Martinas Geben, who spent two seasons in the EuroLeague with Zalgiris Kaunas between 2019 and 2021, has joined Cedevita Olimpija on a two-year deal.

Cedevita Olimpija adds size with Martinas Geben

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana has bolstered its frontcourt by inking center [Martinas Geben](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/martinas-geben/009753/) to a two-year deal, the club announced Friday.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another new Dragon in the Dragons Family!<br><br>Welcome to Ljubljana, <a href="https://twitter.com/Martinas_Geben?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Martinas_Geben</a>! 💚🧡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZmajevaDruzina?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ZmajevaDruzina</a> <a href="https://t.co/Fx0KBe4Xvt">pic.twitter.com/Fx0KBe4Xvt</a></p>&mdash; Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana - English (@KKCedOL_EN) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKCedOL_EN/status/1804123256976183354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Geben (2.08 meters, 29 years old) arrives from BAXI Manresa, where he averaged 8.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in 36 Spanish League games last season, helping his team reach the playoffs. 

While Geben has never featured in the BKT EuroCup, he did play 53 times in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for Zalgiris Kaunas between 2019 and 2021.

Martinas Geben Top Plays of the 2020-21 Regular Season

2020-21 EuroLeague highlights: Martinas Geben, Zalgiris

Fresh off getting his college degree from the University of Notre Dame, Geben started his professional career with Juventus-LKSK Utenos in his native Lithuania. He went on to play for Zalgiris, as well as Brose Bamberg and Fraport Skyliners of Germany. Geben helped Zalgiris win the Lithuanian League in 2021 and back-to-back Lithuanian Cups in 2020 and 2021. He has also been a member of the Lithuanian national team. He helped Lithuania win a gold medal at the 2017 World University games, and a bronze medal at the 2013 U19 World Cup. 

"I am excited about joining Cedevita Olimpija, and that my family and I are starting a new adventure in Ljubljana and Slovenia," Geben told the club's official media. "The club has a rich history and I look forward to being part of this organization."

More Cedevita News

New Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana signing Martinas Geben in action for Zalgiris Kaunas in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

He played 53 EuroLeague games with Zalgiris between 2019 and 2021

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv signed point guard Guy Palatin, who comes off a breakout season with Maccabi Kiryat Ata. 

Hapoel Tel Aviv lands defensive ace Guy Palatin

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv signed point guard Guy Palatin, who comes off a breakout season with Maccabi Kiryat Ata. Palatin (1.92 meters, 23 years old) averaged 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game last season. He led the league in steals and was chosen as the Israeli League Defensive Player of the Year.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">היי גיא, ערב טוב <a href="https://t.co/EvdLn9YUUN">pic.twitter.com/EvdLn9YUUN</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1804093170952626262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

A product of the Hapoel Holon youth system, Palatin made his professional debut with Holon and also played for Hapoel Ramat Gan and for Maccabi Rishon Lezion before joining Kiryat Ata last season. He has played for the Israeli national team at the youth levels and for the senior team in 3x3 tournaments.

2023-24 Israeli League Defensive Player of the Year: Guy Palatin

More Hapoel Tel Aviv News

The point guard is the reigning Israeli League Defensive Player of the Year

Rasheed Sulaimon, who averaged 18.2 points per game for BC Wolves in the EuroCup last season, has signed for Buducnost VOLI.

Buducnost seals move for Rasheed Sulaimon

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica has made another signing ahead of the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season by bringing in [Rasheed Sulaimon](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/rasheed-sulaimon/profile/011150/), who has spent the last two years playing in the competition.

Sulaimon (1.94 meters, 30 years old) shined for Wolves Vilnius last season, averaging 18.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and a 14.0 PIR in eight games. He could only play in eight appearances due to injury, missing Rounds 7 through 13, then Rounds 16 through 18. The American did not play enough games to quality, but his 18.2 points per game would have been the second-best mark in the 2023-24 EuroCup campaign.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Houston problem solved ✍️<a href="https://t.co/y08ilm92sI">https://t.co/y08ilm92sI</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HukMora%C4%8De?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HukMorače</a> <a href="https://t.co/hk2s0aNqpQ">pic.twitter.com/hk2s0aNqpQ</a></p>&mdash; KK Budućnost VOLI (@KKBuducnostVOLI) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKBuducnostVOLI/status/1804092555161677973?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Prior to joining Wolves last summer, Sulaimon's first EuroCup campaign came with Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in 2021-22. That season, he averaged 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steal and an 11.6 PIR, playing all 18 regular-season games.

