Summer ended early for the Euroleague Basketball family of referees with the 33rd Clinic for Euroleague Basketball Officials last weekend. The four-day-long event, which began on August 29, saw the men and women who will oversee the games this season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the BKT EuroCup meet for physicals, rules discussions and analyses, breakout sessions and much more in Zagreb, Croatia.

Zagreb hosted the annual Clinic for Euroleague Basketball Officials

Some 68 referees were on hand for the clinic, including four newcomers: Manuel Attard of Italy, Stefan Calic of Serbia, Sergio Manuel of Spain and Christian Theis of Germany. This marked the second such clinic under the guidance of Daniel Hierrezuelo as Euroleague Basketball Director of Officiating.

“The annual clinic is essential for maintaining the high standards we expect at Euroleague Basketball. It’s not just about the rules but about sharing knowledge and experiences, fostering teamwork, preparing mentally and physically, and ultimately delivering the best officiating for the league,” Hierrezuelo stated.

The list of experts invited to lecture at the clinic featured Euroleague Basketball President Dejan Bodiroga, former Euroleague Basketball Senior Director of Officiating Mr. Costas Rigas, Spanish national team head coach Sergio Scariolo, Euroleague Head Coaches Board President and former EuroLeague champion Dimitris Itoudis, Euroleague Head Coaches Board Executive Director Goran Sasic, ELPA Head of Player Relations Walter Jeklin, sports psychologist Mar Rovira, and physical trainer Gianluca Mazzoncini.

There were lectures on IRS reviews and rule changes for the coming season. The referees also met in smaller groups to dive deeper into video analysis, proper mechanics on the court, injury prevention, and self-improvement, among other topics. Each official also underwent eye exams, fitness checkups and rules tests. And by the end of the clinic, they were all better prepared for the exciting season that awaits!

Europe’s premier referees gathered in the Croatian capital to prepare for the 2024-25 season

The 2024-25 edition of the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge, the official fantasy game of the EuroCup, is now active.

The EuroCup Fantasy Challenge is back and better than ever

Fans of the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://fantasychallenge.page.link/game) are in for a treat heading into the 2024-25 season. Several improvements have been made to the overall experience, which should bring fantasy managers even closer to the action.

On Wednesday, September 4, the official fantasy game of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague goes live. That gives fantasy managers just a few weeks to get their team – or teams – ready ahead of the 2024-25 EuroCup season getting underway on Tuesday, September 24.

For those familiar with the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge, the basic will remain the same. Fantasy managers get 100 credits per team to build a squad of four guards, four forwards, two centers and one head coach. Teams will earn points each round based on the performances of their players in the actual Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and BKT EuroCup games in that round. Managers can make a limited number of player swaps after each round. And the best teams are eligible to win prizes!

So what is new for the 2024-25 season? The app and website have been given a makeover, offering an updated look and feel that is in line with the thrills and spills of the EuroLeague and EuroCup seasons. There has been an adjustment made to trades, too. Ahead of each round, excluding those where unlimited trades are available, fantasy managers can either trade four players and retain their manager, or they can trade three players and change their manager.

There’s more. Players whose teams had their game postponed will no longer have their score doubled if they are selected as the captain; this avoids a situation where a fantasy manager can guarantee a certain number of points from that player. 

Last but not least, EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge managers can converse with one another for the first time by joining a WhatsApp or Telegram group called League Chat, with the administrator able to add the link for both private and public leagues.

The list of available prizes for the 2024-25 season includes tickets to games, official EuroCup jerseys and basketballs, subscriptions to EuroLeague TV and more, highlighted by the grand prize: two VIP tickets to the 2026 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, as well as a EuroCup jersey of his choice, a EuroCup official Spalding basketball and a EuroLeague TV subscription for the 2025-26 season.

Registration opens soon, so get ready to compete against over one hundred thousand basketball fans across the world and prove you have what it takes to succeed in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge.

A shot-blocking specialist, Banks is a BKT EuroCup newcomer


Aris signs center James Banks

Aris Midea Thessaloniki bolstered its frontcourt by adding center James Banks on a one-year deal.

