McGhee](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/mcghee-darius/013859/) buried a long three-pointer from the EuroCup logo to give Bourg a 17–28 lead after 10 minutes.

Ulm managed to cut the deficit to 31–32 midway through the second quarter before Mokoka returned after a long rest. Once again, he brought the spark—drawing four fouls in as many minutes, assisting Gach on a fast-break layup, and nailing a step-back triple to restore a 42–50 Bourg advantage. At halftime, Mokoka led all players with 13 points and a PIR of 17.

Mokoka kept showcasing his trademark energy and athleticism in the second half, continuing to draw fouls and thrilling the crowd with a fast-break slam followed by a step-back corner three at the buzzer. Bourg’s defense did the rest, holding Ulm scoreless for over six minutes. By the end of the third quarter, Bourg led 47–64 and was well on its way to a big road victory.

Mokoka finished with 23 points on a perfect 5-for-5 from two-point range and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, plus five assists and a PIR of 32 – a new career high. In back-to-back visits to Ratiopharm Arena, he went from a career-worst PIR of -9 to a career-best 32.

“We just wanted to make sure we earned respect in this competition against a good team,” Mokoka said. “I’m glad we held them to 64 points and shared the ball to score 96. We just tried to raise our intensity and energy even more in the third quarter and make sure we kept them below what we scored in the first half.”

 <center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stylish pass, dunk guaranteed ✨<a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JLBourgBasket</a> <a href="https://t.co/hwpSmao0Ka">pic.twitter.com/hwpSmao0Ka</a></p>&mdash; BKT EuroCup (@EuroCup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroCup/status/1988326994614837378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center> 

Bourg outscored Ulm 46–22 in the second half. No other team had ever managed such a dominant second half in Ulm’s long EuroCup history – the previous record deficit was 21 points (28–49) against Valencia Basket on January 12, 2022.

Bourg shot an incredible 81.5% from inside the arc, hitting 22 of 27 two-point attempts. That shattered the club’s previous record of 73.0% (set against Umana Reyer Venice on January 17, 2023) and ranks as the seventh-best mark in EuroCup history. The all-time record belongs to Valencia Basket, which made 21 of 24 two-pointers (87.5%) against Turk Telekom Ankara on November 14, 2018.

He was ready to shine on a court where he had struggled in the past

ratiopharm ulm v Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (2025-11-11T18:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul got back on track in the BKT EuroCup with a strong team effort in a tough back-and-forth battle at Aris Thessaloniki Betsson with big man Balsa Koprivica making a major difference in the 76-86 road victory. 

Bahcesehir gets back on track with balance, big plays from Koprivica 

Bahcesehir College Istanbul got back on track in the BKT EuroCup with a strong team effort in a tough back-and-forth battle at Aris Thessaloniki Betsson with big man Balsa Koprivica making a major difference in the victory.

A week after suffering its first loss of the season, Marko Barac’s team survived 15 lead changes and 11 ties to win 76-86 on the road to improve to 6-1 record atop Group A.

“Every away game in EuroCup is difficult and every victory is valuable. We found a way to do better defensively, especially individually and made some open shots,” Barac said afterwards.

While Matthew Mitchell scored a team-high 16 points for Bahcesehir, Tyler Cavanaugh collected 14 points and 8 rebounds for the winners.

“It’s huge. We lost last week, so we wanted to get back on track. This competition is tough and you have to respond quickly to stay in the lead,” said Cavanaugh.

“I am just happy with the way that we battled. It was a full team effort. We didn’t shoot the ball well at all, but we stepped up and made huge plays.”

The veteran Cavanaugh also wanted to highlight the performance of big man Balsa Koprivica, who produced a loud stat line of 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 blocks despite battling foul trouble.

“Balsa Koprivica made a lot of big plays down the stretch to help us,” Cavanaugh said.

It was one of the best games this season for the 25-year-old Serbian, who came over to the Turkish side after spending the last four seasons with Partizan Belgrade. Koprivica appeared in 36 games in the EuroLeague in that time.

He played a season-high 21 minutes against Aris and the 8 points came after totaling 15 in the last four games. He threw down four big highlight dunks along the way - three of them coming in the fourth quarter.

Koprivica was also a massive presence in the paint defensively. His 4 blocks - 2 of them in the final stanza - set a new personal EuroCup record and evened his EuroLeague-high four swats against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne on December 17, 2024.