Rasheed Sulaimon played Wolves Vilnius in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Rasheed Sulaimon, Wolves

Sulaimon began his professional career with the Greensboro Swarm in the G League in 2016-17 before going on to play for Dijon (2017-18), Metropolitans (2018-19) and Dijon again (2019-20), all in France. He then moved to Spain by signing for Zaragoza (2020-21), then returned to France by joining Bourg (2021-22), went to Turkiye to play for Konyaspor (2022-23), and finally came to Lithuania to suit up for Wolves (2023-24). 

By appearing for Buducnost next season, Montenegro will be the fifth country that Sulaimon has played in.

More Buducnost News

New Buducnost VOLI Podgorica signing Rasheed Sulaimon in action for Wolves Vilnius in the BKT EuroCup last season.

He starred in the EuroCup for Wolves last season

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse has strengthened its backcourt by signing guard Mehdi Ngouama, who penned a one-year deal with his new club on Thursday.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Mehdy Ngouama devient bressan 🔴<br><br>Après avoir été un de nos rivaux cette saison, <a href="https://twitter.com/NGMdy5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NGMdy5</a> rejoint le roster burgien. Un vrai energizer sur le terrain qu’on accueillera dès la rentrée !<br><br>📝 <a href="https://t.co/5BOh8nJe7G">https://t.co/5BOh8nJe7G</a> <a href="https://t.co/F65eaOohN9">pic.twitter.com/F65eaOohN9</a></p>&mdash; JL Bourg Basket (@JLBourgBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLBourgBasket/status/1803852894518808854?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ngouama (1.88 meters, 28 years old) arrives from Paris Basketball, where he averaged 6.4 points on 40.5% three-pointers and 2.2 assists in 19 BKT EuroCup games last season. In his only season with the club, he helped Paris win the French Leaders Cup and the EuroCup, downing Bourg in the Finals, as well as reaching the French League finals. 

Mehdy Ngouama 6.4 points on 40.5% three-pointers and 2.2 assists in 19 BKT EuroCup games last season, helping Paris Basketball lift the trophy.

2023-24 EuroCup highlights: Mehdy Ngouama, Paris

He started his professional career in his native France, playing for Derrain ASC Voltaire, Jean D'Arc Vichy Clermont Metropole, BC Souffelweyersheim, JSF Nanterre, ESSW Le Portel Cote d'Opale and BCM Gravelines before joining Spanish side Urbas Fuenlabrada. Ngouama has also been a member of the French U18 national team. 

More Bourg News

New Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse signing Mehdy Ngouama in action for Paris Basketball in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup season.

Bourg lands EuroCup champ Mehdi Ngouama

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv has re-signed head coach Stefanos Dedas for two years. Dedas joined the team in April of last season and helped Hapoel reach the Israeli League finals

Hapoel Tel Aviv, Coach Dedas agree on two-year extension

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv has put pen to paper with head coach Stefanos Dedas on a new contract. Dedas joined the team in April of last season and helped Hapoel reach the Israeli League finals, where they took crosstown rival Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv the distance before falling. He had spent the previous season and a half in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague as Dimitris Itoudis’s assistant coach.

Dedas, 42, has had a long and distinguished coaching career. He has been head coach at MENT, OFI Crete and AEK Athens in his native Greece, Gaziantep and Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul in Türkiye, and Hapoel Holon in Israel. Dedas also served as an assistant at Aris Thessaloniki, Russian’s Spartak Saint Petersburg and CSKA Moscow, and the Slovenian national team.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">נשאר איתנו: סטפנוס דדאס ממשיך כמאמן הראשי של הפועל &quot;שלמה&quot; ת&quot;א<br><br>סטפנוס דדאס, מאמן הקבוצה בחודשים האחרונים, שהוביל אותה למאבק על האליפות עד המשחק האחרון של העונה, חתם על חוזה חדש בהפועל &quot;שלמה&quot; תל אביב. <br><br>סטפנוס דדאס: &quot;אני גאה להישאר חלק ממשפחת הפועל תל אביב. התחלנו לבנות משהו גדול… <a href="https://t.co/GCBmldfzPF">pic.twitter.com/GCBmldfzPF</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1803780046898819583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I am proud to remain part of the Hapoel Tel Aviv family," Coach Dedas said. "We started building something big together last season and now is the time for all of us to continue working to fulfill the dreams of the club's management and the fans next season."

