We are always sobbing for the figures that are leaving us, some for contract improvements, others for the logical leap, players who have grown in a formative step… But the flow of promotions and relegations with the ACB has led to a series of signings of players that a few years ago we would have a hard time seeing. It’s not typical, because teams always like to get players with the surname “of having played in Spain” but even so we have seen how players from that cache have arrived.
So as we usually do with the majority of players who arrive without experience in Spanish leagues, we offer you some brushstrokes about them so that you know more about their profile. The protagonists this time are Mihajlo Andric, Marin Marić, Ingus Jakovic y Chaz Williams.
Mihajlo Andric
Serbia / 1994 / 201 cm
MoraBank Andorra
Combo forward Serbian with a good pedigree and trained in the Partizan youth academy, where he enjoyed minutes. Four seasons ago he headed to Germany, to Göttingen, and after two good seasons he went to Greece on 20/21, with good numbers (12.8 pt, 4.1 re), which made him sign in Turkey last 21/22, arriving in January at the Greek Promitheas (21 mi, 4.3 pt), a team with which he reached the semifinals for the title.
We are talking about a very serious player, with a good understanding of the game and who adapts without problems both as a main role and as a secondary one. Versatility for the two positions, the configuration of the MoraBanc Andorra squad means that it is oriented towards the profile of the open ‘four’, without forgetting its capacity for the high ‘three’. His best virtue is his shot from three, effective and with clean mechanics, with or without the ball, comfortable in the pick and pop or waiting on the corners. He also reads the game well to position himself and from there to riddle. He knows how to take advantage against slower or physically inferior players, as well as read when he has advantages or in defensive exchanges with a smaller pair. In these last cases he surprises with his boat to the hoop or his post. Perhaps too specialist and plain in defense, he will fulfill his function without a doubt.
Marin Marić
Croatia / 1994 / 211cm
MoraBank Andorra
The Croatian international had a good run through the NCAA between Northern Illinois and DePaul. He spent two years in Belgium, where he made his professional debut in the 18/19 season. His good year at Okapi made him sign in Lithuania, but a few months later he went to his native country, to Split. Last season he signed in Israel, but soon he ended up with the Greek Larissa (12.0 pt, 6.7 re), with whom he reached the semifinals of the playoffs.
The new ‘five’ from Andorra seems to me to be a quality signing that will surprise with its mobility for its size and that will be complemented by the centimeters of Dos Anjos. Capable of running the transition, knows how to exercise roller, goes strongly to the offensive rebound and takes advantage of the cuts. It should not be forgotten that he has an interesting 3-5 meter shot and that, in certain situations, he dares to lower the ball. In the post he tries to find his space with his body and score, although he is not a virtuoso footwork player. In defense he becomes great, protects his rim and helps in his radius of action perfectly. His reading of the game and his lack of explosiveness and a bit of strength against centers top Perhaps they have prevented him from dominating in the big leagues, but in the LEB Oro he must be a player who, with his game and those point guards, makes a difference in many games.
Ingus Jakovic
Letonia / 1993 / 185 cm
Leyma Coruña
Álex Hernández’s injury last season made Coruña look for another point guard this summer, waiting for the Murcian to finalize his set-up. Thus, to the arrival of Filipović they add the Latvian international Jakovičs. From a very young age, with responsibility in the Latvian league with Liepāja, this made VEF Riga soon take notice of him, thus reaching one of the leading teams in his country in 2013/14. There he took his place right away, which made him sign none other than the Russian Nizhny in 16/17. That same season he ended up in Ventspils, where he stood out a lot, just like in 18/19 in European competition (11.5 pt, 1.4 ace). This performance led him to arrive on 19/20 at Varese in the Italian Serie A (9.8 pt, 1.8 ace), where he repeated the following season, although in February he signed with the Ukrainian Budivelnyk (7.7 pt, 2.3 ace). Last year he started at the Latvian Valmiera (11.5 pt, 3.8 as), signing in February for none other than Limoges of the French first division (11 min, 3.8 pt, 1.6 as).
Very interesting signing, with presences in first level leagues and who can occupy any position in the backcourt. Despite not being excessively big, he is a player who reads the game well and has good defensive skills, where he will pleasantly surprise. In attack, pay close attention to his three-point shot, with or without the ball and with a release fast and effective, in addition to his good decision making. As ‘one’, he is not a regular point guard, but his high IQ and good handling of the ball, plus the ability to execute the P&R and reading the solution, make it help with both tasks. Without being the most explosive, his qualities, experience and intelligence will make him have his important role.
Chaz Williams
USA / 1991 / 175cm
Ourense Basketball Club
With the security that comes from having Pečiukevičius’s defensive presence and plant, the COB has opted for a gamer point guard to accompany him in that position. Accustomed to a quick adaptation, he has passed through numerous countries and leagues, always fulfilling, but without standing out or settling down. Turkey, Finland, Swiss Genève (one of the most powerful teams in that country), G League… he has also had less satisfactory experiences like in Poland, but, for example, in leagues like the Icelandic one he has stood out. His last seasons have been good, both in North Macedonia and in his last spell in the French ProB (Aix-Maurienne: 13.0 pt, 4.7 ace).
The American point guard is small and maybe he can suffer behind against very physical guards, but his fast hands should not be overlooked, being an electric and fast player who is going to generate a lot of play for his teammates and who is capable of scoring close to the hoop, without failing in the outside shot, which is not his strong point either. Join your domain P&R to your ability to attend; very comfortable in the open field and without fear of 1 × 1, he takes many free kicks with his style of play. Without a doubt, the shooters of the COB or Willett’s strength, plus the interiors, will appreciate his creation capacity.