<center>
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Aris is still adjusting to new head coach Igor Milicic, who helped the team snap a three-game losing streak with a victory last week but is now 3-4,

“Any loss is very bad and heartbreaking, but we have to look at what we did well. Some things we have to improve are second-half rebounding. Offensive rebounds are killing us. And we couldn’t keep up with the physicality that they presented,” said Milicic, who saw Bryce Jones lead the way with 16 points.

“I am satisfied with the effort. We gave what we have. We are moving in the right direction.”

Bahcesehir is definitely in the right direction with high expectations, and Barac knows that coming to Thessaloniki and getting a victory there was a big deal.

“I have to praise my players for playing with 22 assists to a small number of turnovers (12). It was a very good team effort on a very difficult court,” the coach said.

The big man shone bright in the fourth quarter

Aris Thessaloniki Betsson v Bahcesehir College Istanbul (2025-11-11T18:00:00.000Z)

A rendition of the Polish national anthem was bellowed out by those inside Hala Orbita, accompanied by many Polish flags in the crowd. If Slask Wroclaw needed any extra motivation against Veolia Towers Hamburg, there it was.

Slask trumps Hamburg to celebrate Polish Independence Day in style

A rendition of the Polish national anthem was bellowed out by those inside Hala Orbita, accompanied by many Polish flags in the crowd. If [Slask Wroclaw](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/teams/slask-wroclaw/wro/) needed any extra motivation against [Veolia Towers Hamburg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/veolia-towers-hamburg/ham/), there it was.

Hamburg seemed intent on ruining the party in the first quarter, leading for most of the period and holding a 22-23 advantage after 10 minutes. Slask managed to wrestle back control and found itself 49-46 ahead at the interval, then 69-65 at the end of the third quarter before coming away with a 92-81 victory. All in all, a good night’s work for Ainars Bagatskis’s troops.

Slask Wroclaw-Veolia Towers Hamburg | Round 7 Highlights | 2025-26 BKT EuroCup

That win improved Slask’s record to 3-4 in the BKT EuroCup while Hamburg suffered a seventh straight defeat to start the season. [Stefan Dordevic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/stefan-dordevic/006977/) and [Issuf Sanon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/issuf-sanon/011947/) sat on 10 points apiece at the half, while 12 of [Jakub Urbaniak](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jakub-urbaniak/012777/)’s 17 points came in the third quarter. By the final buzzer, Sanon had 19 points, Dordevic netted 14, and [Kadre Gray](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/kadre-gray/013921/) poured in 15.

All three of Slask’s wins have come at Hala Orbita this season, posting a 3-1 record there, and next week will see one of the EuroCup favorites come to town in Bahcesehir College Istanbul. For Coach Bagatskis, he still sees plenty of room for improvement.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">Trzecie zwycięstwo w Europie! ✅<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plkpl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plkpl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hej%C5%9Al%C4%85sk?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HejŚląsk</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZSTnvDsCEN">pic.twitter.com/ZSTnvDsCEN</a></p>&mdash; WKS Śląsk Wrocław - koszykówka (@WKS_SlaskBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/WKS_SlaskBasket/status/1988338509451854207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We know how to score, but we don’t know how to control that score when we’ve got the lead,” he told EuroLeague TV after the game. “In that moment, our decisions offensively are supposed to be better and smarter. No more, no less. And defensively, we must be smarter. For two days I am like a parent repeating the same things – we draw on the board, we show the videos three times, we walk in the gym and there’s the same mistakes.

“There is a saying, you know? If you want to be smart, you have to learn from your mistakes. If you want to be a genius, you have to learn from others’ mistakes. My wish is that we are at least smart.”

That much will be tested next week, but for now, Slask was able to give its fans a win to celebrate on Polish Independence Day.

The hosts picked up their third win of the EuroCup campaign on Tuesday night

Slask Wroclaw v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2025-11-11T18:00:00.000Z)

Rihards Lomazs reflects on his journey, his connection to Klaipeda, and why the EuroCup was always on his radar in this exclusive interview with Javier Gancedo

Rihards Lomazs, Neptunas: 'I always wanted to play the EuroCup'

At age 29, [Rihards Lomazs](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rihards-lomazs/005553/) is finally living out a long-held dream: competing in the BKT EuroCup. After years of playing across Europe — from France to Turkiye — the Latvian sharpshooter is thriving in his debut season with [Neptunas Klaipeda](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/neptunas-klaipeda/kla/), just a short drive from home. In this exclusive interview with Javier Gancedo, Lomazs reflects on his journey, his growing impact, and why the EuroCup was always on his radar.

