International Roundup Part Two

(Ron Lewis with teammate Arthur Lee)

Ron Lewis - (CEZ Nymburk, Czech League NBL 17-0, Eurocup 1-1)

The lowdown- Third year pro Ron Lewis is currently playing for the reigning champions of Czech Republic Basketball, CEZ Nymburk. He played his rookie season in Belgium before moving on to the Israeli League for the 2008/2009 season. The former Ohio State guard has had little trouble displaying his trademark scoring touch. Lewis is leading a balanced Nymburk team in scoring by dropping 14 points a game. He has scored 20 or more points on three occasions, and out of 17 Czech League games, he has failed to score in double figures only three times. (and lets put it this way, if Nymburk really needed the points, Ron probably would have scored in double figures in those games too) It is to the point where it is a surprise to not see a nice scoring night from Ron each time we check the box score.

#22 has already shown quite a repertoire, the sick first step to drive right or left, the curl off a screen to the three point shot, his familiar pull up J, and even a little post up game. Lewis is also able to exploit teams in transition with his speed & finishing ability..and when Lewis finishes..he finishes.. His driving skills affords him a decent amount of trips to the foul line where his 85% free throw percentage helps Nymburk in close stretches . So far, Lewis' biggest professional adjustment has been more about getting acclimated to a new club system, rather than the on court league competition.

Nymburk began their Eurocup schedule on November 24th vs Biella in Italy. On December 1st Ron Lewis recently had what can be called his best European game so far (considering the Eurocup stage) in round 2 of the Eurocup vs BK Ventspils of Latvia. He led Nymburk with 23 points, 3 rebounds, & 2 steals in a 79-57 home victory.

The team & role - To say that Cez Nymburk is handling themselves well in the Czech League is an understatement. This team is rolling through their schedule with a perfect 17-0 record. CEZ is defeating Czech League teams by an average margin of victory of 34 points. They have only had two really close contests. Nymburk is an extremely balanced team built around efficient offensive execution & good defense. Five players average double figure scoring with another three who are close to the 10 point mark. It all starts with veteran point guard Arthur Lee. The lead guard's ill floor game helps control the tempo for coach Muli Katzurin. Lee & Lewis look inside to three versatile 6'8 forwards in Petr Benda, Ian Hanavan, & Phillip Ricci. While arguably a little undersized compared to other top European front courts, each forward possesses the quintessential all-around European game of being able to do work inside, hit mid-range jumpers, & pass the ball. Benda has European Championship experience, Hanavan & Ricci are products of NCAA basketball with extensive experience overseas. The front courts one weakness may be rebounding which was evident in their sole loss vs Biella in Eurocup week one. Nymburk was out-rebounded 33-24 in a close 78-77 loss.

Another top player for Nymburk is Ladislav Sokolovsky. The 6'7 small forward/guard can shoot & handle the ball. Plus his length allows him to be disruptive at times on defense, he already has 7 steals in two Eurocup Games. Sokolovsky is one of the most decorated Czech players on Nymburk. Michael Lenzly, who played at Eurobasket 2009 for the United Kingdom is yet another versatile player for Nymburk. Lenzly's defensive energy and ability to score provides Czech League Championship quality depth. Nymburk has a familiar offensive attack that you will see from many European clubs. Deliberate in style with many sets, each player is a threat to score, but what separates Nymburk from other squads is they seem to have four or five guys who are capable of taking it over like Lee, Soko, Hanavan, with Lewis being the most explosive. And the always solid services of Ricci & Benda will have them in every game.

Ron Lewis' role with Nymburk differs from his last team (Ironi Nahariya) in that he joins a balanced team with more scoring threats. Lewis was one of the top overall scorers in all of the Israeli League with an 18 point average in 34 minutes per game. In contrast, Ron is currently averaging about 21mpg with Nymburk..the average number of minutes for just about everyguy on the club. The new system coupled with the number of blowouts can explain the occasional minute fluctuation throughout the season. Although the 8 minutes & 24 seconds that Lewis received in Nymburk's Eurocup loss in Italy was kind of a head scratcher. But overall the adjustment to Nymburk's system should make Lewis an all-around better player and professional. The most impressive thing right now is that the team chemistry seems to be there. Nymburk is playing very unselfishly on both sides of the court.

