Beau Beech is the lastest Zadar signing

KK Zadar has strengthened its roster with the addition of American forward Beau Beech (Lewis Henry Beech III), who arrives from Taiwanese side Formosa Dreamers.

Born on March 1, 1994, Beech built his basketball foundation at Ponte Vedra High School in Florida, where he stood out as a senior with averages of 24 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks and 3 steals per game, leading his team to a district title and a regional semifinal appearance.

He then continued his career at the University of North Florida, becoming a mainstay in the lineup by starting 129 of 133 games over four years. Beech averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in nearly 29 minutes per game, while shooting 42.3% from the field and an impressive 39.3% from beyond the arc.

In 2016, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets and went on to spend time with their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. His professional journey has since taken him across Europe and beyond, with stops at Erie BayHawks, Hamburg Towers, PAOK Thessaloniki, Czarni Słupsk, FMP, Enisey Krasnoyarsk and most recently Formosa Dreamers.

Beech has signed with Zadar until the end of the season, with a clause allowing for a potential contract exit after three months. He is expected to join the team next Thursday.

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Novi igrač KK Zadar je Lewis Henry Beech III poznat i kao Beau Beech (rođen 1. ožujka 1994.), Amerikanac koji dolazi iz tajvanske ekipe Formosa Dreamers. Igrao je sveučilišnu košarku za University of North Florida.

Beech je pohađao Ponte Vedra High School u Ponte Vedra Beachu na Floridi. Kao maturant imao je prosjek od 24 poena, 10 skokova, 3 asistencije, 2 blokade i 3 ukradene lopte po utakmici, predvodeći Sharkse do naslova distrikta i plasmana u polufinale regije, a pritom je izabran u prvu momčad savezne države (All-State First Team).

Nakon završetka srednje škole Beech se pridružio North Floridi, gdje je započeo 129 od 133 utakmice, s prosjekom od 11,7 poena, 5,1 skoka, 1,4 asistencije i 1,1 ukradene lopte u 28,7 minuta po utakmici, uz šut iz igre od 42,3% i 39,3% za tri poena.

U kolovozu 2016. potpisao je za Netse te nastavio karijeru u razvojnoj momčadi Long Island Nets. Igrao je za Erie BayHawks, Hamburg Towers, PAOK Thessaloniki, Czarni Słupsk, FMP, Enisey Krasnoyarsk i konačno Formosa Dreamers odakle dolazi u Zadar.

I jedna zanimljivost – Beau je skraćeno ime kojim se Lewis Henry Beech III koristi još od djetinjstva. U pitanju je tradicionalan nadimak koji se ponekad daje dječacima nazvanima po svojim očevima (Junior ili Treći). Potječe od francuske riječi beau, što znači zgodan.

U njegovom slučaju, nadimak se zadržao i postao ime po kojem je najpoznatiji u košarci pa ga navijači, suigrači i mediji najčešće zovu jednostavno Beau Beech.

Beech je potpisao ugovor do kraja sezone uz mogućnost izlaska iz ugovora nakon tri mjeseca, a momčadi će se priključiti u sljedeći četvrtak.