 

**Let's start by talking about the win against Manresa, one of the best teams in the group. You dominated the game from start to finish. What allowed you to play so well and to play such a good game?**

"I would say we are in good shape now. We've found a really good rhythm lately, both here in the EuroCup and domestically. We had one loss, but I could probably say that this was a mistake from our side, but other than that, we have a good rhythm and were really focused on that game, because we knew if we want to achieve something, we have to protect our home court. So we did that and pretty much the whole game, we were up, and there weren't any big ups and downs like we had earlier in the season. So yes, this was good and a really important victory for us."

 

**And you are on a three-game winning streak after a 0-3 start. It is understood that you needed an adjustment with so many new players and going into the EuroCup, right?**

"For sure, especially because Velicka and I were with our national teams and missed the entire preseason. We arrived like one week before the season started. We both played, I think, one pre-season tournament, which was playing Saturday and Sunday, with one practice behind us, and I think Velicka didn't even have that practice. We just had two games with the team, which was like nothing. Everyone needed to adjust to each other and to understand what is what, but now, during the season, I think it's just getting better and better, and me personally, too. I had to catch the rhythm with the new team, and in the start, I kind of struggled too because of the EuroBasket, all the tiredness, all the little injuries, but now when you're fully focused and healthy, it's much easier. Now, when you catch a good rhythm and you feel your teammates trust you and you trust them, it's much easier, for sure."

 

**You have played everywhere and at every level, but this is your first EuroCup season. How do you like it so far?**

"I like it! Like you said, I have been everywhere, but I like it, I really like it, because it's different countries. You play against a team in Spain, Slovenia, Germany, and so on, so it's really competitive, and what I like... It's 18 games, so it's really important to have a good rhythm in general. You play two games a week, one in the EuroCup and one in the Lithuanian League, so it's perfect and I really love it. It is tough and every game, already from the start of the season, especially for us, its really important, and if we want to achieve something, like making it to the playoffs and going even further, then we have to be focused. So far, I really love it."

Rihards Lomazs has helped Neptunas Klaipeda to go on a three-game winning streak. 

Rihards Lomazs highlights: Rounds 4-6

**We had a lot of Latvian teams in the EuroCup when you were growing up. You played for Ventspils Augstskola when the team was in the EuroCup. VEF Riga, ASK Riga and Barons also played the EuroCup. Did you follow the competition?**

"Yeah, I followed the Latvian teams. I remember that VEF Riga was really close to making it to the top eight. They lost two important games, one against Valencia, a tough game that went to overtime \[editor's note: 96-103 in overtime, February 12, 2013\] and the second one in Bilbao \[the next week, February 19, 76-65\]. So yes, I knew the competition. I always followed it. I always wanted to play the EuroCup, but somehow, I never had a chance. I never had the opportunity to come here. There was interest from some teams, but it never kind of worked out in the end for me to sign a deal. So now, when I had the chance, I for sure said, 'I want to come here and compete in the EuroCup, to try how it is', and there are really good teams here, really good quality players. It's super nice."

 

**You are also playing in Klaipeda, a very underrated basketball city. Many good players have come out of this city. How big is basketball in Klaipeda?**

"I think people in the start were kind of shy, I would say they forgot the feeling of how it is to compete in a European competition, because it's been some time since they were in a European competition. And last season was really tough for them, so people were kind of waiting to come to the games and everything. But now, since we've started winning games, and they really see the sun behind the clouds, people are getting more and more to the games, and they really support us more and more. And you can tell that people love basketball here. This is Lithuania, so it is not a big surprise that they love basketball, and their support is good. I am sure it will get even better and better during the season. We will have more sell-outs, for sure, but it depends on us, too. We have to win games and play really good basketball, and then people will want to follow us more and more. It is a win-win for both."

