Veolia Towers Hamburg have reached the BKT EuroCup elimination rounds in both of the club's two seasons in the competition and will look to at least match that feat in 2023-24. Benka Barloschky, who was promoted to head coach midway through last season, now gets a full preseason to build a team in his style. The collection of players gathered in Hamburg is largely new to the club and several did not play in a top European league last season. However, the cast of talents is sure to surprise many, just as Hamburg has done in each of its first two seasons in the EuroCup.
BACKCOURT
There should be much excitement about the trio of point guards Hamburg has assembled. Only 1.73 meters tall, Terrell Gomez helped Saint-Quentin win the second-division championship in France last season. His combination of speed and excellent three-point shooting makes Gomez tricky to guard and fun to watch. Fellow playmaker Mark Hughes played in Spain's second division last season and will step up a level, too. Nico Brauner, 28, brings experience to the position after putting up strong numbers in the German League last season with the Giessen 46ers. All three are fine three-point shooters who made at least 40% of their shots from deep last season.
Shooting guard Aljami Durham split his first professional campaign between the Greek and British Leagues last season and by the playoffs was pouring in 25.5 points per game for Caledonia. A product of the Hamburg youth system, Leif Moeller got into two EuroCup games last season and four more in domestic competition. At age 20, he will try to build on that experience.
Swingman Will Christmas was one of the top performers in Germany's second division last season. A do-it-all player, Christmas is entering his third professional season and has vast potential. VJ King earned All-British Basketball League First Team honors last season in his second stop in Europe. These two small forwards have great athleticism and are sure to be difference-makers on both ends of the floor.