Pallacanestro Cantù and Progetto Giovani Cantù are deepening their developmental pipeline for the 2026–2027 season, integrating seven Under-19 prospects directly into the Serie A first-team setup from the start of official pre-season preparations, according to club announcements.
At the center of this year’s intake is Simone Ventura, a 2009-born guard/forward who recently competed with the Italian Under-17 National Team at the FIBA U17 World Cup, where he averaged 15 points per contest. Acqua S.Bernardo Pallacanestro Cantù confirmed that Ventura has already signed a formal contract ahead of the upcoming campaign, establishing him as one of the primary focal points of the club’s youth investment.
Alongside Ventura, head coach Frank Vitucci will welcome six additional academy standouts to the senior squad’s initial pre-season training camp. Throughout the 2026–2027 season, these prospects will split time between youth competitions and senior team practices, with opportunities to rotate into official matchday squads.
The group of prospects slated to participate in senior sessions includes:
- Bogdan Zimonjic, guard, born 2008
- Federico Bagordo, forward/center, born 2009
- Lorenzo Zotti Pavlovic, playmaker, born 2009
- Matteo Molteni, playmaker, born 2008
- Riccardo Pavese, forward/center, born 2008
- Thomas Acunzo, forward/center, born 2008
Many of these players have already earned caps with Italy’s youth national team selections. Club officials stated that the broader objective of the joint pipeline is to demonstrate to younger cohorts within the PGC system that daily commitment can translate directly into professional opportunities in Serie A. Both organizations share an explicit ambition to cultivate local talent capable of wearing the club’s blue-and-white jersey on the professional stage.
Pre-season preparations for Pallacanestro Cantù continue ahead of the opening league fixtures, with Vitucci evaluating the younger additions as the senior roster takes shape for the demanding domestic calendar.
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