The former North Carolina standout will make his European debut with the Turkish powerhouse
Fenerbahce finds frontcourt fix in Armando Bacot
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Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul has signed American big man Armando Bacot for the 2025–26 season, the club announced on Wednesday.
Bacot (2.08 meters, 25 years old) arrives from the Memphis Hustle, where he made his professional debut during the 2024-25 season. He averaged 16.8 points and 9.5 rebounds over 50 games with Memphis. The big man ranked ninth in the league in rebounds.
At Fenerbahce, Bacot will help fill the void created by the injury that Jilson Bango suffered recently at AfroBasket 2025.
A five-year contributor at the University of North Carolina, Bacot helped the Tar Heels reach the 2022 NCAA Championship Game and graduated as the program’s all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles. His 1,715 rebounds rank ninth in NCAA Division I history.
Bacot has also represented his native United States internationally. He helped the USA win the gold medal at the U18 FIBA AmeriCup in 2018 in Canada.
The move marks Bacot’s first experience in European basketball as he joins a Fenerbahce squad looking to defend its domestic and continental titles under head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius.