Peristeri BC has announced the signing of American center Omar Payne, making him the second American addition to their roster for the upcoming season, following the renewal of C.J. Harris's contract.
Peristeri BC Official Announcement
"KAE Peristeri BC announces its agreement with athlete Omar Payne, who will wear the club's jersey for the 2025-2026 competitive season. The 25-year-old center is expected to strengthen the team's front-line for its obligations."
Player Profile
Omar Payne, born on November 2, 2000, in Florida, United States, stands at 2.08 meters (6'10"). He plays primarily as a center and is known for his defensive presence and shot-blocking ability.
College Career
Payne played for four different universities during his college career in the NCAA:
Florida Gators: For two seasons (2019-2021). Illinois Fighting Illini: For one season (2021-2022). Jacksonville Dolphins: For one season (2022-2023). UCF Knights: Completed his college career with one season (2023-2024).
European Debut & Performance
Payne ventured into European basketball for the first time in the 2024-2025 season, signing with the Finnish team Salon Vilpas. In his debut European season, he quickly made an impact:
2024-25 Season (Finnish Korisliiga): In 31 games, he averaged 11.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and an impressive 2.8 blocks in 24.5 minutes per game. His efficiency was notable with a 71.0% field goal percentage.
Promitheas has made its first move to strengthen the roster for the upcoming season by signing 25-year-old American point guard Darius Perry. Perry, who spent the last two years playing in the Hungarian and German leagues, is set to bolster the team's backcourt.
Promitheas Announcement:
"Promitheas Patras is pleased to announce its first signing for the 2024-25 season, Darius Perry, who comes to strengthen our team's perimeter.
Darius James Perry, born on March 13, 1999, in the United States, stands at 188 cm and plays as a Point Guard. He began his career in the NCAA with the Louisville Cardinals, where he played for three years. He then transferred to the UCF Knights, where he remained for two years before deciding to move across the Atlantic to Europe.
In his 'rookie' season on European courts, Perry played for Nyiregyhaza in Hungary and impressed with his versatile contributions, finishing the season with 22.2 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. His excellent performance in the Hungarian league earned him a move to a higher-level competition, the German Bundesliga, with Wurzburg Baskets. There, he continued to perform well, averaging 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.2 assists.
We welcome Darius Perry to our basketball family and wish him to fulfill all his personal ambitions while leading Promitheas to success."
Darius Perry's High School and College Career
Perry played high school basketball for Mount Vernon Presbyterian School and Wheeler High School in Georgia, helping his team capture the Class 6A state title. He committed to Louisville for college, where he played three seasons, averaging 4.0 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game as a freshman, 5.4 points and 1.5 assists as a sophomore, and 5.2 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in his junior season. Perry then transferred to UCF, where he had a standout senior season, averaging 14.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. In his fifth year, he continued to perform well, averaging 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game.
Darius Perry's Professional Career:
Perry's time in Hungary was marked by his impressive scoring ability, as he averaged 22.2 points per game, showcasing his offensive prowess. His shooting accuracy was notable with a field goal percentage of 42.8% and a free throw percentage of 78.9%. He also demonstrated versatility on the court with averages of 4.5 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, indicating his capability to contribute in multiple facets of the game.
In Germany, Perry continued to display his scoring ability, averaging 10.1 points per game while maintaining a respectable shooting percentage of 39.9% from the field and 81.3% from the free throw line. He also contributed 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, showing his well-rounded skill set. His performance helped Würzburg Baskets achieve a 24-10 record, underlining his impact on the team's success.
Kymi signed Matt Williams Jr. The 25-year-old American guard graduated from the University of Central Florida and went undrafted in the 2017 NBA Draft. Williams started his career in the NBA G League with Sioux Falls Skyforce where in 43 games he averaged 10.2 points. Williams also played 3 games in the NBA with Miami Heat before moving to the other side of the Atlantic for Kotkan Työväen Palloilijat Basket (KTP Basket) where he played 20 games averaging 14.7 points per game. He is expected to make his debut against Panionios on the 19th of January.
Rethymno signed Keith Clanton. The 28-year-old American center graduated from the University of Central Florida and went undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft. Clanton started his professional career in Poland with Anwil and continued in South Korea with Seoul Samsung Thunders. He has also played in Puerto Rico with Leones de Ponce, in Israel for Hapoel Beer Sheva, in Bulgaria with Lukoil Academic and Levski Sofia, and in Greece with PAOK. Clanton signed with PAOK in March 2016 and renewed his contract for one more season. In the last season, Clanton won the Bulgarian Championship.