Banks (2.08 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Maine of the G League, where he averaged 5.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 46 games last season. He started his professional career in Israel, averaging 5.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for Hapoel Altshuler Shaham Beer Sheva in the 2020-21 campaign. He went on to play in the G league for Birmingham, Texas and Maine. Banks has also been a member of the USA U18 national team, helping it win a gold medal at the 2016 FIBA Americas Championships. He is making his EuroCup debut with Aris, where he proved to showcase his well-known defensive skills.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ro" dir="ltr">‼️ O JAMES BANKS III 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/1jamesbanks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@1jamesbanks</a> <br><br>Read more 👉 <a href="https://t.co/OuUhfdafBS">https://t.co/OuUhfdafBS</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/ARISBC2425?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARISBC2425</a> <a href="https://t.co/8oS9JFOnXV">pic.twitter.com/8oS9JFOnXV</a></p>&mdash; ARIS B.C. (@ARISBCgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ARISBCgr/status/1829484996534411351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

He arrives from Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Hapoel Tel Aviv completes roster with Bruno Caboclo

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv added size and BKT EuroCup experience to its frontcourt by signing center Bruno Caboclo, the club announced Friday morning. 

Caboclo (2.08 meters, 28 years old) arrives from Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, where he averaged 9.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 27 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season. Born in Sao Paulo Brazil, he started his professional career in one of his hometown's club, EC Pinheiros/Sky. Caboclo also played for Fort Wayne, Raptors 905, Reno, Rio Grande, Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico and Memphis of the G League, Toronto, Sacramento, Memphis and Houston of the NBA, Limoges CSP of France and Sao Paulo FC of Brazil before joining ratiopharm Ulm of Germany, where he made his EuroCup debut in the 2022-23 season. 

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">&quot;החלק האחרון בפאזל&quot;: ברונו קאבוקלו חתם בהפועל ״שלמה״ תל אביב!<br><br>קאבוקלו (28, 2.08 מ׳) מגיע אלינו מהיורוליג אחרי ששיחק בעונה החולפת במדי פרטיזן בלגרד וסיפק ממוצעים של 9.4 נקודות, 4.0 ריבאונדים ו-50% לשלוש בממוצע למשחק ביורוליג.<br><br>הפורוורד/סנטר הברזילאי הוביל בעבר את אולם לזכייה… <a href="https://t.co/1EfQfOff0q">pic.twitter.com/1EfQfOff0q</a></p>&mdash; Hapoel Tel Aviv BC (@HapoelTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/HapoelTLVBC/status/1829424097249382570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Caboclo averaged 17.4 points on 68.7% two-point shooting, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 11 EuroCup games with Ulm, to which he helped win its first German League title. He lifted the G League trophy with Raptors 905 in 2017 and helped Sao Paulo win the BCL Americas in 2022. Most recently, Caboclo played at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with the Brazilian national team, averaging 17.3 points and 7.0 rebounds in 4 games. 

The best plays of new Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv signing Bruno Caboclo while playing for Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season.

Caboclo's top plays in 2023-24

The Hamburg Towers have brought in Patrick Heckmann on a three-month contract.

Hamburg adds Patrick Heckmann on short-term deal

Veolia Towers Hamburg have moved quickly to address [the injury of Niklas Wimberg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/niklas-wimberg-breaks-leg-will-be-out-for-months/) by signing [Patrick Heckmann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/patrick-heckmann/006420/) on a three-month contract.

Heckmann (1.98 meters, 32 years old) returns to the BKT EuroCup after last appearing in the competition for ratiopharm Ulm in the 2020-21 campaign. He spent the last three years at Brose Bamberg, averaging 3.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 28 German League games last season.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Herzlich Willkommen, <a href="https://twitter.com/pheck33?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pheck33</a>! 🙌<br><br>🔗 <a href="https://t.co/z4ssccyJHp">https://t.co/z4ssccyJHp</a><br><br>Wir reagieren auf den Ausfall von Niklas Wimberg und haben den 32-jährigen <a href="https://twitter.com/easyCreditBBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@easyCreditBBL</a> Routinier mit einem Kurzzeitvertrag ausgestattet. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeoliaTowersHamburg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeoliaTowersHamburg</a> <a href="https://t.co/uaxV9mw9mN">pic.twitter.com/uaxV9mw9mN</a></p>&mdash; Veolia Towers Hamburg (@hamburgtowers) <a href="https://twitter.com/hamburgtowers/status/1828075128573616306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"It is a stroke of luck for us that a player like Patrick was on the market after Niklas' injury," Hamburg head coach Benka Barloschky told the club's official media channels. 

