'Juventus' signs German league assists leader Jack Pagenkopfer
Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Lithuanian basketball club Utenos "Juventus" has signed American point guard Jack Pagenkopfer.
- Pagenkopfer led Germany's top basketball league in assists last season with 6.5 per game.
- The club's manager highlighted Pagenkopfer's playmaking ability, defensive pressure, and potential for improvement.
Utenos "Juventus" has bolstered its roster with the addition of American point guard Jack Pagenkopfer, signing him through the end of the 2026-2027 season. Pagenkopfer arrives after a notable performance in Germany's top basketball league, where he played for Jena "Science City" last season.
During his tenure with Jena, Pagenkopfer averaged 8.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 2.9 rebounds per game in approximately 25 minutes of play, achieving an efficiency rating of 9.8. His playmaking skills were particularly evident, as he led the German league in assists with an average of 6.5 per game, sharing the title with Alonzo Verge of Vechta "Rasta."
"He is a classic point guard with significant experience in European basketball, who primarily creates for the team before looking for his own scoring opportunities," said "Juventus" manager Eimantas Skersis. Skersis emphasized Pagenkopfer's defensive capabilities, noting his ability to pressure opposing guards and the ball handler, which he believes will enhance the team's overall aggressiveness. While acknowledging that Pagenkopfer needs to improve his shooting selection, Skersis expressed confidence in the team's ability to work with him on this aspect.
He is a classic point guard with significant experience in European basketball, who primarily creates for the team before looking for his own scoring opportunities. Given the type of players we have already brought in and plan to bring in, we really needed a player like this. Moreover, Jack can work well in defense, pressure opposing point guards, and press the ball handler, which will allow us to be even more aggressive on both ends of the court. Of course, Jack will need to improve his shooting percentage, primarily by selecting better shots, but we are ready to work on this issue and I believe this aspect will be fulfilled.
Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.