Dedas joined Hapoel in April of last season

Hapoel Tel Aviv re-signs head coach Stefanos Dedas

Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul bolstered its frontcourt by signing center Tai Odiase to a one-year deal, the club announced Thursday. 

Bahcesehir brings aboard center Tai Odiase

Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul bolstered its frontcourt by signing center [Tai Odiase](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/tai-odiase/011823/) to a one-year deal, the club announced Thursday. Odiase (2.06 meters, 28 years old) arrives from Piratas de Quebradillas, where he averaged 18.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 17 Puerto Rican League games this season. He started the 2023-24 campaign with Prometey Slobozhanske, where Odiase was worth 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 20 BKT EuroCup games. he ranked 18th in PIR on a per-minute basis with an average of 25.2 over 40 minutes. Odiase helped Prometey win the Latvian-Estonian League championship.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">🙌 Tai Odiase, Bahçeşehir Koleji’nde!<br><br>🤝 Geçtiğimiz sezon Prometey forması giyen ABD’li uzun oyuncu ile 2024-2025 sezonu için anlaşma sağladık.<br><br>🙋‍♂️ Welcome to our family, Tai! <a href="https://twitter.com/21Taiwo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@21Taiwo</a> <br><br>❤️💙 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyHighTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FlyHighTogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/HoUNDcGMXC">pic.twitter.com/HoUNDcGMXC</a></p>&mdash; Bahçeşehir Koleji Spor Kulübü (@BKBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKBasketbol/status/1803749856390840482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He started his career with GS Lavrio Aegean Cargo of Greece and also played for Metropolitanos de Mauricio Baez of the Dominican Republic, Greensboro of the G League, EWE Baskets Oldenburg of Germany and Germani Brescia Leonessa of Italy, which he helped win the Italian Cup in 2023. Odiase is set to play his third consecutive EuroCup season with as many teams: Brescia, Prometey and now Bahcesehir. 

More Bahcesehir news

Odiase remains in the BKT EuroCup for the third straight season

ratiopharm continued its trend of investing in top young guards with the signing of Ben Saraf to a multi-year deal. Saraf (1.97 meters, 18 years old) arrives from Maccabi Kiryat Ata in his native Israel.

Ulm invests in teenage sensation Ben Saraf  

ratiopharm continued its trend of investing in top young guards with the signing of [Ben Saraf](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ben-saraf/011437/) to a multi-year deal. Saraf (1.97 meters, 18 years old) arrives from Maccabi Kiryat Ata in his native Israel, which he led to the Israeli League Semifinals last season. He averaged 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steal over 26 regular season games and 11.3 points, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in the semifinals against BKT EuroCup power Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv. He was chosen as the league’s breakout player of the season.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">𝙉ä𝙘𝙝𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙏𝙤𝙥-𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙢 𝙐𝙪𝙪𝙡𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨! 💥<br><br>Der 18-jährige israelische Point Guard Ben Saraf hat bei uns einen Zweijahres-Vertrag unterschrieben. 🔥<br><br>Welcome to Ulm, Ben! 🥳🏀<a href="https://t.co/mIX8ctLKE9">https://t.co/mIX8ctLKE9</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/uuulmer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#uuulmer</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/weareone?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#weareone</a> <a href="https://t.co/dQWzizWArr">pic.twitter.com/dQWzizWArr</a></p>&mdash; ratiopharm ulm (@ratiopharmulm) <a href="https://twitter.com/ratiopharmulm/status/1803729811635892542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Saraf, both of whose parents were professional players, came up through the youth ranks at Hapoel Emek Hefer, from where he was first invited to take part in the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament for the first time in February 2022 as part of the NGT Patras select team. After leading the 2022 U16 European Championship in scoring with 24.3 points per game, Saraf signed his first professional contract with Elitzur Netanya in Israel’s second division. He was chosen as the league’s sixth man of the year after averaging 14.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, which led to his move to Kiryat Ata last summer.

