Venky Jois increases Aussie presence in Germany
Australian forward Venky Jois is returning to Europe after his short stint in the Japanese B-League, signing with German Bundesliga club RASTA Vechta on a six-week contract with an option to the end of the season.
The athletic and physically imposing 6'8 big man links with Vechta after playing in Croatia and Japan last season. He joins a growing Australian presence in Germany, joining William McDowell-White who has been elevated to the main Brose Bamburg roster, but also Ben Madgen (Crailsheim) and Xavier Cooks (s.Oliver Würzburg).
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After joining the Shiga Lakestars in Japan in January, Jois delivered 12.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 23 minutes across 31 games in the Japanese B-League under the guidance of head coach Shawn Dennis. In his early tenure with Vrijednosnice Osijek in Croatia, he averaged an impressive 17.6 points, 9.4 rebounds. 3.1 assists while shooting 60% from the field in 34 minutes per game.
25-year-old Jois was looking forward to returning to Europe after experiencing professional basketball is one of the best Asian leagues last season.
"I'm really looking forward to playing in Germany no," said Jois in the official release.
"Europe is not unknown to me and I only heard good things about the BBL. What I have to get used to again, is driving without automatic - since that's been a while."
Jois is a dominant interior player who boasts an ability to finish above the rim. He is also a very strong rebounder and defensive player with an ability to block shots, often taking on taller opponents with great success. Jois has also shown an ability to deliver on the big stage, guiding Eastern Washington to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 where he playing strongly against Georgetown, delivering 19 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in a gallant defeat.
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Having been promoted to the Bundesliga for 2018/19, Vechta were desperate to fill a deficiency in their front court to ensure they opened the seaosnw ith, and were fortunate to have been able to secure the services of the versatile Jois.
"At this time of preparation, with our ability to find a seasoned center, is not one of the easiest tasks, and now we are happy to have found someone with Venky who has already gained experience in Europe, it is important that he Venky is sure to be versatile, we think most likely to be in the center position, and then we're hoping his agility will balance the inside and the outside," said RASTA's Head Coach Pedro Calles.