2015 NBA Draft: Aleksandar Vezenkov (Bulgaria)

Birthday: 8/6/95
NBA Position: SF/PF
Class: International
Ht: 6-9
Wt: 225
Team: Aris
Hometown: Lefkosia, Cyprus
Notes: Holds both Bulgarian and Greek citizenship

Aleksandar "Aleks" Vezenkov (Greek: Αλέξανδρος "Αλέξης" Βεζένκοφ, Aleksandros "Alexis" Vezenkov, Bulgarian: Александър "Алекс" Везенков; born 6 August 1995 in Nicosia, Cyprus), commonly known as Sasha Vezenkov (Greek: Σάσα Βεζένκοφ), is a Cypriot-Bulgarian professional basketball player. He is a 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) tall 102 kg (225 lb.) power forward. Vezenkov has filed documentation to obtain Greek citizenship. Vezenkov has regularly chosen to represent the Bulgarian national team, on both the junior and senior levels, even though he has never lived there.

Early career

Always considered to be one of the best players in his age group in Europe, Vezenkov began playing youth club basketball in Cyprus in 2005 with APOEL Nicosia's youth teams. In 2009, he moved to Greece and began playing youth club basketball with Aris' youth teams, until 2011, when he joined Aris' senior men's club. He has trained for several years at Nick Galis Hall, located near the center of Thessaloniki, Greece.

On 16 May 2013, Vezenkov committed to play American college basketball in the Big East Conference, at Xavier University, with the Xavier Musketeers. However, he ultimately decided to stay in Greece with his club team Aris instead.

Professional career

Vezenkov began his pro career with the senior men's team of Aris, in the Greek League, in 2011, appearing in 10 games, with an average of 2.5 minutes on the floor. In the 2012–13 season, he appeared in 21 games, averaging 3.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. He was named the Greek League Best Young Player in 2013.

In August 2013, he re-signed with Aris for 3 years. In the next season, he established himself in the team, appeared in 26 games and averaged 11.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. He was named the Greek League Best Young Player again in 2014. In the local derby against rivals PAOK, during the 2014–15 season, Vezenkov achieved Greek League career-highs in scoring and rebounding, with 29 points and 14 rebounds respectively. He played in all 26 games of the regular season, averaging 18.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Vezenkov led the league in scoring, with 469, and was second in rebounding, with 201.

Bulgarian national team

Vezenkov has been a member of the Bulgarian junior national teams. With Bulgaria's junior national teams, he played at the following tournaments: both the 2010 and 2011 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championships, the 2012 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, the 2012 FIBA Europe Under-20 Division B Championship, and the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship. He led the 2011 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship in scoring, with an average of 27.1 points per game.

He led the 2013 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship in scoring, with an average of 22.4 points per game. He also led the 2014 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship in scoring, averaging 19.3 points per game, and rebounds, averaging 11.2 rebounds per game. He was also named to the tournament's All-Tournament Team.

Vezenkov also represented the senior men's Bulgarian national team in the second qualification tournament for FIBA EuroBasket 2015, averaging 17.3 points per game, and also being the highest scoring player for the team in 5 of their 6 games, as well as the team's overall top scorer.

Awards and accomplishments

Pro career

2x Greek League Best Young Player: (2013, 2014)

Bulgarian national team

2011 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship: Top Scorer

2013 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship: Top Scorer

2014 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: Top Scorer

2014 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship: All-Tournament Team

Individual

2x Best Young Basketball Player of Bulgaria: 2013–14, 2014–15

2nd Place in the Viasport.bg "Best Young Sportsperson of Bulgaria" rankings: 2014

Personal life

Vezenkov is the son of Sasho Vezenkov, who has served as both manager and director of sports of Lukoil Akademik.