 

**And after playing everywhere, you are a three-hour drive from home. You were born in Tukums, Latvia, so...**

"\[interrumpting\] That's right, but I was only born there, that's it, I have no connections there at all. I come from a small city, and at that time, when my mother had to give birth, the hospital was closed. But Tukums is very close to home, so they drove my mother to the closest hospital. Anyway, I have been living in Riga for some years now and have lived my whole life there. So yes, it is a three-hour drive home, and this year, I never had a feeling that I'm going somewhere, and I don't feel like I'm abroad, maybe that's why the transition was really that easy, and I really love it. All the culture is the same, and whenever you need... I mean, with this schedule, it's hard to go home, but at least my wife and the kids can easily drive home if we go on a one-week trip, and our grandparents can help her. It's perfect, I really love it, I love the location here."

Lomazs on backcourt mate Arnas Velicka: 'We have a really good connection... I love playing with him.'

**We talked about Velicka earlier. He has been fantastic so far, getting 14 assists against Manresa. How great is it for a shooter like you to have a pass-first point guard like him?**

"Well, the problem is he's just passing the ball to the roller, but I'm struggling with that! Nah, I am kidding. It's great! I think from the start, we have a really good connection, and he can really pass the ball. Not only that, he can score and create for others. I think we are a really good backcourt duo, me scoring-wise and him creating. I can create too, so having both of us at point guard and shooting guard is really good. I love playing with him. He has been playing really well. It's easy. It's great."

 

**You will face Jerusalem next week. How much of a challenge is it to play this team after it beat Bahcesehir last week?**

"For sure, it's going to be a tough game. Like you said, they just beat Bahcesehir, a team that had not lost before, a tough opponent. That is going to make it even tougher for us, because our main center \[James Karnik\] is leaving us due to family reasons. But then again, we are in good rhythm, and we are going to be fully focused and locked in. Hopefully, we can keep our winning streak going. It would be good to finish strong before the FIBA break. But for sure, this is a really tough opponent with really high-quality players. Probably half of their team could easily play in the EuroLeague, so it will be a tough one, especially in Belgrade."

 

**Would you say that Jerusalem is one of the favorites to win the EuroCup?**

"I think so, yes, especially of how they are playing. It will be very important for the top teams to skip the first playoff round and play only one do-or-die game at home before the best-of-three series in the semifinals and finals. It is really tough to say, but I would say Jerusalem, Bahcesehir, Besiktas and even Buducnost, which just beat Besiktas, are the favorites and they are kind of not hiding this. They are talking about this by themselves and really want to win the competition."

 

**How about Neptunas? What would be a good season for your team?**

"For sure, playoffs, to make it to the playoffs, I would say that it would be great to make it to the playoffs, and then from there on, we could see what we can do, and what's the situation there. It is very early, we have just played six of 18 regular-season games, so there are a lot of games to be played. But to make it to the playoffs in our first EuroCup season in a while, it would be great for us."

More Neptunas news

Lomazs reflects on his journey, his connection to Klaipeda, and why the EuroCup was always on his radar.

Don’t be surprised to see Skylar Mays smiling on the court in the BKT EuroCup. After a number of tough years trying to make the highest stages of basketball, the Buducnost VOLI Podgorica guard is focused on something else – finding the love of the game he had when he was seven years old. 

Buducnost’s Mays looking to return to the joy of seven-year-old Skylar 

Don’t be surprised to see [Skylar Mays](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/skylar-mays/013396/) smiling on the court in the BKT EuroCup. After a number of tough years trying to make the highest stages of basketball, the [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/) guard is focused on something else – finding the love of the game he had when he was seven years old. 

Mays has helped Buducnost to a 4-2 record in Group B of the EuroCup with 12.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.7 steals. 

“We’re all interested in winning and in the sacrifice that comes with it. We’re continuing to learn to lean on our depth. We feel like we have strength in numbers – very strong 11 to 12 guys – and that’s going to benefit us throughout the ups and downs of the season and the everyday grind,” Mays told David Hein. 

Mays knows all too well about the everyday grind season over season and the uncertainty he has experienced the last few years trying to make the NBA. The Louisiana native was selected in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He spent four seasons bouncing back and forth between the NBA and the G-League, playing a total of 105 regular season games over the four years with three different NBA teams. 

