What was rumoured for weeks now is now a fact as AJ Milano officially announced the signing of Ukrainian international center Oleksiy Pecherov who will be returning to Europe.
Born in Donetsk, Ukraine on December 8th, 1985 Pecherov has spent the past three seasons in the NBA. Selected at #18 in 2006 draft by Washington Wizards, Pecherov was the first non-American player ever to be drafted in the first round in the history of the Wizards.
Last season Peherovc wore the jersey of the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he put together his best numbers: a 10-minute average playing time has produced nearly 4.5 points with three rebounds and 90% in free throws. Before joining the NBA in the 2005-2006 season he played for Racing Paris, averaging, at just 20 years of age, 11.3 points, 6.1 rebounds.
The signing of Pecherov gave satisfaction to the team’s coach Piero Bucchi: “I’m happy for his arrival, since it was our first choice in that role. Pecherov is a wing-center with a good shot, even three points, and gives us great physicality in the field. He’s a great athlete with good tendency to bounce, in short, the perfect player to complete our roster. This is an athlete in the prime of his basketball maturity: 25 years old and he is feeling very full and eager to begin this new experience in Olympia Milano.”
