Krka Novo Mesto adds Baxter and Jordan

KRKA Novo Mesto updated its roster this week by re-signing team captain Jure Balazic for two seasons and adding guard Jimmy Baxter and center Jerome Jordan. Big man Balazic (2.04 meters, 30 years old) helped the club to the Slovenian league and FIBA EuroChallenge titles last season. He averaged 7.2 points and 4.1 rebounds in the EuroChallenge and 9.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in the Slovenian League. Balazic grew up at KRKA and has also spent the past four seasons with the club. In between he suited up for KK Zagreb in Croatia, Apoel Nicosia in Cyprus and Atomeromu SE Paks in Hungary. Among his career accomplishments are helping KRKA to the 2003 ULEB Cup final and winning four Slovenian League titles. Baxter (1.98 meters, 30 years old) is a high-scoring swingman who was eighth in the Eurocup in scoring in the 2007-08 season with Ventspils. Last season he played for Ilisiakos, for whom he averaged 15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 steals in the Greek League. Baxter has also played for Oliveirense Simoldes in Portugal, Dijon in France, Pavia and Reggiana Reggio Emilia in Italy, Ventspils in Latvia, Oostende in Belgium, Besiktas ColaTurka in Turkey and Elitzur Ashkelon in Israel. In addition to his basketball prowess, Baxter was also a world-class high-jumper and an NCAA track and field All-American during his college years at the University of South Florida. Jordan (2.13 meters, 24 years old) spent last season with Hemofarm Stada with whom he averaged 6.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks over 14 minutes in 12 Eurocup games and 7.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 0.5 blocks in the Adriatic League. He scored a season-high 23 points plus 8 rebounds in a December loss at Krka. It was his first season playing professional basketball. A native of Jamaica, Jordan played college basketball at the University of Tulsa, where he was twice named to the Conference-USA First Team as a junior and was a three-time Conference-USA all-defensive team selection. Jordan set the school record for blocked shots (333) and also finished his career ranked among the Golden Hurricane’s career top 10 in rebounds, scoring and free throws made and attempted. Pavic (2.10 meters, 31 years old) averaged 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 27 Adriatic League games last season. Just as Balazic, Pavic led krka to win the EuroChallenge and the Slovenian League titles last season, as well as reaching the Adriatic League final four. He has also played for Geoplin Slovan, Helios Domzale, Maribor and Pivovarna Lasko and Union Olimpija in Slovenia, ASK Riga in Latvia, Banvit in Turkey and Vojvodina in Serbia. He helped Slovenia to win the 2000 European under-20 Championships and lifted another Slovenian League trophy with Krka in 2010.