2008-09 All-Eurocup first, second teams announced

Euroleague Basketball is proud to announce the members of the very first All-Eurocup teams for the 2008-09 season, which finishes next week, April 2 to 5 in Torino, Italy, when the Final Eight will crown the competition champion! The All-Eurocup teams, named by in-house experts at Euroleague Basketball, are part of an expanded awards structure this season that is meant to enhance the recognition of the finest Eurocup players for their efforts on the basketball court throughout the season. The first and second teams are divided by position, each with one point guard, two shooting guards/small forwards and two power forwards/centers. Not surprisingly, the All-Eurocup first and second teams are dominated by players who will be at the Final Eight. Nine of the 10 honored players will be in Torino trying to lead their teams to the Eurocup title. Perhaps more of a surprise is the choice at first-team point guard, Chuck Eidson of Lietuvos Rytas. That's because Eidson, a natural forward, has been filling the point guard role for Lietuvos Rytas since mid-season, and doing it so well that he led the competition in assists. He is joined on the All-Eurocup first team by shooting guards/small forwards Kelly McCarty of BC Khimki Moscow Region and Bostjan Nachbar of Dynamo Moscow, and by power forward/centers Marko Banic of iurbentia Bilbao Basket and Todor Gecevski of KK Zadar. The All-Eurocup second team features Khalid El-Amin of BC Azovmash Mariupol at point guard, Travis Hansen of Dynamo Moscow and Gary Neal of Benetton Basket Tamoil as shooting guards/small forwards, and Sandro Nicevic of Benetton and Matt Nielsen of Pamesa Valencia at the power forward/center positions. All but El-Amin qualified with their teams for the Final Eight.

ALL-EUROCUP FIRST TEAM

Chuck Eidson Lietuvos Rytas: Eidson led the Eurocup in index ranking (21.9 per game) and assists (5.3 apg.) this season and is the only players ranked among the top 10 in scoring ( seventh, 15.8 ppg.), rebounding (tenth, 5.7 rpg.) and steals (second, 2 spg.). He also placed third in fouls drawn (5.3 per game) and fourth in free throws made (4.17 per game) and was the Last 16, Week 3 MVP.

Kelly McCarty BC Khimki: McCarty, a former ULEB Cup Final MVP, led his team in index rating and was fourth overall (17.7 per game) this season. He also led Khimki in scoring and was third overall (16.7 ppg.) and ranked ninth in the Eurocup in three-pointers made (22) and tied for third among qualified players in three-point percentage (50%). McCarty was the Last 16, Weeks 4 and 5 co-MVP. 

Bostjan Nachbar Dynamo Moscow: Nachbar made his Eurocup debut season a successful one. He led the Eurocup in fouls drawn (6.17 per game) and free throws made (4.67 per game) and was second in free throw shooting percentage (90.3%). Nachbar led Dynamo in index ranking and was eighth overall (17.6 per game) and fifth overall in scoring (16.2 ppg.).

Todor Gecevski KK Zadar: Gecevski led Zadar in scoring this season and was eighth overall (15.2 ppg.). He also ranked 10th in index ranking (17 per game) and in steals (1.5 spg.) and led Zadar in blocked shots (0.5 bpg.). Gecevski scored in double digits in all 12 games and set or tied his competition single-game career highs in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals this season.

Marko Banic Iurbentia Bilbao: Banic ranked fourth in Last 16 index ranking (20 per game) and 12th overall (16.8 per game). He led Bilbao in scoring (13.4 ppg.) and fouls drawn (3.6 per game) and was the Last 16, Week 6 MVP. Banic, who was fourth in free throw accuracy (86.7%) too, increased his production by nearly 50% from the regular season to the Last 16. 

ALL-EUROCUP SECOND TEAM

Khalid El-Amin Azovmash Mariupol: El-Amin led the Eurocup in scoring (17.9 ppg.) and free throw accuracy (97%) and was second in index ranking (18.2 per game) and assists (5.27 apg.). He placed seventh in steals (1.64 spg.) and three-pointers made (2.09 per game) and 10th in fouls drawn (4.09). He was the Last 16, Week 5 co-MVP.

Gary Neal Benetton Basket: In his first season in the competition, Neal was this season’s Eurocup runner-up in scoring (17.4 ppg.). He led Benetton Basket in index ranking and was fifth overall (17.7 per game). Neal was also third in three-pointers made (2.58 per game) and 11th in three-point accuracy (46.3%).

Travis Hansen Dynamo Moscow: Hansen led Dynamo in scoring this season and was fourth in the Eurocup overall (16.2 ppg.). He also ranked ninth in the Eurocup index ranking (17.5 per game). Hansen led Dynamo in steals and was ninth overall (1.55 spg.) and was the regular season Week 2 MVP.

Matt Nielsen Pamesa Valencia: Nielsen joined Pamesa after the season started, but became an important leader and producer in the frontcourt. He led the team and was fourth in the Eurocup in blocks (1 bpg.). He also led Pamesa in fouls drawn and was seventh overall (4.3 per game) and eighth in free throws made (3.4 per game).

Sandro Nicevic Benetton Basket: Nicevic returns to the Final Eight for the second straight season. He led Benetton in index ranking and was third overall (17.9 ppg.) this season. He also led his team in fouls drawn (3.3 per game) and blocks (0.8 bpg.). Nicevic was the Regular Season Week 1 MVP.