“The hardest part is staying ready when you’re not playing much. You might go weeks without seeing the court, and when your chance comes, you have to be great. You’re always fighting to move up the depth chart. It’s one thing to make it to the NBA; it’s another to stick,” said the 28-year-old Mays, who averaged 4.3 points and 1.7 assists in 10 minutes per game across 105 NBA regular-season games. “There are a lot of talented guys who just don’t get the chance to show it. You have to stay mentally strong and be confident even when you’re sitting.”

The best plays of Buducnost VOLI Podgorica guard Skylar Mays through the first six rounds of the 2025-26 BKT EuroCup season.

Skylar Mays's top plays so far this season

Before the 2024-25 campaign, EuroLeague side [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/) was interested in bringing in the 1.94-meter tall Mays. But he wanted to make the Minnesota Timberwolves through training camp. Things did not work out and he decided it was time to try the European market instead of a return to the G League. 

Within a week of being released by Minnesota in late October 2024, Mays was in Türkiye with [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/). He played just 14 games with the Turkish team, averaging 3.7 points and 1.1 rebounds in 10 minutes per game. Fenerbahce released Mays three months later at the end of January 2025 as his debut did not go as hoped.

“Last year was tough. Coming to a team like Fenerbahce, with a coach trying to win it all and so much talent, without a training camp, and trying to figure it out on the fly, it was difficult,” said Mays, who started two EuroLeague games. “I have a better understanding now of why Saras \[Jasikevicius\] didn’t have time to give me a longer leash. I have no regrets. I’m just happy to be playing basketball, learning and getting better.”

Mays wishes the circumstances had made it easier for Jasikevicius to get a fair assessment of his abilities. 

“I didn’t play many minutes. So I gave myself grace. I know I’m a better player than I was able to show there, and that’s a motivating factor for me this year,” he said. “It was a culture shock – new country, new system. And when I wasn’t getting playing time, it was hard because I was hungry to play.”

Mays decided it was best to go back to the United States and finish the season in the G League as he prepared for his next opportunity. He signed early on in the summer with Buducnost, doing so at the end of July, after a good conversation with head coach Andrej Zakelj.

“He had a vision for how he wanted to use me, help me learn the European game and coach me hard. That was the main thing. I just wanted a coach who’d be honest and push me every day. He’s done that, and I feel like I’ve grown because of it,” he said. “He calls me out on my mistakes. Holds me accountable in practice and games. He holds me to a standard of making winning plays every night.”

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The main thing for Mays was actually to have a training camp with a team and a chance to start the season with the team from day one.

“This is my sixth year as a pro, and this is my first year where I feel like I'm actually going to be able to get that,” he said. 

“I feel like I'm putting on the same jersey, seeing the same guys in the locker room, and that’s what every player wants. And it’s not the story of every player. But I feel like it’s such a big part of being consistent, having some type of routine. It helps to see the same guys every day and build a rapport and build rapport with a coach and to find out where you fit in a team.”

Mays is all about enjoying his space in the team – and regaining the love of the game he had a long time ago.

“It’s vital for me. I’m not even a guy that looks at stats anymore. I’m trying to get back to that purity of when I was seven years old, and I didn’t even know what a stat sheet was,” he said.

“When you try to keep basketball there, that’s brought me the most joy. And I’m really fighting for that joy right now, because I’ve dealt with a long stretch of not having a chance to play. When you go through years and years of that, you just appreciate the ability to just tie your shoes up and go run out there and just play and not deal with the stresses of numbers or efficiency.”

When asked how close he is to getting back to that seven-year-old Skylar, he said: “I’d say I’m on my way.”

You can see that when he breaks out in a smile on the court, enjoying the game again. 

More Buducnost News

After years of bouncing from team to team, the guard is finally comfortable with Buducnost

Fantasy tips, Round 7: The under-10-credits edition! 

It feels like yesterday when the BKT EuroCup season started, but the regular season is already heading into Round 7. From time to time, instead of focusing on the biggest stars in the competition, I like to suggest players worth less than 10.0 credits who can give you an edge in private leagues and in the overall standings, which are still led by my very own colleague, Frankie Sachs. And since Frankie wants to protect his leadership, it's me again, Javi Gancedo, making this week’s tips. Here are my recommendations heading into Round 7.

 

### Keron DeShields, Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (9.4 credits) 

I am not a fan of putting new players out there, but [Keron DeShields](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/keron-deshields/014167/) was so impressive in his EuroCup debut that I had to make an exception. He posted 17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals for a PIR of 14 against Turk Telekom Ankara. DeShields is a good scorer and Panionios visits a run-and-gun London team. He is one to keep an eye on!