CEZ Nymburk's next huge game is a December 8th home Eurocup contest against Brose Baskets, a very solid club from the German League. Meanwhile in the Czech League, BK Prosetejov & Novy Jicin are Nymburk's main challengers. But CEZ will not matchup with these squads again until January 2010.

Best Game so far: vs BK Ventspils (Eurocup) 23 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

Ron Lewis Stats

-brief leftover clips of Lewis in the Czech League, mainly in transition, the real ill stuff is coming up soon though :)

-video update from Ron via his blog before Eurocup. Right on for the shout out Ron!



-Recent vid update from Ron covering his trip to Italy!



Ron Lewis' blog 'Life Overseas'

Ken Johnson - (BC Kalev/Cramo Estonia 4-3 in Estonian League, 4-4 Baltic League, 0-4 in VTB United League)

Veteran center Ken Johnson currently plays for BC Kalev/Cramo in the country of Estonia. He last played for Telekon Bonn in Germany. One of the most interesting things about Kalev is that they actually play in three different leagues. The Estonian National League, the Regional Baltic League (BBL), and a League called VTB United with teams from Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Lithuania, and the Ukraine.

According to the league standings, it looks like Kalev is battling in the Estonian League with a 4-3 record, but is not faring well in the other two super leagues..especially in their VTB grouping where they are matched against European powers CSKA Moscow & Zalgris. Johnson averages around 8 points per game in the Baltic & Estonian Leagues


Best game so far: vs Siauliai (Baltic League) 11/23: 15 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks

Ken Johnson Stats

(Butler is ballin' in Greece)

Jamar Butler - (Olympia Larissa 2-4 Greek A1 League)

2nd year pro Jamar Butler is playing for a club called Olympia Larissa in the Greek League (one of the strongest in Europe) after playing in Italy & Turkey in his rookie season. If there was ever an underdog squad, it is Larissa. The club is a result of a merge between the old Larissa team & a club called AEL GS. They did not have much time to practice before the season, and they have had to deal with coaches coming & going. However, Butler & Larissa peservered and managed to grab a couple victories.

Their first win was a 70-68 victory over Trikala on November 7th...Butler had 13 points. Larissa along with the rest of the league did not play another game until two weeks later because of a players union strike. One thing we have noticed in following players overseas is that everything is not always rosy. Some clubs have financial problems whether it be for operations or failing to pay players on time, or at all. Plus some leagues & clubs have bad organization in general. For instance this above picture is from Larissa's first game of the season. The game had to be stopped because water leaking from a hole in the roof kept raining down onto the court play. And this is supposed to be a top European Professional Basketball League? Just some of the aspects players have to deal with overseas I guess..

But Larissa would win their 2nd game on November 29th vs Dash Peristeri by a score of 73-67. #15 Jamar Butler is currently averaging 13 points & 3 dimes a game. He ranks 9th in the Greek League in Assists. Jamar recently had his best scoring game of 18 points against AEK.

Best game so far: vs AEK 12/5/2009, 18 points, 4 rebounds

Jamar Butler Stats

(Into the fire: Je'Kel Foster's early Euroleague efforts turned him into the face of Oldenburg)

Je'Kel Foster - (EWE Baskets Oldenburg 8-3 in German League, 1-5 in the Euroleague)

The word challenging can best describe Oldenburg's 2009/2010 season. The defending German League Champions are experiencing ups & downs in the Bundesliga & Euroleague. Everyone was aware of the monumental task of defending your first championship ever , and competing in the Euroleague competition at the same time. But stratus clouds have been hovering over Oldenburg's mission due to the season long absence of point guard Jason Gardner (back injury). Gardner was/is a pivotal member of EWE Baskets, he provided great direction for the club in their championship season. The loss of Gardner arguably exposed Oldenburg's guard depth, where there was not much ball handling depth & ability behind Je'Kel Foster, the team's normal starting 'two' guard, but who was forced to play a lot of of one with Gardner out. (Je'kel has always been a do it all type of guard anyway) Yet, Oldenburg responded by signing guard Bryan Bailey in November..we have not read anything about Gardner, but it seems as if he will not be returning this season.

