Basketball
Heat add European experience
9 August 2007
BBL Champions, and ULEB Cup contenders, the Guildford Heat have added further European experience to their roster with the capture of 6'8" Lithuanian forward Nerijus Karlikanovas.
The 31-year-old joins from Spanish side CB Illescas Superficies, and has previously played in Poland, Germany, and his native Lithuania. He is a product of the well established youth basketball programme at European giants Zalgiris, whom Karlikanovas first signed for in 1994 as a teenager.
After moving to America and graduating from NCAA Division 1 Creighton College, he re-joined Zalgiris and featured prominently in their domestic and Euroleague campaigns before departing for BC Hamburg Tigers in 2001. He has also enjoyed success on the international stage having won the European Championship Under 22 tournament in 1996 and competing for Lithuania at the World Championships for the Under 22's in 1997.
In his first comments since signing for the Heat, Karlikanovas said, "I can't be anything but excited about this move. There is a lot of potential for basketball in Britain and I am looking forward to dedicating myself to this club. Paul James seems like a player's coach and I am looking forward to meeting all of the other players as soon as possible."
Head Coach Paul James had this to say about his latest signing, "Nerijus is going to be a great addition to the team and especially because of his experience playing in European competition. Standing at 6'8", he is one of those players that I like to have in my teams. Nerijus is a versatile player who can play in more than one position and contribute in many different ways and at both ends of the court."
Interestingly, Karlikanovas will have the chance to turn out against a club from his country in this season's ULEB Cup when the Poujoulat-backed Surrey side plays against Siauliai. When asked about this Karlikanovas exclaimed, "My wife and kids actually live in Siauliai! This is where my wife is from, so being able to play in her home town and where I live now in the close season is going to be a real treat for them. The fans are intense, it is the number one team of any sport in the city. Siauliai is a very good, very organized and well-coached team. They have finished 3rd in the Lithuanian league the past 5 seasons, behind Zalgiris and Rytas, who are both now in the Euroleague, so it shows the quality of the side. It will be another good game in what is a good but tough ULEB Cup group."
Nerijus Karlikanovas is expected to make his debut against London Leopards in Bracknell Leisure Centre September 8th and away against Plymouth Raiders in the first leg of the BBL Cup Winners Cup on September 9th.
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