Giorgi Shermadini
Encyclopedia
Giorgi Shermadini or Georgi Shermantini is a Georgian
professional basketball
player. He was born in the village of Natakhtari
, in the then Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic on April 2, 1989. He is 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) in height and he plays at the center
position. He is currently playing for Bennet Cantù
.
.
In his first season in the Georgian League
, during the 2005-06 season, he averaged 28.5 points per game, 14.7 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 3.0 blocks per game, and 1.2 steals per game at the age of 17. Following the 2005-06 season, Giorgi was invited to the “Basketball Without Borders” (BWB) Europe camp conducted at Vilnius
, Lithuania
from June 30 to July 3. During the 2006-07 season, at 18 years old, he averaged the highest points per game ever in the Georgian League. He averaged 35.1 points per game, 16.4 rebounds per game, 4.7 assists per game, 3.4 blocks per game, and 2.6 steals per game. This included a game where he scored 60 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists. During the 2007-08 season, at the age of 19, he averaged 33.5 points per game, 18.4 rebounds per game, 4.8 assists per game, 3.2 blocks per game, and 2.3 steals per game in the Georgian League.
In April 2007, Giorgi Shermadini was invited to the “Nike Hoop Summit
” World Select Team. Unfortunately, Giorgi did not participate with the World Select Team due to an injury to his meniscus
, which required surgery. He declared as an early-entry candidate for the NBA Draft
in 2008, and he went undrafted
in the 2008 NBA Draft
as some concerns still remain among NBA scouts over his injury.
Shermadini signed with the Euroleague
giants, the Greek League
club Panathinaikos in 2008. He debuted on the 29th of November 2008, at the game against Egaleo, playing for 6 minutes and scoring 4 points. His Euroleague debut came on the 17th of December 2008, playing for 10 minutes and scoring 1 point against SLUC Nancy
. His next game came in the Greek League on the 15th of February 2009, against Trikala 2000. He scored 9 points (a personal high for him to that date while at Panathinaikos) with two dunks and 5/5 free throws. He surpassed his personal best again, although playing only for 12 minutes, by scoring 13 points at a home game against Union Kavala-Panorama on 15 of April 2009.
In October 2010 he was sent by Panathinaikos on a one-year loan to KK Union Olimpija
in Slovenia
.
In October 2011, he was again loaned by Panathinaikos, this time to Italian Bennet Cantù
.
in Moscow
. Later in 2005, he played in the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship
in Bulgaria
.
Later in August 2006, he was the youngest player ever picked to the senior men's Georgian National Basketball Team
when he made the men's senior national team at the age of just 17. He played alongside teammates, Zaza Pachulia
(Atlanta Hawks
), Nikoloz Tskitishvili
(Teramo Basket
), Shammond Williams
(Pamesa Valencia), Viktor Sanikidze
(Tartu Ülikool/Rock
), Manuchar Markoishvili
(Olimpija Ljubljana
) and Vladimir Boisa
(Menorca Bàsquet).
Following his surgery and rehabilitation for his meniscus
injury that he suffered in 2007; he was invited to the Under-20 National Team of Georgia. At 18 years old, he played in the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
in Nova Gorica
, Slovenia
. Despite playing at much less than full strength due to his recent surgery and rehabilitation, he was the top scorer on the Georgian Under-20 National Team, averaging 12.5 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, and 1.5 assists per game in 23.8 minutes played per game. He was also the second-leading shot blocker in the Under-20 European Championship, averaging 2.1 blocked shots per game. At the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, Shermadini shot 74% from the field, averaged 21.5 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game, and 3.7 blocks per game.
Currently, Giorgi is a member of the senior men's Georgian national basketball team.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He was born in the village of Natakhtari
Mtskheta
Mtskheta , one of the oldest cities of the country of Georgia , is located approximately 20 kilometers north of Tbilisi at the confluence of the Aragvi and Kura rivers. The city is now the administrative centre of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region...
