Another famous Bulgarian arrives at Barcelona

VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - The new basketball season always brings change for clubs.

At the great sporting institution of Barcelona, several players have gone and several have arrived.

Juan Carlos Navarro, Ante Tomic, Alex Abrines, Justin Doellman Brad Oleson and Tomas Satoransky all played substantial minutes last season for coach Xavier Pascual and have remained with the team.

Puerto Rican playmaker Carlos Arroyo, Spanish guard Pau Ribas, Jamaica pivot Samardo Samuels, Nigeria center Shane Lawal and Greece forward Stratos Perperoglou, all with Euroleague experience, have arrived.

Barca have also signed a player that has not had a taste of Europe's top competition.

Yet he is the most intriguing.

His name is Aleksandar Vezenkov, and he's Bulgarian.

Standing 2.03m, Vezenkov only turned 20 at the start of this month yet this past season, he was the Most Valuable Player of the Greek league while playing for Aris Thessaloniki.

Remembering that there are quite a few good players in the Olympiacos and Panathinaikos teams alone, scooping the MVP award is a loud statement about the promise of Vezenkov.

He is already practicing with Barca and preparing for the next step in his career.

And it's a major step.

"There is always pressure at a club like FC Barcelona," he said.

I will work each day to show that I am able to be a part of this institution. - Vezenkov

How big of a deal is Vezenkov in Bulgaria?

Before he travelled to the city for his unveiling this past week, he spoke to Bulgaria legend Hristo Stoichkov, one of the main attractions for Barcelona's football team from 1990-95 and again from 1996-98.

"I talked to him," Vezenkov said to gong.bg.

"He told me everything I need to know.

"He is a legend in Barcelona."

Greece, he says, tried to integrate him into their national team program several years ago but he was not tempted.

His Bulgaria roots are important to Vezenkov, though.

People in that country should love him.

"I believe that every player, every person in this world, is from where his father or mother are [from]," he said.

"So I'm from Bulgaria."

Vezenkov wants to play at EuroBaskets like his father Sachko did in 1985, 1989 and 1991.

Bulgaria last made it to a EuroBasket Final Round in 2011 and won two of their five games but did not progress from the opening round.

Vezenkov has already played for Bulgaria's senior team.

In the 2nd Qualification Round for EuroBasket 2015, he averaged 17.3 points and 6.3 rebounds but his team won just one of its six games and finished behind Israel, the Netherlands and Montenegro.

"We have some very talented players," Vezenkov said.

"I think I can be a part of this puzzle to help Bulgaria again become a powerful country and again play in the European Championship again.

"I want Bulgaria to be at the top level again."

At his age group, Vezenkov is off the charts.

At the 2014 U20 European Championship, he averaged 19.3 points and 11.2 rebounds.

Both were tournament highs.

To suit up for Barcelona is a dream opportunity.

All eyes will be on him.

"I will also always give my best for the team to win," he said.

Jeff Taylor

FIBA

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