 

### Noah Kirkwood, Slask Wroclaw (8.9 credits)

No team has allowed more points or PIR in the EuroCup this season than Veolia Towers Hamburg, so it’s always worth checking out its opposition. Slask swingman [Noah Kirkwood](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/noah-kirkwood/013920/) has scored in double figures and posted double-digit PIRs in four of his six appearances this season, highlighted by a 22-point, 5-assist effort two weeks ago against Reyer. Could another big game be in the cards against Hamburg?

Slask swingman Noah Kirkwood has posted double-digit PIRs in four of his six appearances this season

### Nelson Weidemann, ratiopharm ulm (7.5 credits) 

He comes off a really big game in Round 6 with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists for a PIR of 16 in a 1-point win over the London Lions. With a bigger role this season, [Nelson Weidemann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nelson-weidemann/006245/) has averaged 11.2 points on 54.2% three-point shooting and 100% free throws for a PIR of 10.8. That’s good value at 7.5 credits. 

### Martin Breunig, Veolia Towers Hamburg (7.3 credits)

A recent addition to the Towers, big [Martin Breunig](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/martin-breunig/014165/) has already captured a big role. Only days after joining the team, Breunig posted 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks for a PIR of 8 in 18 minutes in the EuroCup. Then he went for 7 points, 8 boards and 1 block for a PIR of 14 in the German League. His role seems destined to grow and getting in on him at such a low cost would be a shrewd move.

Javier Gancedo gives you 4 under-the-radar players to consider for your EuroCup Fantasy Challenge team this week

The action is hotting up as teams across the continent get ready for Round 7 of the BKT EuroCup. This is what lies in store on Tuesday and Wednesday.

## Tuesday, November 11

### ratiopharm ulm vs. Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse (19:00 CET)

Group B leader Bourg (5-1) will attempt to retain that status with a tough trip to face joint-second Ulm (4-2). Both teams are coming off narrow victories, with Ulm ending a two-game losing streak by edging past London behind the long-range accuracy of Nelson Weidemann, who averages 11.2 points per game on 54.2% from deep. This week he is facing the competition leader in three-point shooting, Darius McGhee, who averages 3.2 triples per night. Bourg also returned to winning ways last week, edging out Chemnitz as big man Kevin Kokila grabbed his first double-double of the season, and he will again play a key role in a competition-best Bourg defense which has limited opponents to just 70.2 points per game.

### Aris Thessaloniki Betsson vs. Bahcesehir College Istanbul (19:00 CET)

Group leader Bahcesehir (5-1) will look to get back to winning ways with a testing trip to Aris (3-3). The Greek team snapped a three-game losing streak by overcoming Slask at home last week, and will look for guard Bryce Jones to again show his ability to draw fouls after he netted a remarkable 17 free throws in that victory. Bahcesehir lost its perfect record with a home defeat to Hapoel last time out, and needs to recover its usual defensive meanness after allowing 90 points. The Turkish team will lean on the physical presence of Trevion Williams (13.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game), while Aris will hope Arnoldas Kulboka can stay hot from deep after netting 4 triples last week.

### Slask Wroclaw vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (19:00 CET)

Two strugglers at the bottom of Group A are seeking a turnaround in fortunes as Slask (2-4) receive a visit from Hamburg (0-6). The Polish team has lost three consecutive games after continuing to struggle inside the arc, converting just 48.1% of two-point shots despite Kadre Grey averaging 15.8 points over the last four games. He will hope to profit against a Hamburg team that the league’s worst defensive record, allowing 97.7 points per night. The German team also desperately struggled offensively last time out, scoring just 55 points against Reyer despite 17 points from Carlos Stewart, who will try to win the backcourt battle with Noah Kirkwood (13 points and 3.8 assists per game).

### Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem vs. Neptunas Kleipeda (20:30 CET)

Two teams targeting a fourth straight win go head-to-head as Hapoel (4-2) welcome direct rival Neptunas (3-3). The Lithuanian team has turned on the offensive style by averaging 97 points during a three-game winning run, sparked by the EuroCup’s runaway assists leader Arnas Velickas (9.2 per game). His offensive mastery will definitely be required against a Hapoel team which has also won three in a row, most recently ending Bahcesehir’s unbeaten start behind 27 points from Jared Harper. That game also featured a double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) from Austin Wiley, and Neptunas needs to counter him through a strong game from center James Karnik (12 points and 7 rebounds per game).