, in the then Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic on April 2, 1989. He is 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) in height and he plays at the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
position. He is currently playing for Bennet Cantù
Pallacanestro Cantù
Pallacanestro Cantù is an Italian League professional basketball club that is based in Cantù. For sponsorship reasons, it is also known as Bennet Cantù, after Bennet, an Italian supermarket chain. For past club sponsorship names, see the list below...
.
Player profile
Shermadini is a legitimate seven-footer who understands well how to use his body to maintain good post positioning. He possesses a nice jump hook shot and he has excellent fundamentals and offensive skills. He is a defensive presence with his long wingspan and his shot-blocking ability.Pro career
In the 2004-05 season, Giorgi was the top scorer of the Georgian Youth League. His highest point total in one game was 89 points scored against the Sokhumi State University team and he also had a 76 point, 16 rebound, and 6 assist game as well. He also had a 52 point game, a 54 point game, and another game where he scored 60 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists. He also participated in the Adidas Superstar Camp. His performance at the Adidas Superstar Camp earned him a selection to the World All-Star Team. In January 2005, he had his first practice with Maccabi Tbilisi’s Junior Team. Shermadini started playing basketball professionally when he was 16 years old on the Georgian basketball team Maccabi TbilisiMaccabi Brinkford Tbilisi
Maccabi Brinkford Tbilisi is the Georgian professional basketball club, that is based in Tbilisi, Georgia. The club competes in the Georgian Super Liga.-External links:*...
.
In his first season in the Georgian League
Georgian Super Liga
The Georgian Super Liga, in English, Georgian Super League, also known as the Georgian Highest League, is the highest professional basketball league in Georgia.-Teams:* BC Armia* Dinamo Tbilisi* Energy Invest Rustavi* GSAU Tbilisi...
, during the 2005-06 season, he averaged 28.5 points per game, 14.7 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 3.0 blocks per game, and 1.2 steals per game at the age of 17. Following the 2005-06 season, Giorgi was invited to the “Basketball Without Borders” (BWB) Europe camp conducted at Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
from June 30 to July 3. During the 2006-07 season, at 18 years old, he averaged the highest points per game ever in the Georgian League. He averaged 35.1 points per game, 16.4 rebounds per game, 4.7 assists per game, 3.4 blocks per game, and 2.6 steals per game. This included a game where he scored 60 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, and dished out 6 assists. During the 2007-08 season, at the age of 19, he averaged 33.5 points per game, 18.4 rebounds per game, 4.8 assists per game, 3.2 blocks per game, and 2.3 steals per game in the Georgian League.
In April 2007, Giorgi Shermadini was invited to the “Nike Hoop Summit
Nike Hoop Summit
The Nike Hoop Summit is a basketball all-star game sponsored by Nike, held once a year, which features the USA Basketball Men's Junior Select Team against a World Select team of international players. The players demonstrate their skills and hope to attract attention from either NBA scouts or...
” World Select Team. Unfortunately, Giorgi did not participate with the World Select Team due to an injury to his meniscus
Meniscus (anatomy)
In anatomy, a meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that, in contrast to articular disks, only partly divides a joint cavity. In humans it is present in the knee, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints; in other organisms they may be present in other...
, which required surgery. He declared as an early-entry candidate for the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
in 2008, and he went undrafted
Undrafted
An undrafted sportsperson or undrafted free agent is specific type of sportsperson who plays, or attempts to play, in a professional sports league without first being selected in a draft....
in the 2008 NBA Draft
2008 NBA Draft
The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2008 at the Washington Mutual Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible players, including...
as some concerns still remain among NBA scouts over his injury.
Shermadini signed with the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
giants, the Greek League
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
club Panathinaikos in 2008. He debuted on the 29th of November 2008, at the game against Egaleo, playing for 6 minutes and scoring 4 points. His Euroleague debut came on the 17th of December 2008, playing for 10 minutes and scoring 1 point against SLUC Nancy
SLUC Nancy
The Stade Lorrain Université Club Nancy, usually abbreviated to SLUC Nancy, is a French professional basketball club. The club is based in the city of Nancy, in the region of Lorraine. The team plays in the French Pro A League....