The signing continues a trend of young stars coming to Ulm, which included Juan Nuñez, Pacome Didiet and Noa Essengue last season and Fedor Zugic and Killian Hayes, as well as a host of American and South American players who used seasons with the club as springboards to stardom.

“We are delighted that another highly talented young player has chosen ratiopharm Ulm," sports director Thorsten Leibenath said. "Ben has impressive skills both as an executor and as a playmaker. Despite his young age, he has already proven that he can use these skills to his advantage at a professional level. His wit at both ends makes him a special talent that we want to develop further together."

The 18-years-old guard was the Israeli League's 2023-24 breakout player of the season

Aris Midea Thessaloniki announced the signing of center Manos Chatzidakis on Thursday on a two-year contract. 

Aris lands big man Manos Chatzidakis 

Aris Midea Thessaloniki announced the signing of center Manos Chatzidakis on Thursday on a two-year contract. Chatzidakis (2.08 meters, 24 years old) arrives from AEK Athens, where he averaged 3.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in the Greek League. He began his career at AEK and later played for Maroussi Athens, Koroivos Amaliadas and Kolossos Rhodes before returning to AEK last season. Chatzidakis has also played for the Greek national team at the junior and senior levels, including at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">‼️ O ΜΑΝΟΣ ΧΑΤΖΗΔΑΚΗΣ ΣΤΟΝ ΑΡΗ Midea <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Welcome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Welcome</a> to<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheEmperor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheEmperor</a><a href="https://twitter.com/m_chatzidakis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@m_chatzidakis</a> <br><br>Read more 👉 <a href="https://t.co/myvMSfoQLb">https://t.co/myvMSfoQLb</a>...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARISBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARISBC</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARISFAMILY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARISFAMILY</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARISBCTRANSFERS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARISBCTRANSFERS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARISBC425?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARISBC425</a> <a href="https://t.co/Z7UECSF75p">pic.twitter.com/Z7UECSF75p</a></p>&mdash; ARIS B.C. (@ARISBCgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ARISBCgr/status/1803724554667270412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Aris news

The Greek national team center will play in the EuroCup for the first time

Hapoel Jerusalem announced that head coach Yonatan Alon will remain on the sidelines for the coming season, in which the club will compete in the BKT EuroCup for the first time after a five-year hiatus. 

Jerusalem re-signs Coach Yonatan Alon

Hapoel Jerusalem announced that head coach Yonatan Alon will remain on the sidelines for the coming season, in which the club will compete in the BKT EuroCup for the first time after a five-year hiatus. Alon, 42, had served as Jerusalem’s general manager from the start of the 2022-23 season and became head coach in March when Ilias Kantzouris was dismissed. Alon led Jerusalem to victory over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in the Israeli Cup final. Jerusalem also reached the playoff semifinals, where they were swept by Maccabi.

Alon began his career as youth coach in the Jerusalem system when he was in his early 20s and was promoted to assistant coach on the senior team in 2009, at the age of 28. Alon was also an assistant at Bnei Hasharon, Hapoel Holon and Maccabi Ashdod. He previously served as Jerusalem’s head coach at the end of the 2020-21 season. Alon has a 15-11 career record as a head coach in the Israeli League.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">יאללה דנשה, יאללה יונצ׳וק, יאללה הפועל!<br><br>הפועל ״בנק יהב״ ירושלים שמחה ונרגשת להודיע על מינויו של דן שמיר לתפקיד המנהל המקצועי של המועדון ועל מינויו של יונתן אלון לתפקיד המאמן הראשי.<br>לפרטים המלאים &gt; <a href="https://t.co/oQfZk2JICa">https://t.co/oQfZk2JICa</a> <a href="https://t.co/WSuCPfSnFa">pic.twitter.com/WSuCPfSnFa</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Jerusalem BC (@JerusalemBasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerusalemBasket/status/1803472811060539691?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Alon led the club the Israeli Cup after taking over mid-season