Several VTB United League players earned promotions over the summer. Enisey’s Vladislav Trushkin and VEF’s Martins Meiers are joining UNICS, Parma’s Ivan Nelyubov signed a contract with Lokomotiv-Kuban and Kalev’s Vitali Liutych inked with Enisey after a breakout season.
What awaits them in 2017-18? It’s never easy to predict when you make the leap to a bigger club.
Tywain McKee (Triumph to UNICS) – July 2013
Before: McKee debuted in the VTB League with Minsk-2006, but made the biggest impression during his time at Triumph. An old-school point guard, McKee’s confidence and clutch decision-making made him a natural leader alongside Kyle Landry and Sergey Karasev.
At UNICS: The move to Kazan, not surprisingly, had an effect on McKee’s stats. Andrew Goudelock, Chuck Eidson and a trio of Greeks–Kostas Kaimakoglou, Ian Vougioukas and Nikos Zisis–were the stars on that team. Even so, McKee had some success. Despite not getting many touches on offense, he focused on being a lock-down defender, averaging 1.6 steals per game (6th in the League).
After: McKee went on to play in Germany with Oldenburg, in Israel with Hapoel Jerusalem and in France with Le Mans. Last season, the former Triumph star averaged 18.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists at Turk Telekom in the Turkish 2nd League, before inking a deal with Hapoel Tel Aviv over the summer.
Aaron Miles (Krasnye Krylia to Lokomotiv-Kuban) – June 2014
Before: For three years, Aaron Miles led the way at Krasnye Krylia. The explosive playmaker proved the perfect fit for Sergei Bazarevich’s up-tempo style. Not surprisingly, when Bazarevich was invited to coach in Krasnodar, he brought his best player along.
At Lokomotiv-Kuban: Unfortunately, Miles struggled to make an impact with Lokomotiv. Unable to beat out Malcolm Delaney for playing time, he spent most of his time on the bench, failing to even crack the roster towards the end of the season.
After: Following the season with Loko, Miles decided to retire. He’s now coaching at the collegiate level in America.
Demetris Nichols (Krasnye Krylia to CSKA) – September 2014
Before: Demetris Nichols was another Krasnye Krylia player that earned a big promotion in 2014. In Samara, Nichols led the team in scoring to go with respectable rebounding numbers and a steady three-point shot. No one was surprised to see him leave Krasnye Krylia, but the move to CSKA was something of a shock.
At CSKA: Nichols had to scrap and fight for his contract, finally inking a deal after spending the entire preseason with the team. He would stay two seasons in Moscow. Though he wasn’t a leader, he managed his duties well (defense and three-point shooting), earning the respect of the fans and Dimitris Itoudis’s trust.
After: Nichols spent last season with Panathinaikos. He earned solid minutes in Greece and started his fair share of games, playing his best game against CSKA in the Round 2 of the Euroleague (20 points, 7-11 from the field). This summer, the American moved to Croatia’s Cedevita.
Rolands Freimanis (Kalev to UNICS) – January 2015
Josh Boone (Kalev to Khimki) – January 2016
Before: The two big men from Kalev had similar experiences. Both enjoyed terrific VTB United League debuts with Kalev and quickly established themselves as leaders in Estonia. Two of the League’s bigger clubs noticed, bringing them in as reinforcements midway through the season.
At UNICS/Khimki: That’s where the similarities end. Freimanis wasn’t able to adjust to Kazan’s style of play and saw little playing time. Boone, on the other hand, had plenty of chances. His stats weren’t outstanding, but he did his part on defense and rebounding. On a star-studded roster in Khimki, that’s all that was expected.
After: Following his taste of Kazan, Freimanis returned to Kalev, where he was once again a leader. Last season, the Latvian forward played in Turkey with Usak, earning solid minutes. Boone also signed with a Turkish club in 2016-17, but ended up playing only game for Karsiyaka. He went on to play in Australia for Melbourne and Hong Kong with Eastern Long Lions and re-signed with Melbourne for the 2017-18 season.
Viacheslav Zaitcev (Krasny Oktyabr to Khimki) – July 2016
Before: The Khimki product spent most of his career with Enisey Krasnoyarsk, but made the biggest jump at Krasny Oktyabr. Playing in Volgograd, the lanky Russian guard played the best basketball of his career and became a leader on the team, drawing Khimki’s interest in the process.
