This morning at the Porelli gym, Derrick Alston JR was officially presented, a new wing of Virtus Bologna.
These are his first words as a Juventus player:
“Since I am in Europe I have always tried to improve my game skills. Now I am ready for another step. I have reached the best team in Italy and one of the best in Europe. I am ready for the challenge, this beyond my characteristics of shooting and fast game”.
The first first impressions of teammates. “I did not know the companions or the coach, but a good chemistry is being created. The first days were positive, I was welcomed well. Now we are knowing, both among us and with the coach, since it is a new team”.
The role: plus a 3 or a 4? “I feel like a basketball player, mainly. So far in my career I have played more from four, and I think that here too it will be my main role, but I am aware of the fact that this year I will also have to play for three. I am ready for this”.
The teachings of the father, former NBA player. “He helped me a lot, he gave me many tips and I thank him a lot. He also helped me to understand how to improve with his experience.”
The importance of having been the first Virtus choice of this summer. “It is an honor to have been wanted so much by an organization of this level. Virtus represents a fundamental step for my career and my growth, and has a very high level of culture and victories”.
The expectations of the debut in Euroleague. “I know that the Euroleague is a high level competition, with an NBA experience player. I know that there will be very hot arenas, with many fans. All this pushes me to do well, I can’t wait to see all this”.
The legacy of Shengelia. “He is a phenomenal player and here he has done grandiose things. But it doesn’t make sense to make comparisons, we are different players. I feel like a versatile player, and if I did even half of what she did to Virtus to Virtus I would be grateful to it.”
The number 21 that was Shengelia. “It has always been the 21st, it is the number that my father used in NBA. I knew it was the number of Shengelia, I hope this too can help me continue this culture of number 21, which has led so much to Virtus in recent years”.
Eugenio Petrillo
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