## Wednesday, November 12

### Besiktas GAIN Istanbul vs. Dolomiti Energia Trento (18:00 CET)

A big battle in Group B will see Besiktas (4-2) attempt to pull two games clear of Trento (3-3). The Turkish team has a 100% home record, scoring at least 90 points in each of those wins, and boasts the competition’s third-best three-point shooting conversion rate (38.2%) – helped by Anthony Brown averaging 12 points per game on 40% from beyond the arc. Trento gained its second straight win by narrowly downing Lietkabelis last week, and will hope that forward Peyton Aldridge can continue to lead the physical fight after he grabbed 10 rebounds in that game. The Italian team also needs another big night from Devante Jones, who has scored 21 and 20 points in the last two games.

### U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. BAXI Manresa (18:00 CET)

Two teams tied in the middle of Group A will battle for supremacy in a key matchup as Cluj (3-3) welcomes Manresa (3-3). Manresa will look to recover its usual defensive toughness after allowing 100 points in last week’s loss at Neptunas, while Hugo Benitez will attempt to continue to provide offensive fireworks after a double-double of 10 points and 10 assists in that game. Cluj is also looking to bounce back and make a defensive improvement after a home loss against Cedevita, and will hope competition PIR leader Fatts Russell (24 points, 6.7 assists and 25 PIR per game) will win his backcourt battle with Benitez.

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Umana Reyer Venice (18:30 CET)

Another crucial Group A matchup between direct rivals will see Cedevita (4-2) defending its homecourt with a visit from Reyer (3-3). Cedevita snapped a two-game losing streak by overcoming Cluj last week behind the routine excellence of guard Umoja Gibson (15 points and 5.3 assists per night), who faces a good battle with Reyer backcourt leader RJ Cole (11.8 points and 5.2 assists per game). The Italian team has won three of its last four games and will hope to dominate its significant physical advantage over the host: Cedevita ranks last in the competition in rebounding (31.3 per game) while Reyer is top of the class in that category (39.7 rpg).

### Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (18:45 CET)

Two teams heading in different directions go head-to-head with Lietkabelis (1-5) hosting Turk Telekom (4-2). The home team hasn’t won since the season opener, while Turk Telekom has reeled off four consecutive wins mostly thanks to the second-best defense in the competition (76.7 points per game allowed). A key offensive weapon for the visitor is Jaylen Smith (14 points per game), who netted six triples in last week’s win over Panionios. To counter him, Lietkabelis needs Michael Flowers to maintain his magnificent form after netting 20 and 22 points in the last two games – a return to form by Kristian Kullamae would also be welcome after he went scoreless in last week’s loss to Trento.

### NINERS Chemnitz vs. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (19:00 CET)

Inconsistent Chemnitz (2-4) will look to climb towards the all-important top six at the expense of in-form Buducnost (4-2). The German team can look for leadership from Corey Davis, who averages 17.7 points and 6.2 assists. But he will have to overcome a confident Rasheed Sulaimon, who helped stretch Buducnost’s winning run to three games by pouring in 20 points against Besiktas last week. Chemnitz ranks second in the competition in two-point conversion rate (62.4%), partly thanks to Yordan Minchev averaging 9.5 points per game on 67.9% from inside the arc, so Buducnost will have to rely on another big game from Juwan Morgan, who averaged 14.5 and 5.5 boards in the last two games.

### London Lions vs. Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (20:30 CET)

The week’s final game gives two struggling teams the chance to climb the Group B standings as London (2-4) hosts Panionios (1-5). The English team has lost two straight while Panionios is on an even worse stretch, losing five in a row. London is the competition’s lowest scorer (75 points per game) despite the consistency of Kameron McGusty (16 points per game), and particularly needs to take better care of the basketball after averaging a EuroCup-high 17.7 turnovers per game. The visitor is ranked last in two-point shooting percentage (48%), but can hope to build on a solid debut from Keron Deshields, who scored 17 points in last week’s loss at Turk Telekom.

