It seems that transfer of Giorgi Shermadini to “Maccabi” Tel Aviv is already decided. This issue was not decided because “Bennet Cantu”, former club of Shermadini, had some pretensions. Today, official website of Euroleague has made everything clear.
After the end of the season “Maccabi” Tel Aviv made the first important transfer. Giorgi Shermadini, one of the best young centers, is a new member of the team. The Georgian showed himself in the games against “Maccabi”. His average results were 14 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block-shot.
Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv has made Giorgi Shermadini its first big signing of the offseason. One of the best young centers in the game, Shermadini arrives from Italian club Bennet Cantu, where he posted big numbers all season – and in particular in a pair of Top 16 games against Maccabi. The Georgian averaged 10.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.6 blocks over 16 games as the backup center for Cantu. Against Tel Aviv those numbers improved to 14 points, 7.5 boards, 3 assists and 1 blocks per game. His performance index rating of 15.3 per game ranked seventh in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague and prorated over 40 minutes, it was 28.3, which ranked third behind only Euroleague MVP Andrei Kirilenko and All-Euroleague center Nenad Krstic”, - official website of Euroleague writes.
23-year-old Shermadini (height 216cm) signed one-year contract with “Maccabi” coached by David Blatt. Blatt characterizes Shermadini this way:
"We are happy and excited that Giorgi is joining us. He is one of the most talented young big men in Europe today and he fits wonderfully into our plans. The truth is that I have followed his career for several years and I always thought he would be an excellent addition to any team at the highest level, not only because of his impressive physical attributes, but a lot because of his approach to the game, his impressive mobility and the hard work he puts in. Shermadini has the size needed to be a center, but he moves on the court and runs like a guard. He fights for rebounds, blocks shots and chases loose balls. He has tremendous potential and is exactly the kind of players we want at Maccabi."
Dato Manjavidze