"He brings quality and experience. He can also replace Niklas in any position, which allows us to play other players in their intended positions. I am looking forward to working with him and am sure that we will integrate him quickly."

Heckmann has two years of experience in the EuroCup, which came between 2019 and 2021 with Ulm. He also spent three years in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Bamberg between 2015 and 2018.

Hamburg will be Heckmann's third team as a professional, having only suited up for Bamberg (2015-19; 2021-24) and Ulm (2019-21).

More Hamburg News

Patrick Heckmann in action for ratiopharm Ulm in the 2019-20 BKT EuroCup season.

He has come in after the injury of Niklas Wimberg

Trefl Sopot has confirmed the signing of Marcus Weathers, the second-top scorer in last season's ABA League.

Trefl Sopot reels in Marcus Weathers

Trefl Sopot has announced the signing of Marcus Weathers on a one-year deal.

Weathers (1.97 meters, 27 years old) is coming off a season in which he averaged 18.1 points in the ABA League, the second most of any player, for KK Mornar Bar. He also posted 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game across his 16 ABA League appearances.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="pl" dir="ltr">Marcus Weathers dołącza do drużyny mistrza Polski! 🆕 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/plkpl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#plkpl</a><br><br>Amerykański skrzydłowy występował ostatnio w Lidze Adriatyckiej, gdzie był jej drugim strzelcem (śr. 18.1 punktu) i trzecim zbierającym (śr. 8.1 zbiórki) 🔝 Mierzący 197 centymetrów zawodnik zapisał… <a href="https://t.co/IkSHRjmx9N">pic.twitter.com/IkSHRjmx9N</a></p>&mdash; MISTRZ POLSKI 2024 🏆 (@treflsopot) <a href="https://twitter.com/treflsopot/status/1828054816532123724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After displaying his ability to put the ball in the cup at college, Weathers has continued his scoring exploits in his early professional career. He started the 2022-23 season with North Port, averaging 30.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals in just three Filipino League fixtures. He then joined Tainan GH in the Taiwanese League, posting 17.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.1 steals in seven games.

Weathers joined Ankaragucu in the Turkish second flight in the summer of 2023 and played a total of 11 games, putting up 18.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.5 steals. Next came his move to Mornar, where did enough to earn himself a move to a BKT EuroCup side in Trefl.

More Trefl Sopot News

Marcus Weathers in action for KK Mornar Bar in the ABA League last season.

He was the second-leading scorer in the ABA League last season

Aris BC has confirmed the signing of Trey Woodbury for the 2024-25 EuroCup season.

Aris brings Trey Woodbury aboard

Aris Midea Thessaloniki has announced the signing of Trey Woodbury for the 2024-25 season.

Woodbury (1.93 meters, 24 years old) impressed in his first year in Europe last year, averaging 14.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists for Brose Bamberg in the German League.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">‼️ O TREY WOODBURY ΣΤΟΝ ΑΡΗ Midea<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Welcome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Welcome</a> <br> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheEmperor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TheEmperor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TreyWoodbury?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TreyWoodbury</a> <br><br>Read more 👉<a href="https://t.co/biKSd2M7HF">https://t.co/biKSd2M7HF</a><br><br> <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><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ARISBC425?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARISBC425</a> <a href="https://t.co/tdMnmr3gNh">pic.twitter.com/tdMnmr3gNh</a></p>&mdash; ARIS B.C. (@ARISBCgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ARISBCgr/status/1826924043418611791?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Not only was the 2023-24 campaign Woodbury's first on the old continent, but it was his first as a professional. He started his college career at UNLV, remaining there for the 2018–2019 season, before heading to Utah Valley, which became his home for the next four years.