With no more unbeaten teams, the 2025-26 EuroCup campaign continues to heat up

At a glance: Tricky road games for the two group leaders

London Lions v Panionios Cosmorama Travel Athens (2025-11-12T19:30:00.000Z)

NINERS Chemnitz v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2025-11-12T18:00:00.000Z)

Lietkabelis Panevezys v Turk Telekom Ankara (2025-11-12T17:45:00.000Z)

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Umana Reyer Venice (2025-11-12T17:30:00.000Z)

Besiktas GAIN Istanbul v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2025-11-12T17:00:00.000Z)

U-BT Cluj-Napoca v BAXI Manresa (2025-11-12T17:00:00.000Z)

One third of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season is in the books and scoring is up thanks to a jump in pace from last season.  Efficiency remains in lockstep with last season overall, but the top of the leaderboard is a bit more crowded than usual, with more teams scoring at a high level than the last several years. The team that cluster of teams is chasing is 4-2 Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem, which has scored at an impressive rate to this point on par with the performance of Paris Basketball during their record-setting championship run. 

Stats review: Jerusalem's Big Three keep doing the business

One third of the BKT EuroCup Regular Season is in the books and scoring is up thanks to a jump in pace from last season.  Efficiency remains in lockstep with last season overall, but the top of the leaderboard is a bit more crowded than usual, with more teams scoring at a high level than the last several years. The team that cluster of teams is chasing is 4-2 [Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/hapoel-midtown-jerusalem/jer/), which has scored at an impressive rate to this point on par with the performance of Paris Basketball during their record-setting championship run. 

Digging a little deeper, Jerusalem can trace its early success to one of the most efficient trios in league history. Historically, there’s often a one or two teams that put two players among the most efficient volume scorers in the EuroCup in any given year. With an average of four players per team using more than 10 possessions per game over the last several seasons, that is not entirely surprising. However, what Jerusalem is doing by placing three players using over 12 possessions per game in the top six in efficiency is unprecedented. During its championship run last season, Hapoel Tel Aviv placed three players in the top 10, but only one of those three played in every game and none of them used over 12 possessions per game on the year overall. No other team this decade has come close to a similar feat, with no teams landing multiple players on the individual leaderboards in several seasons.

That puts an interesting spin on Jerusalem’s prospects moving forward as not only have [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/), [Justin Smith](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/justin-smith/013276/) and [Khadeen Carrington](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/khadeen-carrington/008912/) been uniquely impactful this season, but all of them played for Jerusalem last year too. They scored a combined 52 points in Round 6 to land the biggest win of the season thus far in Group A as they [handed Bahcesehir College Istanbul its first loss](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/jerusalem-holds-firm-to-stop-bahcesehirs-perfect-run-82-90/).

This is nothing new for Harper, who shredded defenses with his ability to score out of pick and rolls throughout last season, but Smith has shown real growth as a finisher in his second season as his teammate and solidifying himself as the most prolific roll man in the EuroCup thus far. Carrington is in his fourth season with Jerusalem but is having by far his most efficient scorer season as a pro. Like Smith, he’s found a different gear offensively, rooted largely in his sudden rise as a consistent spot up weapon to complement what he brings as a secondary ball handler.

Jerusalem’s offense has been a well-oiled machine to this point as they hold a significant edge in efficiency over [Besiktas GAIN Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/besiktas-gain-istanbul/bes/) and [Buducnost VOLI Podgorica](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/buducnost-voli-podgorica/bud/), who are off to impressive starts of their own to tie for the second-best offense in the EuroCup early on. That duo has relied on more of a platoon effort in the early going, with only [Skylar Mays](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/skylar-mays/013396/) represented above between the two rosters.

[Dusan Miletic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/dusan-miletic/009896/) and [Mitch Creek](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mitchell-creek/013927/) are the only other duo on the current list, forming a potent inside-outside combination for [U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/). Their skillsets have meshed nicely up front, helping give this season’s leading scorer [Fatts Russell](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/daron-russell/013943/) room to operate and dangerous threats to look for off the ball to form a big three of their own.

While Jerusalem has put themselves on a unique trajectory on the offensive end, separation has still been hard to come by in the EuroCup thus far—they sit in second place in Group A with only the league’s sixth best point-differential. How things shake out for them and the rest of the players above will be fascinating to watch as the season continues to heat up.

They form one of the most efficient trios in EuroCup history