Major signing for Cedevita – Scotty Hopson is coming to Zagreb!

Cedevita Sports Director Matej Mamić stated on Saturday that there will be some surprises for the club fans very soon. Just one day later Scotty Hopson signed a one-year contract with the Zagreb powerhouse!

By looking at his career and especially at the numbers he was averaging along the way, this American small forward should be a major signing for Cedevita.

Hopson (26 years, 201 cm) started his European journey in 2011. He went undrafted at the 2011 NBA Draft so he decided to go overseas and to accept the offer from Kolossos (Greece). American player stayed in Greece for just one year, while then he moved to Hapoel Eliat (Israel) where he was averaging 17.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per match in 2012/13 season.

Those numbers got him a contract with Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes. Hopson continued with good performances as he was averaging 15.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in the 2013/14 Euroleague, however he left the club in January 2014 and returned to the USA.

Back home, Hopson tried to start his NBA career, however he played just 2 games for Cleveland Cavaliers, while he spent much more time in NBA Development League by playing for Canton Charge and Sioux Falls Skyforce. While wearing the jersey of Sioux Falls Skyforce he set the team record by scoring 52 points in a single match.

On April 21, 2015 Hopson returned to Europe and signed a short-term contract with Laboral Kutxa, while he spent the last season in Foshan Long Lions (China).

"We wanted to sign Hopson last summer, however we could not complete the transfer back then. His huge desire is to play in the NBA League, so me and head coach Mršić traveled all the way to Las Vegas to explain him what would be his role in our club. I suppose that approach made him accept the offer this time. I think that Hopson is indeed a great player, who can cover positions of point guard and shooting guard, and I believe he will help us a lot to play a good season,” said Cedevita Sports Director Matej Mamić.

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Scotty Hopson potpisao za Cedevitu

Cedevita je dovela još jedno pojačanje za novu sezonu. Nakon što je nedavno objavljeno da će se klubu pridružiti razigravač David Stockton i da je na još godinu dana ugovor produžio Luka Babić, nova velika vijest je jednogodišnji ugovor s aktualnim prvacima Hrvatske potpisao Brian Scott Hopson, poznatiji kao Scotty

"On je igrač kojeg smo i prošle godine željeli dovesti u tim, ali nismo se uspjeli na kraju naći. Njegova velika želja je NBA liga i ove godine u Las Vegasu smo osobno trener Mršić i ja pričali s njim u hotelu i objasnili kako ga vidimo u klubu i kakvu bi ulogu imao. Pretpostavljam da je zbog tog kontakta i odnosa ove godine došlo do dogovora. Mislim da je Hopson stvarno odličan igrač, koji može pokriti dvije pozicije, tri i dva, i vjerujem da će itekako pomoći nama da odigramo odličnu sezonu", izjavio je sportski direktor Cedevite Matej Mamić.

Hopson je rođen 8. kolovoza 1989. godine i visok je 200cm. Tri godine pohađao je sveučilište Tennessee, gdje je u svojoj posljednjoj NCAA sezoni u prosjeku bilježio 16.7 poena, 3.4 skoka i 1.3 asistencije za 29.2 min. po utakmici.

Na draftu 2011. godine nije bio izabran, nakon čega je igrao u grčkom Kolossosu i izraelskom Hapoel Eilatu.

Sezonu 2013./2014. počeo je u Anadolu Efesu i u 11 euroligaških utakmica imao je vrlo dobar prosjek od 15.5 poena, 4.2 skoka, 1.1 asistencije i 1.3 ukradene lopte. Međutim, u siječnju 2014. vratio se u SAD i u ožujku je potpisao za Cleveland Cavalierse. U dresu Cavsa upisao je dva nastupa s prosjekom od 3.4 min. po susretu i oni su ga poslali u NBDL ligu, gdje je igrao za Canton Charge.

Sezonu 2014./2015. počeo je u NBDL ligi, ali ovog puta igrao je za Sioux Falls Skyforce. S tom momčadi u veljači 2015. oborio je rekord lige kad je zabio 52 poena u pobjedi protiv Reno Bighornsa, a u veljači iste godine potpisao je za Laboral Kutxu.

Prošlu sezonu proveo je u Kini. Igrao je za Foshan Long Lions i u prosjeku po utakmici bilježio 22.1 poen, 5.6 skokova i 3 asistencije.

Ovog ljeta Hopson je nastupao u Ljetnoj ligi u Orlandu i Las Vegasu. U Orlandu je u četiri utakmice za Indiana Pacerse imao prosjek od 8.25 poena, 2.5 skokova i 1.25 asistencije za 18.8 min., a u Las Vegasu je u jednom nastupu za Portland Trail Blazerse upisao četiri poena i dva skoka za manje od 10 minuta.