As expected, Oldenburg has taken the best shot from each & everyone one of their German League opponents. They are currently #2 behind a solid Berlin club in the Bundesliga standings with an 8-3 record. So far Je'Kel Foster is averaging around 13 points, 4 rebounds & 4 assists in the German League. Oldenburg reminds me of Foster's Senior college team with Dials, Matt Sylvester & company. They have one true center in former Georgetown big man Ruben Boumtje Boumtje. He is complemented by three European forwards, Marko Scekic, Jasmin Perkovic, & Milan Majstorovic..all three have that familiar European skillset. Foster is joined in the back court by 2009 Bundesliga Finals MVP Rickey Paulding from Missouri, rookie Josh Carter out of Texas A&M, now Bryan Bailey & on occasion Daniel Hain. Like Ohio State, Oldenburg heavily relies on the versatility of their forwards & guards. If the best players on Oldenburg like Paulding, Scekic, Foster & Perkovic are shooting well, then they can challenge some of the best teams in Europe. But if they are not, they can be challenged themselves by many teams.

The best thing about Je'Kel Foster though, is that if his shot is not falling..he is definitely going to make his presence known in the form of passing, defense, & leadership. These attributes coupled with his toughness is why Foster is tailor made for a competition such as the Euroleague. Two months in, EWE has discovered how tough the Euroleague competition is with a 1-5 Group D record. They opened up their inaugural Euroleague schedule with a stunning victory in Poland vs Asseco Prokom. They followed that contest up with two close losses two Italy's Milano at home & a heart breaker in Russian to BC Khimki.

The next two Euroleague games were ugly blowout losses to Real Madrid & Panathinaikos. For my money Real Madrid is currently the best team in all of Europe. And Panathinaikos, along with Barcelona, is not far behind. This is an extremely though grouping for EWE Baskets Oldenburg. Their last EuroLeague game was another close loss, this time to a Prokom team looking to get revenge after the group opener. Je'Kel Foster played well (averaging 14 points & 4 assists in the Euroleague) in most of these games, but the fiery competitor inside him wants the victories more than anything.
Whether EWE advances to the next Euroleague grouping or not, these experiences should make them a very formidable squad to deal with by the time the German League playoffs roll around


Best game so far: at Prokom (Euroleague) 10/21/2009: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists

Je'Kel Foster Stats

Foster's blog

-Video: Foster & Oldenburg in International news

-B3 feature video: Foster vs BC Khimki in Euroleague play, includes the stretch where Foster scores like 10 consecutive points for Oldenburg, all heart!)



Brian Brown - (TBB Trier 7-5 German Bundesliga)

Brian Brown is another veteran guard from Ohio State playing overseas. He is one of four Buckeyes currently playing in Germany's top league. Brown is nice & steady with is club averaging 10 points & 3 assists a game. Like Scoonie & Brent Darby, Brown provides back court experience & leadership for Trier alongside guard Derek Ravio. Similar to several German League clubs, Trier's team is populated by a considerable amount of Americans (four in the starting lineup). It is interesting subject because some in Germany have called for a quota on the number of international imports (lets be serious, they really mean Americans who dominate their league) in the national league in order to develop the homegrown German talent.

Trier currently sits in the middle of the Bundesliga standings with a 7-5 record. They will need strong play from Brown in their push for the BBL playoffs.

Best game so far: vs Ratiopharm 12/5/2009, 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists.

Brian Brown Stats