At Utah Valley, Woodbury wrote his name into the history books. The guard became the third player in college history to record a triple-double and is one of nine players to score more than 1,000 points with the Wolverines. What's more, he is the seventh-leading scorer and the second-leading passer in the program's history. 

More Aris News

Trey Woodbury in action for Utah Valley University.

He will make his EuroCup debut this season

Besiktas made it to the EuroCup Semifinals last season and now wants much more.

Games to Watch: Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul

When it comes to the BKT EuroCup, there is no time like now for Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul, which reached the semifinals last season for the first time in 10 appearances in the competition.

Besiktas has a strong fan base and has kept a core of players led by head coach Dusan Alimpijevic. Here are some of the key dates in the upcoming 2024-25 regular season.

### Round 2: A rare Istanbul derby

Besiktas ranks 14th in EuroCup games played with 120. Only three of them have come against Turkish teams, however. In 2008, Besiktas registered a painful 60-61 loss against archrivals Galatasaray Istanbul in a do-or-die quarterfinal showdown in Turin, Italy. In the 2014-15 campaign, Besiktas lost twice against Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir.

Coach Alimpijevic's squad take on Bahcesehir College Istanbul on October 1 is the first-ever EuroCup game between two Istanbul-based teams played in that city which is, by definition, special.

Wolves rallies past Besiktas in the final 23.3 seconds.

### Round 6: Finally on the road

In addition to that Round 2 game against Bahcesehir, Besiktas plays four of its opening five games in Istanbul. That means that Besiktas will not leave Turkiye until it visits Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius in Round 6 on October 29. It is also a game that is marked in red for Besiktas and its fans.

Last season, Wolves grabbed a 90-88 home win in the Lithuanian capital behind 31 points from Tre'Shawn Thurman. It was its only loss in the opening six games, and Besiktas led 80-87 with 21 seconds remaining. Expect Besiktas to be fully focused and show its best version in this game.

These sides have been longing for form, with the Spaniards losing three of its last four EuroCup encounters, while the visitors concluded with three straight defeats. Besiktas are leaders in offensive rebounding with 13.3 ppg, while Gran Canaria ranks fourth-worst in protecting its backboard.

Dreamland Gran Canaria-Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul | Eighthfinals Highlights | 2023-24 BKT EuroCup

### Round 17: A high-profile showdown

In a rematch of last season's eighthfinals, Besiktas comes up against Dreamland Gran Canaria, having beaten the then-reigning champion 78-80. Besiktas visits Gran Canaria on January 29, 2025, with barely one more game to play in regular-season action.

Coach Alimpijevic and playmaker Derek Needham are set to visit Gran Canaria Arena for the fourth consecutive season, too. Needham played there with Mornar Bar, Bursaspor and now Besiktas. It can be a critical game to clinch a playoffs spot or a top-two finish in their regular-season group, so keeping an eye on the tie-break advantage could be as critical as the win.

The Turkish side made it to the semifinals last season and now wants much more

Aris BC has confirmed the signing of Josh Roberts on a one-year deal.

Aris signs Josh Roberts

Aris Midea Thessaloniki has confirmed the signing of Josh Roberts for the 2024-25 campaign.

Roberts (2.05 meters, 25 years old) last played for the Hawkes Bay Hawks in New Zealand, averaging 13.0 points, 13.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 20 New Zealand National Basketball League games last season.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ro" dir="ltr">‼️ O JOSH ROBERTS 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/jbeezy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jbeezy</a>.1 <br><br>Read more 👉 <a href="https://t.co/7xtQFc7Rnz">https://t.co/7xtQFc7Rnz</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/Lq4vr48xd1">pic.twitter.com/Lq4vr48xd1</a></p>&mdash; ARIS B.C. (@ARISBCgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/ARISBCgr/status/1825908922198200681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The American forward also spent time with the Cairns Taipans of the Australian NBL in the 2023-24 season. 

In college, Roberts suited up for St. John's University between 2018 and 2021 before heading to Manhattan College, where he remained between 2021 and 2023.