. His next game came in the Greek League on the 15th of February 2009, against Trikala 2000. He scored 9 points (a personal high for him to that date while at Panathinaikos) with two dunks and 5/5 free throws. He surpassed his personal best again, although playing only for 12 minutes, by scoring 13 points at a home game against Union Kavala-Panorama on 15 of April 2009.
In October 2010 he was sent by Panathinaikos on a one-year loan to KK Union Olimpija
KK Union Olimpija
-Depth Chart:-In: Ben Woodside Deon Thompson Aleksandar Ćapin Jaka Blažič Danny Green Ratko Varda Robert Rothbart -Out: Giorgi Shermadini - return from a loan Kenny Gregory Samo Udrih Aloysius Anagonye Vladimir...
in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
In October 2011, he was again loaned by Panathinaikos, this time to Italian Bennet Cantù
Pallacanestro Cantù
Pallacanestro Cantù is an Italian League professional basketball club that is based in Cantù. For sponsorship reasons, it is also known as Bennet Cantù, after Bennet, an Italian supermarket chain. For past club sponsorship names, see the list below...
.
Georgian national team
In June 2005, despite his brief playing experience, Giorgi was picked for the Under-16 National Team of Georgia and he played in the Youth Olympic GamesYouth Olympic Games
The Youth Olympic Games is an international multi-sport event first held in Singapore from August 14 to August 26, 2010. The games are held every four years in staggered summer and winter events consistent with the current Olympic Games format. The age limitation of the athletes is between 14 to 18...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Later in 2005, he played in the FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship
FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship
FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, previously known as European Championship for Cadets, is a basketball competition inaugurated in 1971. Until 2003 it was held every second year, but from 2003 onwards it is held every year. The current champions are Croatia.-Results:-Performances by nation:-MVP...
in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
.
Later in August 2006, he was the youngest player ever picked to the senior men's Georgian National Basketball Team
Georgia national basketball team
The Georgian national basketball team represents the country of Georgia in international basketball competitions. Georgia's national team is currently playing in the European Championship A Division....
when he made the men's senior national team at the age of just 17. He played alongside teammates, Zaza Pachulia
Zaza Pachulia
Zaza Pachulia , is a Georgian professional basketball player for Galatasaray of the Turkish Basketball League. He is also under contract with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA, but is playing overseas because of the 2011 NBA lockout.-Early athletic career:...
(Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
), Nikoloz Tskitishvili
Nikoloz Tskitishvili
Nikoloz Tskitishvili is a Georgian professional basketball player. He is a 7'0", 245 lb. forward-center, who was selected 5th overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2002 NBA Draft.-Pro career:...
(Teramo Basket
Teramo Basket
Teramo Basket is a professional basketball club that is based in Teramo, Italy and plays in the Italian League. For sponsorship reasons, it is also known as Bancatercas Teramo. For past club sponsorship names, see the list below.-History:...
), Shammond Williams
Shammond Williams
Shammond Omar Williams is a naturalized Georgian professional basketball player who grew up in the United States . The 6'1" combination point guard/shooting guard is known for his long-range shooting accuracy...
(Pamesa Valencia), Viktor Sanikidze
Viktor Sanikidze
Viktor Sanikidze is a Georgian professional basketball player. He plays at both the small forward and power forward positions.-Early years:...
(Tartu Ülikool/Rock
Tartu Ülikool/Rock
Tartu Ülikool is an Estonian professional basketball club, based in Tartu, currently participating in the Korvpalli Meistriliiga, the Baltic Basketball League and the EuroChallenge. The basketball team belongs to The University of Tartu and plays their home games at the Tartu Ülikooli Spordihoone ...
