By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League grid for the 2026–27 season is rapidly taking shape, with UnaHotels Reggio Emilia finalizing its roster on Friday evening by securing a one-year deal with veteran point guard Speedy Smith.
The 33-year-old floor general arrives fresh off a historic BCL title run with Rytas Vilnius, injecting 54 games of league experience, stretching from his latest spell with the Vilnius outfit to Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem and Limoges CSP, into the Italian side. Under the guidance of head coach Dimitris Priftis, the ambitious squad is preparing for a grueling Regular Season Group E campaign alongside Juventus, KVIS Pardubice, and ACB powerhouse Unicaja.
Smith’s crucial acquisition infuses a proven championship pedigree into a formidable lineup that already features Jaylen Barford, Jaime Echenique, Rob Edwards, Elhadji Fainke, Derek Ogbeide, Luca Manfredotti, Riccardo Rossato, Luca Severini, JT Thor, Lorenzo Uglietti, and Tomas Woldetensae.
“I chose Reggio Emilia primarily after talking to the coach,” stated the Florida native, expressing his excitement. “He instilled great confidence in me, explaining what he thinks my role should be. I felt like I was arriving at a place where I’m truly wanted and where I can be myself.”
Concurrently, personnel adjustments persisted as clubs fine-tune their depth charts. Falco Szombathely announced they have retained domestic talent Adam Varga with a two-year contract extension, although management immediately loaned him to Insedo Veszprem for the upcoming 2026–27 cycle.
Furthermore, Friday afternoon witnessed Qualification Rounds contender Landstede Hammers solidify their long-term future outlook by announcing a three-year contract extension with young prospect Tim Weijers.
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