At Khimki: His stats suffered almost immediately. Zaitcev wasn’t as aggressive on offense, didn’t throw down as many dunks and often played in Alexey Shved’s shadow, relegated to doing the dirty work. But that’s what Khimki needed. Thanks to his hard work and sacrifice, he was able to earn regular playing minutes and leave a positive impression in his debut season with Moscow Region.
Now: He’ll have even more competition in the season ahead. Khimki earned a berth in the EuroLeague and made some serious changes, including at head coach. Don’t expect Zaitcev to back down, however, as he tries to prove his worth to new boss Georgios Bartzokas.
Denis Zakharov (Enisey to Lokomotiv-Kuban) – July 2016
Before: Zakharov turned heads around the League at Enisey, quickly earning a spot in the starting lineup with his flashy style of play. Though he didn’t win, he was one of the top contenders for Young Player of the Year in 2016.
At Lokomotiv-Kuban: Zakharov ended up a victim of circumstances in Krasnodar. Georgios Bartzokas signed him to fit an up-tempo system, but Zakharov ended up playing under Obradovic and his methodical tempo for much of the season. The young Russian struggled to use his strengths (speed and driving the lane), while his weaknesses (inconsistent shooting and defense) were on full display.
After: During the offseason, the guard did everything he could to move elsewhere and a return to Enisey proved the best option. Both sides were excited to reunite with Enisey head coach Oleg Okulov admitting that signing Zakharov was a top priority for the Siberians over the summer. Expect him to get every chance to reignite his career and show off his talents.
Artem Klimenko (Avtodor to UNICS) – December 2016
Before: Klimenko has been touted as Russia’s most promising center for several years. He earned call-ups to the national team and won Young Player of the Year in 2016 while at Avtodor. Last season, he was expected to take the next step in his career. And, despite some early struggles, he remained Avtodor’s starting center.
At UNICS: Klimenko’s move to Kazan in December, however, took many by surprise. Avtodor president Vladimir Rodionov explained that he needed a wake-up call. In his opinion, Klimenko had stopped developing and needed a new challenge. It’s tough to say now whether the move worked in his favor. On the one hand, he got experience in the EuroLeague and practiced alongside some of the best players in Europe. On other hand, Artem ended up behind Parakhouski and Williams on the depth chart and rarely took the court.
After: Klimenko’s getting ready for a new season with Avtodor. Saratov hasn’t signed any foreign centers, which means the club continues to depend on the big Russian as their go-to man in the paint.
Danilo Andjusic (Parma to UNICS) – February 2017
Before: Andjusic took a big risk last season, signing a modest contract with League newcomers Parma where he was the only foreign player on the roster. He took full advantage of the opportunity, leading the League in scoring over the first several months, including a 40-point outburst against UNICS.
At UNICS: Kazan decided to swoop in for Andjusic midway through the season. Kazan hoped he would help mask the team’s injury woes, but the results were mixed. He earned regular minutes in the beginning, but once other players got healthy, Andjusic saw the court less and less. In the end, he only appeared in six VTB League games with UNICS, watching the end of the season and playoffs from the stands.
Now: Nonetheless, UNICS decided to extend his contract. He’ll face stiff competition once again. Kazan has eight foreign players under contract, while only seven can appear on a VTB League roster. Andjusic will need to battle for every minute of playing time.
Demonte Harper (Kalev to Zenit) – February 2017
Before: Though a promising prospect, Harper had never played at any top clubs in Europe. His tenures with Tsmoki-Minsk, and, especially Kalev, changed that. The American had the whole package in Estonia: He could run the fast break, drive to the basket, knock down three-pointers (earning an invite to the Three-Point Contest in Sochi), distribute and hold his own on defense.
At Zenit: Naturally, he didn’t get the same opportunities in St. Petersburg. Harper’s shot attempts dropped by 50%, which had an impact on his scoring. Nonetheless, he adapted to Vasily Karasev’s system on the fly. Thanks to a healthy shooting percentage, terrific conditioning and hunger to play defense, he ultimately played big minutes for Zenit down the stretch.
Now: Harper was the only foreign player to survive the summer in St. Petersburg. It’s a good sign for his future, though there may be even more competition at his position next season. With Kyle Kuric and Evgeny Voronov joining the club, Harper will have earn every minute.