), Manuchar Markoishvili
Manuchar Markoishvili
|-| align="center" colspan="2" bgcolor="blue" | Manuchar Markoishvili|-| align="right" |Nickname:| Manu||-| align="center" colspan="2" | a|-| width="30%" align="right" | Position:| Shooting Guard|-| align="right" |Height:...
(Olimpija Ljubljana
KK Union Olimpija
-Depth Chart:-In: Ben Woodside Deon Thompson Aleksandar Ćapin Jaka Blažič Danny Green Ratko Varda Robert Rothbart -Out: Giorgi Shermadini - return from a loan Kenny Gregory Samo Udrih Aloysius Anagonye Vladimir...
) and Vladimir Boisa
Vladimir Boisa
Vladimir Boisa or Vladimer Boisa is a Georgian professional basketball player. He plays for KK Union Olimpija in the UPC Telemach League, Euroleague and Adriatic League.- National team :...
(Menorca Bàsquet).
Following his surgery and rehabilitation for his meniscus
Meniscus (anatomy)
In anatomy, a meniscus is a crescent-shaped fibrocartilaginous structure that, in contrast to articular disks, only partly divides a joint cavity. In humans it is present in the knee, acromioclavicular, sternoclavicular, and temporomandibular joints; in other organisms they may be present in other...
injury that he suffered in 2007; he was invited to the Under-20 National Team of Georgia. At 18 years old, he played in the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship
FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, previously known as European Championship for Men 'Under22 and Under, is a basketball competition inaugurated in 1992. Until 2004 it was held biannually, but from 2004 onwards it is held every year. The current champions are Spain.Since 2005, a second level...
in Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica ; 21,082 ; 31,000 ) is a town and a municipality in western Slovenia, on the border with Italy...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. Despite playing at much less than full strength due to his recent surgery and rehabilitation, he was the top scorer on the Georgian Under-20 National Team, averaging 12.5 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, and 1.5 assists per game in 23.8 minutes played per game. He was also the second-leading shot blocker in the Under-20 European Championship, averaging 2.1 blocked shots per game. At the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, Shermadini shot 74% from the field, averaged 21.5 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game, 1.2 assists per game, and 3.7 blocks per game.
Currently, Giorgi is a member of the senior men's Georgian national basketball team.
Awards and accomplishments
- Adidas Superstar Camp World All-Star Team (2005)
- 3x Georgian LeagueGeorgian Super LigaThe Georgian Super Liga, in English, Georgian Super League, also known as the Georgian Highest League, is the highest professional basketball league in Georgia.-Teams:* BC Armia* Dinamo Tbilisi* Energy Invest Rustavi* GSAU Tbilisi...
Player of the Year (2006, 2007, 2008) - Nike Hoop SummitNike Hoop SummitThe Nike Hoop Summit is a basketball all-star game sponsored by Nike, held once a year, which features the USA Basketball Men's Junior Select Team against a World Select team of international players. The players demonstrate their skills and hope to attract attention from either NBA scouts or...
World Select Team (2007) - Won the Greek CupGreek basketball CupThe Greek Basketball Cup or Hellenic Basketball Cup is an annual pro basketball national cup competition. It is organized by the Hellenic Basketball Federation .-History and format:...
(2009) - Won the Greek ChampionshipA1 EthnikiThe Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
(2009) - Won the EuroleagueEuroleagueEuroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
Championship (2009Euroleague 2008-09The Euroleague 2008-09 season was the ninth international basketball club competition for elite clubs throughout Europe under the ULEB umbrella. The season, which featured 24 teams from 13 different countries, culminated in the 2008-09 Euroleague Final Four at the new O2 World arena in Berlin,...
) - Won the Triple CrownTriple Crown in BasketballThe Triple Crown is a term in European professional club basketball that refers to a club winning their country's top tier national domestic league, primary national domestic cup, and the top tier European continental level competition in the same season. It is the highest accomplishment that a...
(2009)