5 Mindaugas Lukauskis G 1.8 7 Laurent Foirest F 1.97 8 Curtis Borchardt C 2.10 9 Aymeric Jeanneau G 1.85 10 Benjamin Dewar G 1.96 11 T.J. Parker F 1.87 12 Ali Traore C 2.01 13 Eric Campbell F 1.99 14 Kristjan Kangur F 2.02 16 Bangaly Fofana C 2.12 20 Bobby Dixon G 1.78 Head Coach: Vincent Collet

French champion Asvel Basket returns to the Euroleague this season after a four-year absence looking to make a splash with a revamped roster and a fan base that couldn't be happier to rejoin the continent's top competition. Asvel has not advanced past the regular season in any of its last four Euroleague seasons spanning nearly a decade, however head coach Vincent Collet has a new-look team that will be looking to change that trend and write its own future. The club kept several key members of last season's championship squad, including veteran swingman Laurent Foirest, playmaker Aymeric Jeanneau, shooter Ben Dewar, forward Eric Campbell and big man Ali Traore. At the same time, Asvel has added a mix of newcomers that is nothing but interesting. Point guard Bobby Dixon has a history of putting up big numbers in points and assists. Savvy guard Mindaugas Lukauskis brings Euroleague experience and talent to play multiple positions. Jumping-jack forward Kristjan Kangur promises energy at all times. And center Curtis Borchardt has posted major numbers in the Spanish League. All told, Asvel has what promises to be its strongest team in years and one that opponents will be smart not to underestimate. There is a good reason that Asvel is the most successful club in French League history and has even reached the Final Four in the last dozen years: the fans in Lyon-Villeurbanne love their basketball and repeatedly inspire their club to make its way among the best in Europe. For Asvel, the new 2009-10 Euroleague season will be another step in its plans to rise again.



The ball will be in Dixon's hands plenty this season - and for good reasons. This point guard simply knows how to generate points and is adept at running the break, shooting from outside, driving to the basket and dishing to the open man, a set of skills that will keep his teammates smiling. When he's not on the court, Asvel will rely on the experienced Jeanneau, a classic pass-first playmaker who was among the Eurocup assists leaders last season. In addition, the explosive T.J. Parker may start the season as the third-string point guard, but if he proves to be fully recovered from the knee injury that cost him much of last season, it will be a major bonus for Asvel. Elsewhere on the perimeter, Dewar displayed excellent all-around skills and shooting range despite coming off the bench last season. A team player who understands the game, Dewar may be Asvel's secret weapon, the player who fills in the blanks that his team needs whenever it needs them. Lukauskis brings two years of Euroleague experience, a slew of trophies and a winning spirit to the Asvel backcourt. A player made for the big stage, Lukauskis's career numbers in the Euroleague are considerably better than his Eurocup stats. Finally, Asvel boasts an inspirational veteran leader in Foirest, a charmed shooter his entire career. Foirest enters his seventh Euroleague campaign already ranked among the competition's top 25 career three-point shooters in both shots made and percentage.

In the frontcourt, forwards Kangur and Campbell have games that seem to compliment each other well. Campbell is a greatly undersized power forward, whose incredible athleticism and overall understanding of the game help him contribute as a scorer, rebounder and shot blocker. Kangur can play both forward spots too, has an excellent mid-range and outside jumper, can run the floor well and is a tough defender. Borchardt could be the key to Asvel's success. A first-time Euroleaguer, he has been one of the better big men in the Spanish League in recent seasons, though injuries have often slowed him. If he can remain healthy, Borchardt could become a double-double machine in the paint for Asvel, equally dangerous at both ends of the floor. Aiding him in the low post is Traore, an effective scorer who is coming off a solid showing with the French national team. Having debuted in the Euroleague for 1 minute as a 16-year-old way back in 2001, Traore has not played in the competition since, so at 24 is sure to ready to show his grown-up stuff. Adding depth at the center is 20-year-old Bangaly Fofana, who will look to gain experience in hopes of becoming Asvel's center of the future. Though rejoining the Euroleague is never easy, Asvel has laid the groundwork for a strong season, a run at the Top 16 and reestablishing the club at the highest levels. With versatile players, a good measure of experience and a rising star in the coaching ranks on the sidelines, there is plenty to be on the lookout for at Asvel Basket.

KRISTJAN KANGUR, FORWARD Just two years ago, Kristjan Kangur burst onto the scene by leading his hometown club, unheralded BC Kalev Cramo of Estonia, to a 3-1 start in his and the team's ULEB Cup debuts. Now Kangur hopes to unveil that same type of magic when he makes his Euroleague debut with Asvel Basket. The forward leaves his native Estonia for the second time after a previous stint in Germany, but this time Kangur has stepped all the way up to the Euroleague, where his athleticism, shooting touch and experience should bear fruits for him and Asvel. Kangur brings a special kind of game to a special kind of team. With hardly any one-dimensional players on the roster, Kangur's array of talents and team-first approach will help him blend in right away. With an equally unselfish supporting cast, he could emerge quickly as one a key to Asvel ambitions in the Euroleague. Kangur's great physical conditioning and speed lend themselves to a fast-paced game, something he can enjoy with point guards like Bobby Dixon and Aymeric Jeanneau. His strength and outside shooting create mismatch opportunities at the forward spots, where he will line up across from another player who creates mismatches, Eric Campbell. All told, Kangur will help give Asvel Basket a chance to score almost every trip downcourt, all the while working hard on the glass and on defense as well. Kangur's ability to meet and surpass expectations this season could be a central theme for Asvel as it aims to secure a Top 16 berth for the first time in nearly a decade. He may not be the type of player that will carry a team on his shoulders alone, he is one of the players who, if he does his job well, will surely help Asvel to thrive. And if Asvel comes together and starts winning, Kangur will likely be among the key reasons, making him a player to keep an eye on this season.