Spartak SPB, locks Patrick Beverley

Spartak St. Petersburg has made sure to keep its young star guard around for years to come by signing Patrick Beverley to a contract extension. The new deal keeps Beverley with the team through 2014 and includes an option for the 2014-15 season. Beverley (1.85 meters, 23 years old) joined Spartak last season and averaged 15.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists in eight FIBA EuroChallenge games to help the team reach the semifinals. He also tallied 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 17 Russian League games. He started his professional career with Ukrainian club Dnipro Dnepropetrovsk, where he produced 16.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the 2008-09 season. Beverley made his Euroleague debut with Olympiacos the following year and reached the Final Four. He was also Spartak’s leading scorer with 17.5 points per game in this season’s Eurocup Qualifying Round.